PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sammy King (ranked 21346 p4p, 23385 weight class) and Jeppe Bjoergen (ranked 747 p4p, 750 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

King
vs
Bjoergen

198 cm
33
235
4 - 13 - 0

192 cm
25
270
6 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ice Nutrition and LAUNDRY [20%]

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Sammy King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jeppe Bjoergen!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bjoergen lands a high kick!

It looks like Sammy King has been cut.

Bjoergen gets a clinch.
Bjoergen is working for takedown but King is calmly controlling the position for now.

Bjoergen manages to break the clinch.
King changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bjoergen tries to avoid it but King manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bjoergen to the ground. Bjoergen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
King tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Bjoergen counters with a right hand to the body.
Bjoergen throws a head kick that King semi-blocks.
Bjoergen cracks King with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

King moves into the clinch.
King wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

King pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

King has closed the distance and engaged Bjoergen in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
King wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
King wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
King lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bjoergen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
King wants to get back to striking at distance but Bjoergen won't allow it.

King manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bjoergen or perhaps it was just good defense by King, which made it look bad.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

King's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bjoergen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sammy King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeppe Bjoergen.

King gets tackled into the cage by Bjoergen. Bjoergen maintains the clinch.

King's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bjoergen scores with a kick to the midsection.

King gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bjoergen manages to break the clinch.

Bjoergen gets tackled into the cage by King. King maintains the clinch.
I was talking to King's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Bjoergen breaks the clinch.

Bjoergen clinches up with King and pushes him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bjoergen blocking some punches.
King is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bjoergen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. King is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
King wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bjoergen has him pressed against the cage.
King is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
King wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Bjoergen breaks from the clinch.

King moves into the clinch.
Bjoergen drops down looking for an ankle pick but King pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sammy King seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
King tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bjoergen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Bjoergen instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

King breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
King tries to clinch up.

Bjoergen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
King is trying to control Bjoergen's posture but Bjoergen avoids it.
A lull in the action here.

Bjoergen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bjoergen working away.
Bjoergen has control of an arm but King manages to advance to Bjoergen's back!
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bjoergen wants to control his opponent's hands but King gets his hands free.
King is working the ground and pound. Can Bjoergen escape?

It looks like Jeppe Bjoergen has been cut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Bjoergen is trying to shake King off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! King won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
King slaps away a takedown attempt from Bjoergen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
King wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Bjoergen throws a sloppy head kick and King moves out of range easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jeppe Bjoergen will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bjoergen lands a head kick!

King closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bjoergen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bjoergen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. King smiles and moves away.
King avoids the head kick by Bjoergen.
King is looking for a counter combo.
King slips a jab and a cross from Bjoergen.
A punch combination from King misses.
Jeppe Bjoergen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
King tries to clinch but Bjoergen moves out of range.
King wants to clinch.
Bjoergen throws a counter combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bjoergen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts King as he jumps to the side.
Sammy King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeppe Bjoergen.
Bjoergen fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King darts in trying to clinch
and Bjoergen counters with a left and a right that stings King.
King darts in trying to clinch
enabling Bjoergen to counter with a crisp jab.

King clinches up with Bjoergen and pushes him back against the cage.
Bjoergen jumps guard but King stands there with Bjoergen around his waist. Bjoergen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bjoergen has King pressed against the cage, preventing King from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bjoergen is looking to take this one to the mat.
King swings away with an uppercut that misses.
King wants to break free but Bjoergen has control.
Sammy King has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
King is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bjoergen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bjoergen is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Bjoergen - that will leave a mark!
Nice sprawl there from King as Bjoergen shoots in.
Bjoergen shoots in looking for a takedown. King tries to sprawl out of it but Bjoergen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. King manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Bjoergen pushes King up against the cage in a clinch.
Bjoergen works on King's body with a couple of short punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
King wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

King pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
King shoots for a takedown but Bjoergen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bjoergen is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bjoergen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with King, pushing him back against the cage.
King prevents a takedown attempt there.
King has had enough of the clinch but Bjoergen keeps him there for the moment.
King on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bjoergen avoiding damage.

King breaks from the clinch.
Bjoergen stuffs the takedown.
Bjoergen shoots and misses
and King cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bjoergen tests King's chin there with a solid looking shot.

King moves into range and clinches up with Bjoergen.
King wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bjoergen prevents King from breaking the clinch.
King wants to break free but Bjoergen has control.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bjoergen creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
King scores with a hook to the body.
King working hard to break the clinch.
King stops a takedown attempt from Bjoergen.
King tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bjoergen just stands there and leans against the cage.
King is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bjoergen to keep the fight standing.

Bjoergen gets control of King's arms and successfully pulls guard. Bjoergen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
King content to stall in guard here.
King has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
King is working Bjoergen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jeppe Bjoergen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

King fails to land the takedown.
King connects with a single shot there.
Bjoergen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from King.
Bjoergen dives in and grabs King's left leg, looking for a takedown. King pushes down on Bjoergen's head and hops out.
King throwing a counter right hand but Bjoergen manages to avoid it.
Bjoergen fails to land with a series of punches.
Bjoergen doesn't succeed with the takedown

and King moves into the clinch.
King lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bjoergen keeps control of King as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
King tries to break free but Bjoergen pushes him back against the cage.

Bjoergen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bjoergen looks for the body kick but King saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bjoergen tries to clinch but King moves out of range.
Sammy King is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
King fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bjoergen tries to close the distance and clinch up but King swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bjoergen misses with a takedown
and King counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sammy King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeppe Bjoergen.
King stuffs the takedown.
Bjoergen shoots for a takedown but King saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - King looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bjoergen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Bjoergen lands a high kick!
King dives in for a single leg takedown but Bjoergen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
As King backs off Bjoergen throws a huge counter combo but King manages to avoid it all.
King prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King is trying to break the clinch but Bjoergen has him pressed against the cage.
King working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
King wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
King lands a shoulder strike.

King pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bjoergen keeps the fight on the outside.
King tries to clinch but Bjoergen moves out of range.
Bjoergen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
King throws a leg kick
and Bjoergen counters with a two punch combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bjoergen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

King moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from King.
King looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

King breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

King scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Bjoergen manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Bjoergen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but King swivels and escapes.
King dives in and grabs Bjoergen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bjoergen pushes down on King's head and hops out.
Bjoergen tries for a takedown but King circles away easily
and King counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bjoergen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
This has been an exciting period of action!
King wants to clinch up but Bjoergen keeps it at a distance.
King swings for the body but Bjoergen moves out of range.
Bjoergen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
King fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bjoergen fails to land the takedown.

King closes the distance and clinches.
Bjoergen tries to pull guard but King forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

King escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
No luck with that takedown attempt from King.
Bjoergen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Bjoergen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? King is fending him off so far but Bjoergen persists. Nope, King circles away and we're back to standing.
King tries to clinch but Bjoergen is having none of it.
Sammy King has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jeppe Bjoergen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
King throws a right hand that misses
and Bjoergen counters with a nice uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sammy King showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bjoergen 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jeppe Bjoergen!
After winning the bout, Jeppe Bjoergen thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.