PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Manuel Berger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Milan Rodic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Berger
vs
Rodic

214 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Manuel Berger!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Milan Rodic!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rodic clinches.
Rodic avoiding damage as Berger throws knees to the body.

Rodic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rodic takes a swing at Berger's ribcage but misses.
Rodic with a lazy takedown attempt
and Berger counters with a nice uppercut.
Berger is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Rodic changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Berger looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Berger tries to bench press Rodic off him but Rodic keeps the position.

Rodic decides to stand back up.
Berger avoids the head kick by Rodic.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rodic enables Berger to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rodic manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rodic working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodic throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Berger landing some decent shots from guard.
Rodic wants to hit a switch here but Berger passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Rodic there!
Rodic has given up his back here.
Rodic is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodic trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Berger has the hooks in. Rodic is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Berger tightening his grip on Rodic, looking for the choke.
Rodic is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Berger doesn't have the hooks in and Rodic manages to turn into his guard.
Rodic pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Berger is keeping the position for now.
Berger is looking to stand up but Rodic isn't so interested in that idea.
Rodic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodic trying to control but Berger is working from the bottom.
Berger really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Berger manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Berger has closed the distance and engaged Rodic in a clinch.
Rodic is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Rodic closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Berger has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Rodic is on him like a limpet, forcing Berger back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Berger tries for a takedown but Rodic manages to get underhooks.

Berger is fighting off a takedown attempt but Rodic is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Berger to the mat. Berger regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Berger kicks Rodic off and gets to his feet.
Berger is breathing heavily.
Berger slaps away a takedown attempt from Rodic, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rodic misses with a wild combination.
A punch combination from Berger misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Berger dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Berger gets caught napping as Rodic dives in and scores a takedown. Berger manages to retain guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Berger manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Rodic looking to stall.
Berger tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rodic smiles and moves away.

Rodic closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rodic lands in his opponent's guard.
Rodic wants to stand but Berger has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berger looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Berger keeping moving, preventing Rodic from controlling successfully.
Berger wants to stand up but Rodic is controlling him.
Manuel Berger overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Rodic has gone for a leg lock! Berger slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rodic's guard.

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.
Berger wants to stand but Rodic is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rodic wants to hit a switch here but Berger passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Rodic there!
Rodic is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodic is still trying to improve position.
Rodic wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Rodic is trying to stand back up.
Berger slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berger has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Berger is not going to allow Rodic to sit and survive in this position.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Berger.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rodic wants to get back to his feet.
Rodic is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manuel Berger dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rodic ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Berger moves out of range as Rodic throws a body kick.

Rodic has closed the distance and engaged Berger in a clinch.
Rodic throws an elbow that misses.
Berger wants to take the fight to the mat but Rodic manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Rodic breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck for Rodic with that takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rodic clinches up with Berger and pushes him back against the cage.
Berger is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Rodic is defending well.

Rodic is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Berger can't fight it off and eventually Rodic manages to take the fight to the floor. Berger looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Berger pushes Rodic off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Berger gets tackled into the cage by Rodic. Rodic maintains the clinch.

Rodic pulls guard effortlessly.

Berger got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rodic has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Berger has managed to get both his arms back between Rodic's legs - danger averted.
Rodic takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rodic wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Berger is now in half guard.
Berger perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Berger lands a nice short elbow.
Rodic trying to control but Berger postures up.
Well, if Berger is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Rodic tries to roll over but Berger keeps him under control.
Rodic trying to control here.
Berger will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodic wants to improve his position but Berger is controlling well.
Berger seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rodic darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Berger kicks Rodic off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Berger tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rodic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rodic keeps the fight on the outside.

Rodic scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rodic trying to control the action but Berger is working from the bottom.
Berger tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Milan Rodic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Manuel Berger is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Berger wants to get back to his feet but Rodic drags him back down.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Milan Rodic.
I think Berger has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manuel Berger!