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 Loss

Scott Cleve Submission (guillotine choke) CC 37 - Cage Championships 37

Washington, Missouri, United States Loss

Chris Tickle TKO (punches) PCL - Cage Madness

Glen Carbon, Illinois, United States Loss

Ferrid Kheder TKO (punches) Mixed Fight League 3

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Catchweight (175 lb) bout. Win

Sal Woods Submission (guillotine choke) Premier Combat League 1: Bad Intentions

Glen Carbon, Illinois, United States Loss

Waylon Lowe KO (punches) KOTC: Bad Boys II

Detroit, Michigan, United States Win

Ryan Scheeper Submission (arm-triangle choke) Take That Promotions: Warriors Collide

Glen Carbon, Illinois, United States Loss

Ray Steinbeiss Decision (unanimous) Evolution MMA

Phoenix, Arizona, United States Loss

Eddy Ellis Decision (unanimous) Strikeforce: At The Dome

Tacoma, Washington, United States Loss

Diego Gonzalez Decision (unanimous) Bodog Fight - Vancouver

British Columbia, Canada Win

Piotr Jakaczynski Decision (split) Bodog Fight - Costa Rica

Costa Rica Loss

Jorge Masvidal Decision (unanimous) Bodog Fight - St. Petersburg

St. Petersburg, Russia Loss

Jake Shields TKO (punches) FCP: Malice at Cow Palace

Cow Palace, San Francisco, CA. Loss

Victor Moreno TKO (doctor stoppage) Diesel Fighting Championships 1

Texas, United States Win

Mark Long TKO (punches) TFC 4: Memorial Mayhem

Kansas, United States Loss

Nuri Shakur Decision (unanimous) APEX: Undisputed

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Loss

Heath Sims TKO (cut) SF 9: Respect

Oregon, United States Loss

Keith Wisniewski Decision (unanimous) Combat - Do Fighting Challenge 1

Illinois, United States Win

Fritz Paul TKO (submission to punches) APEX: Genesis

Montreal, Quebec, Canada Middleweight bout. Loss

Phil Johns Decision RSF - Shooto Challenge 2

Illinois, United States Loss

Din Thomas Decision (unanimous) Absolute Fighting Championships 4

Florida, United States Win

Nuri Shakur Submission (guillotine choke) USMMA 2: Ring of Fury

Massachusetts, United States Won the vacant USMAA Welterweight Championship. Loss

Robbie Lawler TKO (punches) UFC 37.5

Nevada, United States NC

Benji Radach No Contest (overturned by state commission) UFC 37

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 due to Radach holding the fence. Win

Pete Spratt TKO (cut) UA 1: The Genesis

Indiana, United States Loss

Chris Brennan Decision (unanimous) KOTC 11 - Domination

California, United States For the KOTC Middleweight Championship. Win

Seichi Ikemoto Submission (triangle/armbar) Shooto - To The Top 7

Osaka, Japan Loss

Tony DeSouza Decision (unanimous) UFC 31

New Jersey, United States Return to Welterweight. Win

Nick Cardenez Submission (armbar) TPA - Tom Proctor's Absolute

United States Loss

Karl Schmidt TKO (cut) Reality Submission Fighting 2

Belleville, Illinois, United States Welterweight bout. Win

Rich Clementi Submission (armbar) Dangerzone - Insane In Ft. Wayne

Fort Wayne, Indiana, United States Lightweight debut. Draw

Jutaro Nakao Draw HOOKnSHOOT: Fusion

Evansville, Indiana, United States Win

Riley McIlhon Submission (armbar)

Win

Shonie Carter Submission (rear-naked choke)

Win

Brian Geraghty Submission (armbar) Submission Fighting Championships 11

Collinsville, Illinois, United States Loss

Aaron Riley Decision HOOKnSHOOT: Triumph

Evansville, Indiana, United States Loss

Jason Black Decision (split) Extreme Challenge 32

Springfield, Illinois, United States Draw

Andy Sanders Draw HOOKnSHOOT - Double Fury 2

Evansville, Indiana, United States Win

Shannon Ritch Submission (guillotine) Submission Fighting Championships 9

Belleville, Illinois, United States Win

Jason Glabus Decision

Win

Shonie Carter Decision (split)

Loss

Ben Harrison Decision HOOKnSHOOT: Beyond

Win

James Wade Submission (triangle choke) Submission Fighting Championships 8

Belleville, Illinois, United States Loss

Jeremy Horn Decision (unanimous) Submission Fighting Championships 5

Belleville, Illinois, United States NC

Greg James No Contest

Win

David Beason Submission (front choke)

Win

James Wade Decision Submission Fighting Championships 2

Collinsville, Illinois, United States Win

Ryan McBride Submission (armbar) Submission Fighting Championships 1

Collinsville, Illinois, United States