PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Valerio Bertoto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fantinaz Del Norte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Del Norte has chosen La Coka Nostra - Malverde Market as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. This should be a great matchup!

Bertoto
vs
Del Norte

180 cm
25
140 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

165 cm
26
130 lbs
6 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Al's Supplements - 160 Q for $150

[WOT] DTK Designs (Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Valerio Bertoto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Fantinaz Del Norte!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Elvis Blanc and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Del Norte tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Del Norte misses with an uppercut. Bertoto saw that one coming.
Del Norte tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Del Norte pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Del Norte misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bertoto ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Del Norte moves away.
The fighters circling - Del Norte throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bertoto shoots in for a double leg but Del Norte sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bertoto really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bertoto uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Del Norte.
Del Norte uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bertoto.
Del Norte misses the jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Del Norte. Bertoto does a little dance to reset his feet.
Del Norte swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bertoto avoids the head kick by Del Norte.
Del Norte misses with a left hand

and Bertoto counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Bertoto is looking for a kimura here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bertoto wants to pass to mount but Del Norte is defending the position.
Del Norte is trying to stand back up but Bertoto is controlling him
Bertoto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Del Norte keeps working.

Bertoto is working for a kimura but Del Norte is defending it quite comfortably.
Del Norte is looking to control Bertoto's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Del Norte avoid being mounted?
Del Norte tries to roll over but Bertoto keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bertoto takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Del Norte makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
A combination from Del Norte does no damage.
Del Norte throws a nice looking combination but Bertoto bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Del Norte throws a head kick but Bertoto moves out of range.
A jab from Del Norte misses.
Bertoto blocks a head kick by Del Norte.
Bertoto takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Del Norte throws a left and a right that both miss

and Bertoto counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bertoto.
Bertoto trying to stall but Del Norte improves his position.
Del Norte gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bertoto.
Del Norte is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bertoto has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Del Norte regains guard immediately.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Del Norte looking for a sweep. Not yet Del Norte, not yet.
Bertoto throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Del Norte wants to sweep but no luck.
Bertoto trying to move into half guard but instead Del Norte has managed to sweep!
Del Norte wants to stand but Bertoto is controlling his posture from full guard.
Del Norte postures up in Bertoto's guard and throws a big left but Bertoto blocks it.
Del Norte stopping the sweep attempt from Bertoto.
Del Norte working some strikes from top position.

Bertoto is looking for a triangle but Del Norte pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Del Norte is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Bertoto is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Del Norte is aware though and is defending well.
Del Norte trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Del Norte is looking to work some ground and pound but Bertoto has wrist control.
Del Norte postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Del Norte trying to control the position from guard on top but Bertoto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bertoto looking to hit a scissor sweep but Del Norte is one step ahead there.
Bertoto controlling Del Norte's posture.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Del Norte avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Fantinaz Del Norte will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Del Norte throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Del Norte closes the distance and pushes Bertoto back into the cage.
Bertoto blocks the elbow strike.
Del Norte stops a takedown attempt from Bertoto.
Bertoto has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Del Norte after a bit of a struggle.
Bertoto goes for a takedown in the clinch but Del Norte prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Valerio Bertoto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bertoto drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Del Norte gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Del Norte breaks the clinch.
Bertoto shoots in for a takedown but Del Norte shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Del Norte cracks Bertoto with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Del Norte dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bertoto. That did some damage!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bertoto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Del Norte as he jumps to the side.
An inside leg kick lands from Del Norte.
Del Norte shoots in but Bertoto avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Fantinaz Del Norte seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bertoto blocks a head kick by Del Norte.
Bertoto leaves Del Norte with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Del Norte throws a sloppy head kick and Bertoto moves out of range easily.
Del Norte misses the shot to the body.
Del Norte connects with a leg kick. Bertoto looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Del Norte throws a quick inside leg kick.
Bertoto shoots in for a takedown but Del Norte shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bertoto shoots in and drives through. Del Norte sprawls well.
Del Norte throws a right and a left that Bertoto avoids nicely.
Del Norte misses with a body shot.
Del Norte stalks Bertoto and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Bertoto's face. Bertoto staggers backwards, shaken.
Del Norte swinging wildly here.
Del Norte tries to clinch there but Bertoto circles away.
Del Norte throws a head kick that misses.
Del Norte misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Del Norte fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Bertoto is out of range.

Bertoto scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Del Norte is looking to improve his position.
Bertoto controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Del Norte wants to control but Bertoto is keeping busy.
Bertoto wants to pass to mount but Del Norte is defending the position.
Bertoto trying to control the action but Del Norte is working from the bottom.
Del Norte is trying to control but can't.
Del Norte has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bertoto shoots in but Del Norte avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Bertoto fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Del Norte to the ground. Bertoto is now in Del Norte's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Del Norte scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Del Norte misses with a two punch combination.
Bertoto shoots in for a takedown but Del Norte shows good takedown defense.

Del Norte gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Del Norte breaks the clinch.
Bertoto avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Del Norte tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Del Norte keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bertoto checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Bertoto fails with the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fantinaz Del Norte showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Del Norte throws a body punch but Bertoto moves out of range.
Bertoto takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Del Norte fails with an attempt to clinch.
No luck for Bertoto with that takedown attempt.
Fantinaz Del Norte is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Del Norte shoots in for a takedown but Bertoto shows good takedown defense.
Del Norte tries a head kick but it misses.

Bertoto shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Del Norte's guard.
Del Norte is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bertoto tries to free his leg and advance position but Del Norte is retaining full guard.
Bertoto trying to move into half guard but instead Del Norte has managed to sweep!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bertoto is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Del Norte throws a big right hand that misses.
Del Norte throwing strikes but missing.
Del Norte working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bertoto seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Del Norte wants to stand but Bertoto has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Del Norte is pushing down on Bertoto's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bertoto is fighting to maintain full guard but Del Norte has managed to sneak the leg through.
Del Norte slips a nice elbow through Bertoto's hands, connecting with Bertoto's forehead.

Bertoto actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bertoto keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bertoto misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Del Norte is trying to control. Bertoto wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Del Norte is looking for a kimura here.
Bertoto wants to get back to full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Del Norte throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bertoto on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bertoto avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Del Norte.
Bertoto is trying to stand up here but Del Norte is controlling him well.

Bertoto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Del Norte not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Del Norte thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bertoto is looking to improve his position.
Del Norte passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Bertoto!
Bertoto tries to hold on but Del Norte postures up.
Fantinaz Del Norte is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Del Norte looking to control but Bertoto is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Del Norte controlling from mount.
Del Norte can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bertoto is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bertoto tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Del Norte controlling from the full mount.
Del Norte throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Bertoto because Del Norte loaded up on that one.
Del Norte controlling the pace for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Del Norte trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Valerio Bertoto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Del Norte lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fantinaz Del Norte comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Del Norte has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fantinaz Del Norte!
Fantinaz Del Norte spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.