# Steve Berger

Stephen Richard Berger (born May 20, 1973) is an American retired professional mixed martial artist who competed in the Welterweight division. Berger is probably best known for fighting in the UFC, most notably participating in the first mixed martial arts fight aired on US cable television against Robbie Lawler at UFC 37.5.

## Background

Berger was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. According to him, he had serious anxiety that he tried to relieve by getting into fights in his youth. Berger wrestled in high school, and started boxing at the age of 17. After having boxing for a few years, Berger picked up judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu as well.

## Personal life

Berger and his wife have a son.

## Mixed martial arts record

Professional record breakdown :
| 47 matches | 20 wins | 23 losses |
| By knockout | 2 | 8 |
| By submission | 14 | 1 |
| By decision | 4 | 14 |
| Draws | 2 | 2 |
| No contests | 2 | 2 |
| Res. | Record | Opponent | Method | Event | Date | Round | Time | Location | Notes |
| Loss | 20–23–2 (2) | Scott Cleve | Submission (guillotine choke) | CC 37 - Cage Championships 37 | April 7, 2012 | 1 | 1:02 | Washington, Missouri, United States | |
| Loss | 20–22–2 (2) | Chris Tickle | TKO (punches) | PCL - Cage Madness | March 26, 2011 | 2 | 0:56 | Glen Carbon, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 20–21–2 (2) | Ferrid Kheder | TKO (punches) | Mixed Fight League 3 | September 25, 2010 | 2 | 1:26 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Catchweight (175 lb) bout. |
| Win | 20–20–2 (2) | Sal Woods | Submission (guillotine choke) | Premier Combat League 1: Bad Intentions | August 21, 2010 | 3 | 1:13 | Glen Carbon, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 19–20–2 (2) | Waylon Lowe | KO (punches) | KOTC: Bad Boys II | April 16, 2010 | 1 | 2:18 | Detroit, Michigan, United States | |
| Win | 19–19–2 (2) | Ryan Scheeper | Submission (arm-triangle choke) | Take That Promotions: Warriors Collide | October 3, 2009 | 1 | 2:10 | Glen Carbon, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 18–19–2 (2) | Ray Steinbeiss | Decision (unanimous) | Evolution MMA | October 4, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Phoenix, Arizona, United States | |
| Loss | 18–18–2 (2) | Eddy Ellis | Decision (unanimous) | Strikeforce: At The Dome | February 23, 2008 | 3 | 5:00 | Tacoma, Washington, United States | |
| Loss | 18–17–2 (2) | Diego Gonzalez | Decision (unanimous) | Bodog Fight - Vancouver | August 24, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | British Columbia, Canada | |
| Win | 18–16–2 (2) | Piotr Jakaczynski | Decision (split) | Bodog Fight - Costa Rica | February 16, 2007 | 3 | 5:00 | Costa Rica | |
| Loss | 17–16–2 (2) | Jorge Masvidal | Decision (unanimous) | Bodog Fight - St. Petersburg | December 15, 2006 | 3 | 5:00 | St. Petersburg, Russia | |
| Loss | 17–15–2 (2) | Jake Shields | TKO (punches) | FCP: Malice at Cow Palace | September 9, 2006 | 2 | 1:36 | Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA. | |
| Loss | 17–14–2 (2) | Victor Moreno | TKO (doctor stoppage) | Diesel Fighting Championships 1 | June 30, 2006 | 1 | 3:00 | Texas, United States | |
| Win | 17–13–2 (2) | Mark Long | TKO (punches) | TFC 4: Memorial Mayhem | June 9, 2006 | 1 | 1:38 | Kansas, United States | |
| Loss | 16–13–2 (2) | Nuri Shakur | Decision (unanimous) | APEX: Undisputed | September 3, 2005 | 3 | 5:00 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | |
| Loss | 16–12–2 (2) | Heath Sims | TKO (cut) | SF 9: Respect | March 26, 2005 | 3 | 1:23 | Oregon, United States | |
| Loss | 16–11–2 (2) | Keith Wisniewski | Decision (unanimous) | Combat - Do Fighting Challenge 1 | October 23, 2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 16–10–2 (2) | Fritz Paul | TKO (submission to punches) | APEX: Genesis | September 5, 2004 | 1 | 4:46 | Montreal, Quebec, Canada | Middleweight bout. |
| Loss | 15–10–2 (2) | Phil Johns | Decision | RSF - Shooto Challenge 2 | January 2, 2004 | 3 | 5:00 | Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 15–9–2 (2) | Din Thomas | Decision (unanimous) | Absolute Fighting Championships 4 | July 19, 2003 | 3 | 5:00 | Florida, United States | |
| Win | 15–8–2 (2) | Nuri Shakur | Submission (guillotine choke) | USMMA 2: Ring of Fury | September 21, 2002 | 1 | 4:59 | Massachusetts, United States | Won the vacant USMAA Welterweight Championship. |
| Loss | 14–8–2 (2) | Robbie Lawler | TKO (punches) | UFC 37.5 | June 22, 2002 | 2 | 0:27 | Nevada, United States | |
| NC | 14–7–2 (2) | Benji Radach | No Contest (Overturned by State Commission) | UFC 37 | May 10, 2002 | 1 | 0:27 | Louisiana, United States | Radach was declared the winner by TKO at 0:27 of the first round, but the fight was later ruled a No Contest by the Louisiana State Athletic Commission. |
| Win | 14–7–2 (1) | Pete Spratt | TKO (cut) | UA 1: The Genesis | January 27, 2002 | 1 | 2:14 | Indiana, United States | |
| Loss | 13–7–2 (1) | Chris Brennan | Decision (unanimous) | KOTC 11 - Domination | September 29, 2001 | 3 | 5:00 | California, United States | For the KOTC Middleweight Championship. |
| Win | 13–6–2 (1) | Seichi Ikemoto | Submission (triangle/armbar) | Shooto - To The Top 7 | August 26, 2001 | 3 | 2:09 | Osaka, Japan | |
| Loss | 12–6–2 (1) | Tony DeSouza | Decision (unanimous) | UFC 31 | May 4, 2001 | 3 | 5:00 | New Jersey, United States | Return to Welterweight. |
| Win | 12–5–2 (1) | Nick Cardenez | Submission (armbar) | TPA - Tom Proctor's Absolute | February 16, 2001 | 1 | 1:10 | United States | |
| Loss | 11–5–2 (1) | Karl Schmidt | TKO (cut) | Reality Submission Fighting 2 | January 5, 2001 | 1 | 22:38 | Belleville, Illinois, United States | Welterweight bout. |
| Win | 11–4–2 (1) | Rich Clementi | Submission (armbar) | Dangerzone - Insane In Ft. Wayne | November 25, 2000 | 1 | 3:14 | Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States | Lightweight debut. |
| Draw | 10–4–2 (1) | Jutaro Nakao | Draw | HOOKnSHOOT: Fusion | November 18, 2000 | 3 | 5:00 | Evansville, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 10–4–1 (1) | Riley McIlhon | Submission (armbar) | Reality Submission Fighting 1 | October 6, 2000 | 1 | 1:12 | Belleville, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 9–4–1 (1) | Shonie Carter | Submission (rear-naked choke) | Reality Submission Fighting 1 | October 6, 2000 | 1 | 2:41 | Belleville, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 8–4–1 (1) | Brian Geraghty | Submission (armbar) | Submission Fighting Championships 11 | August 23, 2000 | 1 | 2:01 | Collinsville, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 7–4–1 (1) | Aaron Riley | Decision | HOOKnSHOOT: Triumph | August 19, 2000 | 3 | 5:00 | Evansville, Indiana, United States | |
| Loss | 7–3–1 (1) | Jason Black | Decision (split) | Extreme Challenge 32 | May 21, 2000 | 1 | 15:00 | Springfield, Illinois, United States | |
| Draw | 7–2–1 (1) | Andy Sanders | Draw | HOOKnSHOOT - Double Fury 2 | March 18, 2000 | N/A | | Evansville, Indiana, United States | |
| Win | 7–2 (1) | Shannon Ritch | Submission (guillotine) | Submission Fighting Championships 9 | January 28, 2000 | 1 | 1:30 | Belleville, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 6–2 (1) | Jason Glabus | Decision | Ironheart Crown 1 - Genesis | November 6, 1999 | 2 | 2:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | Won the Ironheart Crown 4-man tournament. |
| Win | 5–2 (1) | Shonie Carter | Decision (split) | Ironheart Crown 1 - Genesis | November 6, 1999 | 2 | 2:00 | Chicago, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 4–2 (1) | Ben Harrison | Decision | HOOKnSHOOT: Beyond | September 10, 1999 | 1 | 15:00 | | |
| Win | 4–1 (1) | James Wade | Submission (triangle choke) | Submission Fighting Championships 8 | August 7, 1999 | 1 | | Belleville, Illinois, United States | |
| Loss | 3–1 (1) | Jeremy Horn | Decision (unanimous) | Submission Fighting Championships 5 | January 31, 1999 | 1 | 24:00 | Belleville, Illinois, United States | |
| NC | 3–0 (1) | Greg James | No Contest | UCC - Universal Challenge Championship | May 2, 1998 | 1 | 0:38 | | |
| Win | 3–0 | David Beason | Submission (front choke) | UCC - Universal Challenge Championship | May 2, 1998 | 1 | 8:58 | | |
| Win | 2–0 | James Wade | Decision | Submission Fighting Championships 2 | April 28, 1998 | N/A | | Collinsville, Illinois, United States | |
| Win | 1–0 | Ryan McBride | Submission (armbar) | Submission Fighting Championships 1 | January 15, 1998 | N/A | | Collinsville, Illinois, United States | |