PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tobias Bergman (ranked 5974 p4p, 1732 weight class) and Kemp Dennis (ranked 547 p4p, 215 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bergman
vs
Dennis

182 cm
21
212
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
210
5 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tobias Bergman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Kemp Dennis!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Chris Edwards and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dennis closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bergman to the mat! Bergman manages to get full guard.
Bergman has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Dennis scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dennis wants to control from the top but Bergman keeps moving.
Dennis is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Dennis won't allow Bergman to sweep him here.

Dennis avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Bergman has his foot on Dennis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dennis works his way back into a safe position though.
Dennis stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bergman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bergman trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dennis wants to control from the top but Bergman keeps moving.
Dennis advances position into side control!
Bergman taking punishment in the form of punches.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Dennis working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dennis lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Bergman can't do much from the bottom here.
Bergman is trying to improve his position.
Dennis working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Dennis working the body and head with strikes.
Bergman tries to buck Dennis off but Dennis is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dennis trying to control the action but Bergman is working from the bottom.
Bergman tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dennis working away.
Dennis lands a nice forearm strike.
Dennis working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bergman is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dennis cracks Bergman with an elbow. That is naaassty.
You can see the frustration on Bergman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bergman takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Bergman is looking for a sweep.
Dennis scores with punches from side control.
Bergman tries to buck Dennis off but Dennis is having none of it.
Dennis trying to control the action but Bergman is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Bergman's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bergman is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Bergman regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dennis trying to control the action but Bergman is working from the bottom.
Dennis 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.
Dennis performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Bergman is pressing down on Dennis's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Dennis postures up in Bergman's guard and throws a big left but Bergman blocks it.
Dennis tries to free his leg and advance position but Bergman is retaining full guard.

Bergman escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dennis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bergman has Dennis pulled in close to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dennis looking to pass the guard.
Dennis postures up and lands a big shot to Bergman's brow.
Dennis throwing strikes but missing.
Dennis trying to control but Bergman is working from the bottom.
Dennis passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bergman tries to buck Dennis off but Dennis is having none of it.
Bergman wants to control but Dennis postures up.
Dennis is working Bergman over with some ground and pound from side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dennis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bergman keeps working.
Bergman wants to control but Dennis postures up.
Dennis trying to control the position but Bergman is working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kemp Dennis dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Dennis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bergman avoids it really well and circles away.
Dennis shoots in for a takedown but Bergman shows good takedown defense.
Bergman throws the left hand but Dennis avoids the punch easily.
Dennis feints the counter takedown.
Dennis fails with the takedown.
Tobias Bergman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kemp Dennis.
Bergman's jab looks to have found its range, popping Dennis under the eye.

It looks like Kemp Dennis has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dennis misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bergman enables Dennis to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bergman manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dennis scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dennis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dennis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bergman looking for a sweep. Not yet Bergman, not yet.
Bergman looking to control but Dennis passes into half guard.

Bergman actively working from the bottom here.
Bergman is looking to control Dennis's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bergman avoid being mounted?
Dennis trying to mount his opponent but Bergman defends it.
Bergman is looking to improve his position.
Dennis trying to mount his opponent but Bergman defends it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bergman trying to hold on to Dennis's head to control him but Dennis postures up.
Dennis wants to take a breather but Bergman is having none of it.
Ground and pound from Dennis.
Dennis is nestled in close to Bergman, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kemp Dennis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dennis scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Dennis slips a nice elbow through Bergman's hands, connecting with Bergman's forehead.
Bergman is looking for a sweep. Dennis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bergman trying to hold on to Dennis's head to control him but Dennis postures up.
Dennis wants to pass the guard but Bergman is defending well.
Bergman is staying active underneath Dennis, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bergman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dennis content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Bergman is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dennis scores with a couple of nice shots.
Dennis working Bergman over with strikes.
Dennis scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bergman tries to roll over but Dennis keeps him under control.
Dennis lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Dennis working over Bergman with some ground and pound. Bergman looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Dennis connects with a nice short shot to Bergman's temple.
Dennis scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Bergman gets full guard.
Bergman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dennis is in close to Bergman's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Dennis looking to sit in guard and control but Bergman gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dennis is on top in guard.

Dennis seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Bergman has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Dennis is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Bergman.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dennis working away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Kemp Dennis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kemp Dennis's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Dennis is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bergman sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dennis shoots in but no luck this time.

Bergman shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dennis is trying to defend but Bergman finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Bergman is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Bergman seems to be working for a kimura but Dennis defends the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dennis is not content to let Bergman control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dennis makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Dennis.
Dennis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bergman sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bergman passes Dennis's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Dennis trying to control from the bottom.
Dennis is looking for a sweep. Bergman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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.
Bergman is looking to take a break and control but Dennis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bergman content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Bergman tries to pass the half guard into mount. Dennis knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Dennis throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Bergman manages to pass to side control.
Dennis is trying to control Bergman's posture but Bergman avoids it.
Dennis is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bergman thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Bergman tries for a kimura but Dennis is defending well.
Dennis tries to buck Bergman off but Bergman is having none of it.
Dennis is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Bergman is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Dennis is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Bergman tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Dennis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dennis can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Bergman wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Dennis, who protects the arm well.
Dennis manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kemp Dennis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Bergman is looking for a kimura here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dennis moves into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tobias Bergman showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dennis 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29

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