PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mathis Malen (ranked 4748 p4p, 473 weight class) and Carl Berg (ranked 4927 p4p, 492 weight class). Berg has chosen Three 6 Mafia - That's Right ft. Akon, Jim Jones as his entrance music. Carl Berg told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Malen
vs
Berg

188 cm
23
179 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

183 cm
23
177 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mathis Malen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Carl Berg!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Malen takes the fight into the clinch.
Berg stops a takedown attempt from Malen.

Malen has hold of one of Berg's legs. Berg is fighting the takedown attempt but Malen gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.

Malen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Berg dives on top into guard.

Malen wants to sweep here but Berg controlling him for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Berg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Berg postures up and lands a big shot to Malen's brow.

Malen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Malen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Berg postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Berg trying to control the position from guard on top but Malen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Berg makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malen looking for a guillotine here but Berg defends easily.
Malen wants to sweep here but Berg controlling him for the moment.
Berg lands a couple of elbows.
Berg has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Berg makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Malen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Berg defends it easily.
Malen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Malen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Berg trying to control the position from guard on top but Malen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Berg is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Berg landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Berg doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Berg manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Malen isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Berg stacks Malen on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Berg!
Berg lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Malen down.
Malen is trying to get back to half guard.
Berg is looking to take a break and control but Malen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Malen is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Berg is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Malen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Malen manages to work his way to half guard, despite Berg's best efforts.
Malen wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malen wants to sweep but Berg has passed to side control!
Malen taking a bit of punishment here - Berg scoring with strikes.
Berg cracks Malen with a big right hand but Malen just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Malen is not content to let Berg control the position.
Berg lands some shots froms side control.

Berg tries for a kimura but Malen is defending well.
Malen manages to work his way to half guard, despite Berg's best efforts.
Malen is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berg is looking to take a break and control but Malen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Berg is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Berg working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Berg scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Malen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Berg slips a nice elbow through Malen's hands, connecting with Malen's forehead.
Berg working Malen over with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Malen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Malen is rocked!
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Malen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Berg lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Oh Malen is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Malen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Berg dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Malen looks for a takedown but Berg sprawls well.
Malen seems to have got his legs back now.
Berg connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A head kick by Berg misses

and Malen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Berg wants to improve his position but Malen is controlling well.
Berg makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Berg.
Malen passes Berg's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Malen throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Berg to regain full guard.
Malen passes into half guard.
Malen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Berg defending well though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malen is trying to control. Berg wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Berg is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Malen pulls his head out easily.
Berg wants to get back to full guard.
Malen works his way into full mount!
Malen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Berg is looking to escape.
Malen controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berg manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Malen trying to control from half guard but Berg is working away.
Berg slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Berg is trying to keep Malen in close.
Malen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Malen forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berg is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

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

Malen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Malen working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Malen trying to control the position but Berg is working away.

Malen is trying to get an arm triangle but Berg is defending well.
Berg tries to bench press Malen off him but Malen keeps the position.
Malen sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Berg is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Malen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Berg keeps working.
Berg is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Malen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathis Malen dominated that second round.
That's time! Malen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Berg misses with a few strikes there.
Berg swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Malen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Malen throws a big right hand that misses.
Carl Berg has got the better of the ground game so far.
Malen advances position into side control!
Berg is trying to get back to half guard.
Malen wants to control but Berg is keeping him busy.
Berg is trying to control Malen's posture but Malen avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berg sneaks back into half guard.
Malen passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Berg!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malen cracks Berg with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Malen goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Berg is on top in guard.
Malen wants to sweep but no luck.
Berg working some strikes from top position.
Berg looking to pass the guard.
Malen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Berg working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Malen's head.
Malen has momentary wrist control but Berg slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Malen wants to pass to mount but Berg is defending the position.
Berg tries to get to full guard but Malen has control of the leg.
Malen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Berg does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Malen is working for a submission of some sort.

Malen wants to work for an arm triangle but Berg is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Malen content to control rather than advance.
Berg slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Berg is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Berg can't keep his opponent in guard - Malen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Berg won't allow Malen to pass to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Malen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Berg is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Malen unloads with some shots from mount but Berg bucks and avoids them well.
Malen unloads with some shots from mount but Berg bucks and avoids them well.
Malen tries to take his opponent's back but Berg turns with him and manages to move into guard on the top. Nice work.
Berg wants to pass the guard but Malen is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Malen keeping moving, preventing Berg from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mathis Malen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Malen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mathis Malen!
A victorious Mathis Malen thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.