PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ezra Ray (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Slobo Berganovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Ray
vs
Berganovic

192 cm
38
181 lbs
29 - 12 - 1

186 cm
24
180 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 29 - 12 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ezra Ray!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Slobo Berganovic!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Albert Achterberg and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berganovic blocks a head kick by Ray.
Slobo Berganovic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Berganovic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ray.
Ray throws a shot to the body.
Ray gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Berganovic.
Ray takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ray scores with a nice head shot.
Ray staying out of range there.
Ray scores with a head kick. Berganovic tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Ray throws a head kick but Berganovic moves out of range.
Ray throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Ray takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Berganovic throws a looping overhand right but Ray ducks down to avoid it.
Berganovic throws a lazy uppercut
and Ray counters with a leg kick.
Berganovic swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ray needs to keep his hands up - Berganovic had a free shot at his head there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A telegraphed right hand from Berganovic misses the target.
A big left from Berganovic misses.
Ray slips under a jab.
Berganovic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Ray paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fighters circling - Ray throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Berganovic takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ray lands with a slapping head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Berganovic blocks a head kick by Ray.
Ray throws a looping overhand right but Berganovic ducks down to avoid it.
Ray lands a jab to the head.
Berganovic avoids the head kick by Ray.
Ray throws a hook but Berganovic blocks it.
Ray avoids a punch combination nicely.
Berganovic connects with a single shot there.
Berganovic takes one to the chin there.
A big left from Ray misses.
Berganovic throws an overhand right that lands on Ray's shoulder, as Ray tries to avoid the shot.
Berganovic blocks a head kick by Ray.
Ray misses with a low kick.
Ezra Ray is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A jab from Berganovic finds it's way through Ray's defenses.
Berganovic moves into range and connects with a jab.
Berganovic misses the jab.
Berganovic tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ray sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Berganovic somewhat.
A jab from Berganovic misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ray moves into range and connects with a jab.
Berganovic might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Ray.
Ray shoots in for a takedown but Berganovic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ray throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ray plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Berganovic throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Berganovic moves away from the strike by Ray.
Ray moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Ray throws a head kick that misses.
Berganovic scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Berganovic looks to land a combination but Ray avoids it well.
Ray misses with a body kick.
Berganovic looks to throw the jab but Ray is out of range.

Berganovic rushes Ray and presses him up against the ropes.
Ray throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Berganovic blocks it with crossed arms.
Berganovic tries to break free but Ray pushes him back against the ropes.
Berganovic tries to circle away but Ray has him pinned against the ropes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berganovic blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ray throws a head punch that misses.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ray.
Ray using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Berganovic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Berganovic breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Berganovic is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Ray had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Berganovic moves out of range of the strikes.
Berganovic throws a hook to the side of Ray's head but Ray sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Berganovic throws a big shot that misses.
Berganovic darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ray tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A right-left combo lands from Berganovic.
A jab lands there for Ray.
Ray defending well as Berganovic loads up on a big left hand.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ray steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Berganovic.
Ray looks to land a body kick but Berganovic moved away.
Ray cracks Berganovic with an open hand slap.
A head kick from Ray lands but Berganovic takes it in his stride.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Berganovic loads up on a big right hand but Ray slips the punch.
Berganovic looks to land a right hand but Ray moved out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ray throws an overhand right that lands on Berganovic's shoulder, as Berganovic tries to avoid the shot.
Ray misses with a straight right.
Berganovic bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ray's head.
Ray defending well as Berganovic loads up on a big left hand.
Ray throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Berganovic's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ray under the eye.
Ray lands with an overhand left.
Ray pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ray throws a head kick that Berganovic semi-blocks.
A big right from Ray misses.
Horrible takedown by Berganovic or perhaps it was just good defense by Ray which made him look bad.
Berganovic missing with a left hand there. Ray was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ray lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ray uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Berganovic has time to react.
Ray pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ray displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Berganovic throws out the jab.
Berganovic swings for the body but Ray moves out of range.
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 Ezra Ray will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ray uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Berganovic.
Berganovic rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ray connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ray lands a head kick!
Ray tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick misses from Ray.
Berganovic missing with a left hand there. Ray was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ray misses with an uppercut.
Berganovic misses with a straight right.
Ray ducks under a wild hook from Berganovic.
Nice uppercut there from Berganovic.
Berganovic moves out of range of the body kick from Ray.
Ray pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Berganovic misses with an uppercut.
Berganovic scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Ray moves out of range of the strikes.
Berganovic bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ray lands with a kick to the temple. Berganovic shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ray goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Ray tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Berganovic gets the takedown into side control.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Berganovic wants to control but Ray is keeping him busy.
Ray is holding Berganovic down, trying to stall.
Ray struggling a bit here.
Ray is trying to get back to half guard.
The ground and pound from Berganovic seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Ray tries to improve position but can't.
Berganovic tries to stand but Ray is controlling his head.
Ray sneaks back into half guard.
Ray is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ray is concentrating on defense, preventing Berganovic from advancing position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ray is trying to get back to full guard.
Berganovic thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ray is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Berganovic's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Berganovic's back!
Ray controlling well, preventing Berganovic from escaping the position.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Ray lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Ray gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Berganovic trying to control the action but Ray just sinks the hooks in.
Berganovic grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Berganovic covering up well under a series of strikes from Ray.
Ray lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Ray throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Ray trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray is really struggling to control Berganovic but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Berganovic is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Ray has the hooks in. Berganovic is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Ray controlling the positon.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Ray tries to get the hooks in deep but Berganovic pushed the leg off.
Ray misses with punches from the back.
I would not like to be Berganovic right now.
Berganovic trying to get back to his feet but Ray is in full control for now.
What can Berganovic do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berganovic wants to escape the position.
Ray has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ray throwing sloppy strikes.
Berganovic tries to break free.
Berganovic is covering up but some of the strikes from Ray are getting through and doing damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Berganovic trying to control the hands but Ray won't let him.
Berganovic can't escape the position.
Ray is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Berganovic looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ray is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Berganovic wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ezra Ray dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Berganovic walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ray.
Ray takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Decent striking displayed by Ray there.
Ray throws a sloppy head kick and Berganovic moves out of range easily.
Berganovic misses with a looping left.
Ray throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ray slips under a jab.
Ray throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ray misses with a head kick.
Berganovic tests Ray's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Berganovic throws a looping overhand right but Ray ducks down to avoid it.
Berganovic's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ray under the eye.
Ray misses with a head kick.
Sloppy strikes from Berganovic. Those never looked like landing.
Ray misses with a straight right.
Berganovic looks to score with a jab to the body but Ray is just out of range.
Ray slips a jab from Berganovic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ray.
Ray throws a series of punches but Berganovic moves out of range.
Ray throws a nice looking combination but Berganovic bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ray slips under a jab.
Ezra Ray is winning the standup battle so far.
Ray swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ray uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Berganovic.
Ray changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Berganovic tries to avoid it but Ray manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Berganovic to the ground. Berganovic escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Berganovic throws a hook but Ray avoids it easily.
Ray misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ray bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ray tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Berganovic digs a good hook to Ray's body.
Decent striking displayed by Ray there.
Berganovic throws a hook but Ray blocks it.
Ray has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ray there as he acknowledges the shot.
Berganovic lands a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berganovic looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Berganovic misses with a wild combination.
Ray blocks a jab.
Berganovic with a jab.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Berganovic closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Berganovic tries to stand but Ray is controlling his head.
Berganovic in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Ray tries to improve position but can't.
Ray gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Berganovic is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Ray preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Berganovic thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Slobo Berganovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray trying to control from the bottom.
Berganovic sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ray defending well though.
Ray trying to control from the bottom.
Ray controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

We're going to have a standup here because Ezra Ray wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Berganovic tries to clinch there but Ray circles away.
Ray throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Berganovic avoids the head kick by Ray.
Berganovic displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ray throws out the jab.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ray.
Some wild striking there from Berganovic.
Berganovic throws a hook but Ray blocks it.
Ray misses with a series of wild punches.
Berganovic throws an overhand right that lands on Ray's shoulder, as Ray tries to avoid the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ray pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Berganovic throws out a loose jab but Ray uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ray looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A swing and a miss from Ray.
Berganovic throws the left hand but Ray avoids the punch easily.
A head kick misses from Ray.
Berganovic misses with a hook.
Ray tries a head kick but it misses.
Ezra Ray is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Berganovic lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Berganovic looks to land a left hand but Ray moved out of range nicely.
Ray misses with a head kick.
Ray throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Berganovic throws a poor cross that misses
and Ray counters with a body kick.
Ray throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Berganovic stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Ray throws a front kick aimed at Berganovic's knee but Berganovic avoids it well.
Sloppy strikes from Berganovic. Those never looked like landing.
Ray scores with a jab. Berganovic acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Ray lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ray.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Slobo Berganovic.
Well Ray 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:28
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28

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