PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Isaac Bernard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andreas Kartes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Andreas Kartes is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bernard
vs
Kartes

209 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
21
148 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Isaac Bernard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Andreas Kartes!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paulsen Ambrosius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kartes looking to score a takedown here. Bernard is defending well but Kartes drives through and ends up in Bernard's guard.
Bernard has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Kartes has passed into side control.
Bernard tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Kartes presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Kartes throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Bernard tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bernard holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Kartes tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kartes jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Bernard manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Kartes has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bernard is looking to get back to his feet here but Kartes is keeping cool and he's managed to take Bernard's back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kartes scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Bernard is looking for a way out.
I really don't envy Bernard right now.
Bernard covering up well under a series of strikes from Kartes.
Bernard is really stuck here.
Bernard is working hard here to advance position.
Kartes tries to keep control of the position but Bernard is staying busy.
Bernard is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bernard staying busy and making it hard for Kartes to control.

Kartes working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Bernard rolls, trying to escape but Kartes keeps control of the position.
Kartes is not going to allow Bernard to sit and survive in this position.

Kartes looking to break Bernard's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Bernard remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Kartes will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Kartes's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Bernard tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Kartes looks winded!
Bernard throwing hammer fists to the chest of Kartes. What's that going to do exactly?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kartes blocks Bernard's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Bernard wants to control but Kartes is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kartes trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bernard wants to hold on but Kartes pushes him away.
Bernard swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kartes can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bernard is looking to escape.
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 desperately trying to improve his position but Kartes has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kartes trying to control but Bernard is having none of it.
Bernard wants to control but Kartes is having none of it.
Bernard is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.
Kartes misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Bernard regains half guard.
Bernard tries to kick Kartes off but Kartes keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kartes is looking to advance position but Bernard won't allow it.
Bernard wants to improve his position but Kartes is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andreas Kartes dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bernard enables Kartes to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bernard manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Bernard will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Kartes trying to control but Bernard is working from the bottom.

Bernard looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kartes has picked Bernard up and slammed him! Bernard can't keep hold of the triangle and Kartes manages to pass to side control!
Bernard wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Bernard wants to control but Kartes postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bernard manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kartes's best efforts.
Bernard is not content to let Kartes control the position.
Kartes is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kartes is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Bernard is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kartes pulls his head out easily.

Bernard looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kartes stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Bernard to get to his feet.
Andreas Kartes seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bernard keeps the fight on the outside.
Kartes throws a nice looking combination but Bernard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bernard seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kartes swats away the attempt to clinch by Bernard.
A nice side step and Kartes releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

Kartes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kartes has control of an arm but Bernard manages to advance to Kartes's back!
Bernard throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Kartes!
Kartes is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Will Bernard go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kartes takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Bernard really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Kartes.
Kartes has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kartes is covering up but some of the strikes from Bernard are getting through and doing damage.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Bernard. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
You can see the frustration on Kartes's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Kartes is still trying to improve position.
Bernard will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kartes just trying to survive but Bernard is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Bernard struggling to keep hold of the position.
Bernard misses with an elbow to the head.
Bernard lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Bernard connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Kartes to escape the position.
Bernard punches Kartes on the ear.
Kartes wants to control his opponent's hands but Bernard gets his hands free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kartes manages to escape to a better position under a series of strikes. Bernard is now in side control.
Kartes tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Isaac Bernard will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Bernard changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kartes tries to avoid it but Bernard manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kartes to the ground. Kartes escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kartes tries to clinch up but Bernard circles away and keeps his distance.
Bernard tries to clinch there but Kartes circles away.
Bernard fails with the takedown.

Kartes instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bernard has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Kartes ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kartes no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Kartes wants to improve his position but instead Bernard has moved into half guard.
Kartes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bernard lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Andreas Kartes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bernard blocks the strikes from Kartes.
Bernard missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bernard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bernard looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kartes with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bernard slips a nice elbow through Kartes's hands, connecting with Kartes's forehead.
Bernard prevents Kartes from standing back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kartes is refusing to be controlled, as Bernard sits in half guard.
Kartes blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bernard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bernard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Isaac Bernard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kartes shoots in and bounces Bernard off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kartes wants to control from the top but Bernard keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bernard is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bernard looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kartes is looking to stand up but Bernard won't let him.
Bernard strikes from his own guard.

Bernard is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bernard working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kartes slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Kartes throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Bernard tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kartes is in Bernard's guard.
Kartes throws a big elbow that misses.

Bernard has his foot on Kartes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kartes works his way back into a safe position though.
Bernard throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

Bernard working for a triangle but Kartes defends it easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bernard is striking off his back. Kartes thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andreas Kartes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kartes 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andreas Kartes!