PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mark Aronoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Berg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aronoff comes to the cage accompanied by Here Comes the Pain by Slayer. Eric Berg will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Aronoff
vs
Berg

180 cm
22
245 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

195 cm
22
280 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

S.W.A.T.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Aronoff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eric Berg!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Berg as Aronoff shoots in.
Aronoff shoots for a double leg takedown but Berg sprawls well. He's pushed Aronoff's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Berg has his takedown stuffed

and Aronoff counters with a shoot takedown. Berg fights it but they end up in guard.
Aronoff advances to half guard.

Berg looking for submissions off his back.
Aronoff could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Aronoff prevents Berg from improving his position.
Aronoff trying to control the action but Berg is working from the bottom.
Berg is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Berg is pressing down on Aronoff's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Aronoff postures up.
Aronoff advances to half guard.

Aronoff is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Aronoff looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Berg missing with punches from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Berg manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Berg keeping full guard, as Aronoff tries to pass.

Aronoff thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Berg looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Berg lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Aronoff!
Aronoff tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Berg cracks Aronoff with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Aronoff is wriggling around trying to escape.
Aronoff is working hard here to advance position.
Aronoff is breathing heavily.
Berg has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Berg looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Berg landing punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aronoff is looking to improve his position but Berg isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Berg cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Berg lands a heavy elbow.
Berg raining down shots from the mount!
Berg working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Aronoff takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Aronoff tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Berg raining down shots from the mount!
Aronoff is trying desperately to improve position.
Berg landing strikes, looking to finish!
Berg postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Aronoff looks a forlorn figure.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Aronoff working to try and regain half guard.
Berg scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Aronoff?

Berg is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Aronoff can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Berg dominating with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aronoff is squirming around, avoiding Berg's attempts to control the action.

Berg working for a guillotine from mount but Aronoff is in no mood to give up.
Aronoff manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Aronoff tries to roll over but Berg keeps him under control.
Nice strikes from Berg there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aronoff is trying to get back to full guard.

Berg is working for a submission of some sort.
Berg moves nicely into side control.
Berg advances to mount.

Berg with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Berg lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Berg cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Berg landing shots from mount.
Aronoff keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Berg can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Aronoff is looking to escape.
Berg cracks Aronoff with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
A nice elbow there by Berg.

Berg working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Aronoff is looking to improve his position but Berg isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Berg is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Aronoff is surviving well by controlling Berg's body position as best he can.
Berg is landing with some decent strikes but Aronoff is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Berg is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Aronoff can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Berg dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Aronoff drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Berg had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Aronoff is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Berg Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Aronoff's back instead.
Berg somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Berg is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Aronoff up.
Aronoff turns into Berg and is now in his guard.
Aronoff throwing strikes from guard but Berg blocks nicely.
Berg wants to sweep but no luck.

Aronoff drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Aronoff jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Berg looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Aronoff scoring with some ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Aronoff shoots in but no luck this time.
Good shot there by Berg.
Berg pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Berg misses with a takedown attempt

and Aronoff counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Berg's guard now.

Aronoff is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Berg wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Berg working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aronoff trying to control but Berg is working from the bottom.
Berg is trying to control the position but Aronoff postures up.

Aronoff drops back, looking for a kneebar! Berg looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Berg looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Berg!

Berg is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Aronoff is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Aronoff is looking for a sweep.
Berg landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Aronoff is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Eric Berg has got the better of the ground game so far.

Berg wants to work for an arm triangle but Aronoff is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Aronoff slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Aronoff is working an open guard so Berg takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Aronoff fails with the takedown.
Berg with a lazy takedown attempt

and Aronoff counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Aronoff.
Aronoff trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berg manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Berg tries to control but Aronoff wriggling away.
Aronoff tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Berg can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Aronoff is looking to escape.
Aronoff is in all sorts of trouble here.
Berg fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Aronoff sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Berg looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Berg missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Aronoff is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Berg scores with a couple of nice shots.
Berg is tying to control. Aronoff wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Aronoff works his way to full guard. Good work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Berg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Aronoff not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Berg wants to control from the top but Aronoff keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Aronoff.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Aronoff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Berg. No joy for Aronoff on that attempt.

Berg fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Aronoff sprawls well initially but Berg persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Aronoff works his way to full guard. Good work.
Berg makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Aronoff manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Berg manages to get himself to full guard.
Aronoff advances to half guard.

Aronoff is working for a kimura but Berg is defending it quite comfortably.

Berg looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Aronoff passes the guard and advances to mount!

Aronoff is working for a guillotine from mount but Berg frees his head quite easily.
Aronoff wants to control the pace but Berg is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berg sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Aronoff is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Berg!
Berg stops Aronoff from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Berg is working to get back to half guard.
Aronoff with the ground and pound from mount.
Berg keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Aronoff is working for a guillotine from mount but Berg frees his head quite easily.
Berg wants to hold on but Aronoff pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Berg throwing punches from his back. He's mounted here but still fighting back.
Aronoff seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Berg is holding on tight.
Berg keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Berg is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Aronoff dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Berg instigates a clinch.

Aronoff pulls guard successfully.
Berg looking to pass the guard.

Berg is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Aronoff might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Aronoff escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Berg gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Aronoff looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Berg working some strikes from top position.
Aronoff looking to control.

Aronoff has his foot on Berg's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Berg works his way back into a safe position though.
Berg takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Aronoff throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Aronoff is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Berg misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Aronoff is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berg is looking to improve his position.

Berg is defending against the submission attempts here by Aronoff.

Aronoff is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Aronoff moves into full mount! Berg won't be happy about that!
Berg is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Aronoff working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Berg turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Aronoff off and cradles Berg's limp body as Aronoff celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Mark Aronoff!