PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Bernard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nils Holgersson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bernard
vs
Holgersson

183 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Samuel Bernard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nils Holgersson!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bernard fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Holgersson to the ground. Bernard is now in Holgersson's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Bernard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Holgersson is keeping the position for now.
Bernard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bernard slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Bernard wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Holgersson, who protects the arm well.
Holgersson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bernard wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Holgersson wants to control but Bernard postures up.

Bernard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Holgersson has escaped the position, nice work there.
Holgersson regains half guard.
Holgersson tries to roll over but Bernard keeps him under control.
Bernard passes into side control, despite Holgersson's attempt to control the position.
Bernard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Holgersson is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernard working the ground and pound.

Bernard is trying to get an arm triangle but Holgersson is defending well.

Bernard thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bernard works to advance to full mount. Holgersson defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Holgersson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bernard sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Holgersson working to try and regain half guard.
Bernard lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Holgersson working to try and regain half guard.

Bernard is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Holgersson is surviving well by controlling Bernard's body position as best he can.
Bernard is breathing heavily.
Holgersson is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Holgersson working to try and regain half guard.
Bernard sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Holgersson tries to lock up and control but Bernard gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Holgersson is trying to escape the mount.
Bernard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Bernard is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Holgersson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Holgersson shrugs it off.
Bernard trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bernard is working for a guillotine from mount but Holgersson frees his head quite easily.
Holgersson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Holgersson is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Bernard is staying active.
Holgersson tries to reverse the position but Bernard maintains control.
Holgersson bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Holgersson pushes down on Bernard's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Holgersson trying to control from half guard but Bernard is working away.
Bernard flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Holgersson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bernard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Holgersson is working for a submission of some sort.

Holgersson is looking for a kimura here.
Bernard trying to hold on to Holgersson's head to control him but Holgersson postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holgersson trying to mount his opponent but Bernard defends it.
Holgersson is looking to take a break and control but Bernard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Samuel Bernard will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bernard shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Bernard seems to be looking for submissions.

Holgersson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bernard pulls his head out easily.
Samuel Bernard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Holgersson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Holgersson is not content to let Bernard control the position.

Bernard is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holgersson is pressing down on Bernard's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Bernard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Holgersson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bernard!
Bernard prevents Holgersson from taking his back.
Holgersson wants to control the pace but Bernard is squirming around nicely.

Holgersson wants to finish this one by submission but Bernard is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Holgersson.
Holgersson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernard tries to lock up and control but Holgersson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bernard holds of for dear life.
Holgersson tries to control but Bernard wriggling away.

Holgersson looking for a guillotine from mount but Bernard is having none of it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bernard throwing hammer fists to the chest of Holgersson. What's that going to do exactly?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Holgersson is trying to take his opponent's back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson wants to control the pace but Bernard is squirming around nicely.
Bernard is working to get back to half guard.
Holgersson controlling from the full mount.
Holgersson wants to take Bernard's back but he can't do it this time.
Holgersson looking to control but Bernard is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Holgersson is looking to work his way around to Bernard's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson controlling the position easily from mount.
Holgersson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Holgersson looking to control but Bernard is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Holgersson wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

Holgersson is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Bernard has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Bernard!

Holgersson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bernard defends well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holgersson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nils Holgersson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bernard scores with a takedown into Holgersson's guard.

Holgersson is looking for a triangle here but Bernard uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Bernard has control of an arm but Holgersson manages to advance to Bernard's back!

Bernard preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Holgersson.
Bernard breaks Holgersson's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Holgersson keeping moving, preventing Bernard from controlling successfully.
Holgersson wants to sweep here but Bernard controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Holgersson looking for a guillotine here but Bernard defends easily.
Holgersson looking for a sweep. Not yet Holgersson, not yet.
Bernard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bernard sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bernard slips nicely into half guard.
Holgersson is looking to improve his position.
Holgersson punching from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Bernard pushing down on Holgersson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Bernard is looking for a kimura here.
Holgersson is looking to control Bernard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Holgersson avoid being mounted?

Bernard is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Bernard tries to pass to full mount but Holgersson defends it.
Holgersson is pressing down on Bernard's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holgersson trying to strike off his back.

Holgersson is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Bernard rolls with it to try and escape but Holgersson cranks on the arm and Bernard is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Nils Holgersson!