PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Bergstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Booker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Booker is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bergstrom
vs
Booker

177 cm
18
142 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

160 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcus Bergstrom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Booker!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bergstrom shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bergstrom showed some decent athleticism there.
Bergstrom throwing shots but Booker is blocking nicely.
Bergstrom wants to lay and pray for a moment but Booker keeps working.
Bergstrom tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Booker tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Bergstrom manages to move to mount!
Bergstrom thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Bergstrom scoring with strikes but Booker is staying in there.
Booker tries to lock up and control but Bergstrom gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bergstrom with shots to the head and body - Booker looks very uncomfortable down there.
Booker is looking to get to half guard.
Booker is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Bergstrom goes for an armbar but Booker turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Booker.
Bergstrom keeping moving, preventing Booker from controlling successfully.
Bergstrom manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Booker avoids a series of strikes thrown by Bergstrom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bergstrom is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Booker circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bergstrom misses with the combination.
Booker has his takedown stuffed
and Bergstrom counters with a three punch combo that has Booker backing up. Booker nods at Bergstrom to acknowledge the strikes.
Marcus Bergstrom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bergstrom tries to clinch there but Booker circles away.
Booker shoots and misses

and Bergstrom counters with a nice double leg into side control. Booker won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Booker controls the position for a moment.
Bergstrom will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bergstrom working away.

Bergstrom swings around for an armbar but Booker sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Bergstrom's guard.
Bergstrom is breathing heavily.
Bergstrom keeping moving, preventing Booker from controlling successfully.
Booker slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Bergstrom keeping moving, preventing Booker from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Booker is pushing down on Bergstrom's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bergstrom is fighting to maintain full guard but Booker has managed to sneak the leg through.
Booker trying to control from half guard but Bergstrom is working away.

Booker is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bergstrom wants to control but Booker is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Bergstrom dominated that round.
That's time! Bergstrom's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Booker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Booker misses with a takedown
and Bergstrom counters with a one-two to the body.
Bergstrom throws a series of punches but Booker moves out of range.

Bergstrom clinches up against the cage.

Bergstrom has hold of one of Booker's legs. Booker is fighting the takedown attempt but Bergstrom gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Booker seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Bergstrom looking to sit in guard and control but Booker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker trying to control the position from guard on top but Bergstrom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bergstrom keeping full guard, as Booker tries to pass.
Booker is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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.

Despite being in the dominant position, Michael Booker just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Bergstrom shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Booker works his way to full guard. Good work.
Booker looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bergstrom is one step ahead there.
Booker wants to stand and escape but Bergstrom is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bergstrom gets to his feet. Booker looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bergstrom tries to close the distance and clinch up but Booker swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bergstrom moves in looking to clinch but Booker pushes him off.
Bergstrom doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Booker counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Booker.
Bergstrom is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Booker wants to control from the top but Bergstrom keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booker stands and throws Bergstrom's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Booker is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bergstrom has escaped the position, nice work there.

Booker is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bergstrom is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michael Booker will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bergstrom tries to clinch up.
Bergstrom throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Booker displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bergstrom throws out the jab.
Marcus Bergstrom is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Booker fails with the takedown

and Bergstrom counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Booker tries to pull guard but Bergstrom holds him up against the cage and eventually Booker drops back down to his feet.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Booker looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Booker wants to stand but Bergstrom is controlling the position.
Marcus Bergstrom overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Booker is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

Booker throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Booker wants to sweep here but Bergstrom controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bergstrom wants to get up but he can't break Booker's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bergstrom looking to sit in guard and control but Booker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Booker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Booker trying to control the position from guard on top but Bergstrom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Booker looking to sit in guard and control but Bergstrom gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Booker holds on and takes a little breather.
Bergstrom looking to sit in guard and control but Booker gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bergstrom uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Booker with a lazy takedown attempt

and Bergstrom counters with a shoot takedown. Booker fights it but they end up in guard.
Marcus Bergstrom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Booker.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Booker wants to sweep but no luck.
Booker has a closed guard, preventing Bergstrom from standing up.

Booker throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bergstrom trying to control but Booker is working from the bottom.
Booker bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bergstrom's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Booker is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Bergstrom showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bergstrom has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Bergstrom!