PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aamos Berg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roma Kucherov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kucherov has chosen The Offspring - You're Gonna Go Far, Kid as his entrance music. Aamos Berg had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 171.9lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Berg
vs
Kucherov

175 cm
29
185 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

150 cm
28
183 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Knockout power

Torment Fightwear
Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aamos Berg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roma Kucherov!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berg buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kucherov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Berg.

Kucherov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kucherov wants to control but Berg is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Berg parries the strikes from Kucherov easily there. Kucherov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Berg to escape.
Berg sneaks back into half guard.
Kucherov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kucherov misses with a head shot. Berg uses the momentum to regain guard.
Kucherov tries to free his leg and advance position but Berg is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berg utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kucherov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Berg swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kucherov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Berg is looking for a sweep.
Berg manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kucherov's best efforts.
Berg is looking for a sweep. Kucherov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Berg is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kucherov pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Berg looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kucherov is trying to control. Berg wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Berg trying to control here.
Kucherov slows the pace down in half guard.
Kucherov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Berg with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Berg trying to hold on to Kucherov's head to control him but Kucherov postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berg wants to get back to full guard.

Kucherov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Berg is just riding it out for now. Kucherov eventually gives up the hold.
Kucherov works his foot free and advances to mount.
Kucherov working Berg over with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kucherov wants to control the pace but Berg is squirming around nicely.
Kucherov punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kucherov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Berg is working to get back to half guard.
Berg wants to hold on but Kucherov pushes him away.
Kucherov landing strikes from the mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kucherov raining down hammerfists from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kucherov wants to control the pace but Berg is squirming around nicely.
Kucherov is landing with some decent strikes but Berg is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kucherov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Berg tries to roll over but Kucherov keeps him under control.
Berg on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Berg tries to get out of the position.
Berg has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kucherov is working away from the top position though.
Kucherov slips a nice elbow through Berg's hands, connecting with Berg's forehead.

Kucherov is working for a submission of some sort.
Kucherov prevents Berg from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berg manages to get to full guard.
Kucherov tries to free his leg and advance position but Berg is retaining full guard.
Roma Kucherov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kucherov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kucherov 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.
Kucherov landing with the ground and pound.
Berg wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kucherov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kucherov trying to control the position from guard on top but Berg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kucherov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kucherov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
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 looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berg manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kucherov manages to get himself to full guard.
Berg trying to control but Kucherov is working from the bottom.
Kucherov keeping full guard, as Berg tries to pass.
Kucherov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Berg!
Kucherov controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berg is trying desperately to improve position.
Berg sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Berg wants to get back to full guard.
Kucherov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kucherov is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Berg reverses the position - he's now on top in Kucherov's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roma Kucherov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kucherov shoots for a takedown but Berg saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Berg looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berg tries to clinch but Kucherov is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kucherov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Berg sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kucherov somewhat.

Kucherov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Berg is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kucherov defends well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kucherov trying to control the position from guard on top but Berg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kucherov postures up.
Berg is pulling down on Kucherov's head to control his posture.
Kucherov won't allow Berg to sweep him here.
Kucherov trying to control the position from guard on top but Berg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kucherov preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Berg keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Aamos Berg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roma Kucherov.

Berg gets a double leg takedown into Kucherov's guard.
Aamos Berg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Berg looking to sit in guard and control but Kucherov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Berg is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kucherov gets back to full guard.
Berg preventing the sweep.
Kucherov pulls Berg in close to prevent any damage.
Berg trying to control the position from guard on top but Kucherov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kucherov trying to control the position here.
Kucherov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Aamos Berg.
I think Kucherov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roma Kucherov!
Roma Kucherov thanked the fans post fight for their support.