PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Paul Poulter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Slobo Berganovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Poulter
vs
Berganovic

189 cm
41
171 lbs
41 - 23 - 2

186 cm
35
180 lbs
14 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
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 41 - 23 - 2, fighting out of London, Paul Poulter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Slobo Berganovic!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Berganovic 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.
Berganovic lands a couple of elbows.

Berganovic stands up from Poulter's guard - Berganovic perhaps looking for a knockout.
Berganovic shoots in for a takedown but Poulter shows good takedown defense.
Poulter is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Berganovic shoots in looking for a takedown. Poulter tries to sprawl out of it but Berganovic keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Poulter manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Poulter wants to clinch.
Nice body punch from Poulter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berganovic with a poor takedown
and Poulter counters with an outside leg kick.
Paul Poulter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Slobo Berganovic.
Berganovic throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Poulter swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Paul Poulter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Berganovic.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poulter wants to clinch up but Berganovic keeps it at a distance.
Berganovic tries to counter by closing the distance.
Berganovic shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Poulter defends it nicely.
Berganovic scores with a spinning back kick!
Berganovic misses with a two punch combination.
Paul Poulter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Poulter pushes Berganovic up against the cage in a clinch.
Nice body punch from Berganovic.
Berganovic fails to pull guard.
Poulter controlling the action here for a moment.
Berganovic tries to score a body lock takedown but Poulter shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Berganovic is trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berganovic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Poulter has him pressed against the cage.
Poulter prevents Berganovic from breaking the clinch.
Poulter lands a nice knee to the body.
Poulter misses with a knee strike.
Come on Berganovic - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Berganovic is looking to break free of the clinch but Poulter has double underhooks.
Poulter using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Berganovic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Poulter with a knee to the head.
Berganovic is trying to pull guard but Poulter has him pressed against the cage.
Poulter misses with a knee to the head.
Berganovic on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Berganovic is looking for a takedown.
Berganovic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Berganovic is trying to trip Poulter. He has hold of a leg but Poulter is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Berganovic persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Berganovic looking to sit in guard and control but Poulter gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Berganovic trying to control the position.
Berganovic wants to sweep here but Poulter controlling him for the moment.
Poulter forces his way into half guard.

Berganovic manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Poulter keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Berganovic fails to land.
Poulter manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Berganovic is looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berganovic wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Poulter has him pressed against the cage.
Berganovic is trying to pull guard but Poulter has him pressed against the cage.
Berganovic is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Poulter to keep the fight standing.
Poulter lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Poulter lands a right hand that snaps the head of Berganovic backwards.
Poulter tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Poulter with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Berganovic misses with a punch to the body.

Berganovic breaks the clinch.
Berganovic has a takedown stuffed.
Poulter stuffs the takedown attempt from Berganovic. Berganovic gets slowly back to his feet.
A nice combination there by Berganovic.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Poulter 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.

Berganovic takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Poulter gets caught flat footed, as Berganovic shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Poulter manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
A short left from Poulter.
Berganovic changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Poulter fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Poulter throws a combination that misses
and Berganovic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Berganovic pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Berganovic shoots in but no luck this time.
Poulter lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Poulter has managed to clinch.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Poulter lands a knee to the head.
Berganovic takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Slobo Berganovic has been cut.
Berganovic tries to pull guard but Poulter won't allow it.
Paul Poulter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Slobo Berganovic.
Berganovic blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Berganovic takes a knee to the side of the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poulter using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Berganovic has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Poulter is pressed up against the cage. Berganovic has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Poulter down to the mat. Poulter avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Poulter tries to close the distance and clinch but Berganovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Poulter fails with an attempt to clinch.

Poulter gets a clinch.
Poulter tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Berganovic pulls Poulter into guard.
Berganovic seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Berganovic keeping full guard, as Poulter tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berganovic is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Poulter is controlling him.
Poulter passes into half guard.
Berganovic is looking to control Poulter's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Berganovic avoid being mounted?
Poulter tries to stand and escape but Berganovic is controlling the position.
Poulter seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Berganovic does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Poulter tries to pass the half guard into mount. Berganovic knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berganovic trying to control from the bottom.

Berganovic is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Poulter pulls his head out easily.
Berganovic makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Berganovic.
Poulter wants to pass the guard but Berganovic is keeping the position.
Poulter stops Berganovic from standing up.
Poulter wants to pass the guard but Berganovic is keeping the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Poulter throws a head kick that misses.
Poulter tries to clinch there but Berganovic circles away.
Poulter lands with a good body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berganovic connects with a nice looking jab.

Poulter gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Berganovic is trying to pull guard but Poulter turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Berganovic tries to pull guard but Poulter forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Poulter throws a knee to the head but misses.
Berganovic fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Poulter is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Berganovic can do to turn this around?

Berganovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Poulter tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Berganovic cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A head kick misses from Poulter.
Berganovic misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Berganovic.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Berganovic shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Poulter pinned against the cage. Poulter gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Poulter fires out a quick counter leg kick but Berganovic just manages to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Poulter dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Slobo Berganovic's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Berganovic connects with a high kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Berganovic has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Poulter avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Berganovic misses with a short punch on the inside.

Berganovic has hold of one of Poulter's legs. Poulter is fighting the takedown attempt but Berganovic gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Poulter keeping full guard, as Berganovic tries to pass.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Berganovic trying to control but Poulter is working from the bottom.
Poulter is looking to stand up but Berganovic isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berganovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Poulter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Berganovic throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Poulter works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Berganovic throws a sloppy head kick and Poulter moves out of range easily.
Poulter lands a two punch combo.
Berganovic lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Poulter circles away quickly and effectively.
A slow jab from Berganovic misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Poulter pushes Berganovic up against the cage in a clinch.

Berganovic has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Poulter uses from the top position.
Poulter sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Berganovic's guard.
Poulter content to control rather than advance.
Poulter has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Poulter controlling the pace for now.

Poulter gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berganovic shoots in for a double leg but Poulter sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Poulter digs a good hook to Berganovic's body.
Poulter tries to clinch up but Berganovic circles away and keeps his distance.
Poulter stuffs the takedown.
Paul Poulter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Slobo Berganovic.
Berganovic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Poulter tries to close the distance and clinch up but Berganovic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Berganovic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A nice inside leg kick there by Poulter. That's going to slow Berganovic down.
Slobo Berganovic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Berganovic lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Berganovic avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Poulter tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Berganovic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Berganovic ducks right into an uppercut from Poulter.

Poulter moves into the clinch.
Poulter misses with a punch on the inside.
Poulter stalls.
Paul Poulter has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poulter misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Berganovic.
Poulter tries to land a knee to the head but Berganovic blocks with his arms.
Berganovic is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Poulter with a knee to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Berganovic is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Poulter to keep the fight standing.
Poulter has Berganovic pushed against the cage.

Berganovic jumps into guard, dragging Poulter to the mat.
Berganovic trying to keep a closed guard but Poulter is proving a slippery customer.
Poulter pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Berganovic is keeping the position for now.
Poulter sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Berganovic's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Poulter showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Poulter, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Poulter!