PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Oskar Berg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Thachticov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thachticov has chosen Lil Jon - Get Crunk as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Berg
vs
Thachticov

172 cm
18
167 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

186 cm
25
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Oskar Berg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, John Thachticov!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Bart Greer and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berg tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Thachticov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Berg shoots in but Thachticov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Thachticov lands with an overhand left.

Berg takes the fight into the clinch.

Berg drags the fight down to the ground.
Berg might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Thachticov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Berg is trying to keep Thachticov in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thachticov trying to control but Berg is working from the bottom.
Thachticov controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thachticov trying to control but Berg is working from the bottom.

Thachticov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Thachticov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Berg in his tracks.
Decent striking displayed by Thachticov there.
Thachticov is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Thachticov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Berg has been working on his balance at Cozad The Island, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Thachticov.
Thachticov slaps away a takedown attempt from Berg, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Thachticov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Berg manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Berg with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Thachticov to score with a decent uppercut.
Berg on the wrong end of a nice hook.
John Thachticov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Thachticov clinches with his opponent.
Berg can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oskar Berg. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Thachticov manages to break the clinch.
Berg with a poor takedown
enabling Thachticov to counter with a crisp jab.
Berg shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Thachticov defends it nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Berg walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

Berg has closed the distance and engaged Thachticov in a clinch.

Thachticov breaks from the clinch.
Thachticov connects with a solid leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thachticov sizes up Berg with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Thachticov is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Berg had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Thachticov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Berg tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thachticov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Berg gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Berg is trying to pull guard but Thachticov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Thachticov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A jab from Thachticov does it's job there.
Nice straight punches there by Thachticov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Thachticov.
Berg tries to clinch but Thachticov moves away
and Thachticov counters with a head kick.
Berg takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Thachticov connects with a right hand. Berg shakes it off.
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!
Thachticov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Thachticov stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berg is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Thachticov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Berg darts in trying to clinch
and Thachticov counters with an outside leg kick.
Thachticov is looking to clinch but Berg is avoiding it.
Thachticov has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Berg shoots for a double leg takedown but Thachticov sprawls well. He's pushed Berg's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
As Berg backs off Thachticov throws a huge counter combo but Berg manages to avoid it all.
Thachticov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Thachticov connects with an inside leg kick.
Berg circles away from the clinch attempt.

Thachticov clinches with his opponent.
Berg jumps guard but Thachticov stands there with Berg around his waist. Berg gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Thachticov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Thachticov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fight stays on the outside here - Thachticov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Berg shoots and misses
and Thachticov counters with a straight right hand.
Thachticov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Berg walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Thachticov lands with an overhand left.
Thachticov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Berg.
Berg looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thachticov is fending him off so far but Berg persists. Nope, Thachticov circles away and we're back to standing.

Berg darts in and clinches Thachticov up against the cage.

Thachticov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berg shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Thachticov sprawls well. Thachticov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Berg gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oskar Berg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Berg throws the left hand but Thachticov avoids the punch easily.
Thachticov with the counter takedown but Berg avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berg takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Berg throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Thachticov.
No luck for Berg with that takedown attempt.
Thachticov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Berg takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Thachticov lands a glancing blow to the side of Berg's head.
Thachticov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Thachticov closes the distance and clinches.

Thachticov manages to break the clinch.
Berg looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Berg tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Thachticov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Thachticov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Berg tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Berg throws a one two combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Jab by Thachticov.
Thachticov scores with a nice head shot.
Thachticov wants to clinch up but Berg keeps it at a distance.

Thachticov closes the distance and pushes Berg back into the cage.
Berg tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Thachticov smiles and moves away.
Berg misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thachticov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Thachticov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Thachticov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Berg shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Thachticov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Thachticov is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Berg presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thachticov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Thachticov dodges the punch combination from Berg.
A combination from Thachticov does no damage.
Berg takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Thachticov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Berg sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Berg seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Berg is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Thachticov is looking to clinch.
Thachticov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Thachticov throws a head kick that misses.
A shot to the liver by Thachticov. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berg takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Berg takes one to the chin there.
Thachticov scores with a jab. Berg acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Thachticov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Thachticov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Berg on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Thachticov with a nice cross.
Thachticov lands with a right hand.
Berg takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Berg fails to land the takedown.
Thachticov with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Thachticov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Thachticov leaves Berg with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Berg tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Thachticov misses with the combination.
Good exchange - Thachticov coming out on top.
Berg tries to score a power double leg takedown but Thachticov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Berg somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thachticov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Berg was well out of range. Poor timing from Thachticov.
Thachticov lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Berg takes a jab right on the kisser.
Thachticov tries to clinch but Berg is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thachticov lands an overhand right.

Thachticov rushes Berg and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Thachticov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice shot lands for Thachticov.
Thachticov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Berg takes a jab right on the kisser.
Thachticov connects with a right hand. Berg shakes it off.
Jab by Thachticov.
Thachticov leaves Berg with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oskar Berg. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thachticov is looking to clinch.
Thachticov stuffs the takedown attempt from Berg. Berg gets slowly back to his feet.
Thachticov is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thachticov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Berg fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Berg keeps the fight on the outside.
Berg appears to be looking for a big counter.
Thachticov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Thachticov drives through and clinches with Berg against the cage.

Thachticov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Thachticov has taken the fight to the clinch.

Thachticov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A solid leg kick lands there for Thachticov.
Berg tries to clinch
and Thachticov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Oskar Berg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berg closes this distance looking for a takedown but Thachticov circles away.
Thachticov with the counter takedown but Berg avoids it easily.
Good leg kick by Thachticov there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Thachticov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Berg looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Oskar Berg is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Thachticov moves into range and clinches up with Berg.

Thachticov has clasped his hands together around Berg's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Berg sneaks out the side door and pushes Thachticov away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Berg closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Thachticov lands with a thumping leg kick.

Berg tries to keep at a distance but Thachticov has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Thachticov prevents the takedown attempt.
John Thachticov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Thachticov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Thachticov with a nice cross.
Berg walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Berg misses with a double jab
and Thachticov counters with a two punch combo.

Thachticov moves into range and clinches up with Berg.
Berg is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Berg slowing the pace effectively.
Berg changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Thachticov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Thachticov scoring well with a low kick there.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Thachticov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Thachticov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 David Hoff scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Thachticov!
During a confident post fight interview, John Thachticov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.