PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Evgeni Lomachenko (ranked 2155 p4p, 3251 weight class) and Damen Mayer (ranked 132 p4p, 184 weight class). Lomachenko comes to the cage accompanied by Seryoga - King Ring. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lomachenko
vs
Mayer

168 cm
39
144
24 - 25 - 1

170 cm
37
142
23 - 21 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 25 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Evgeni Lomachenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 21 - 1, fighting out of New York, Damen Mayer!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Taro Takaoka and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lomachenko moves away from the strike by Mayer.
Mayer cracks Lomachenko with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Lomachenko throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Mayer sees it coming and avoids it easily.
And Mayer tries to counter it with a takedown but Lomachenko pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Mayer defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lomachenko.
Mayer has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Lomachenko is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Mayer looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Mayer is working for a kimura but Lomachenko is defending it quite comfortably.
Mayer is looking to advance position but Lomachenko won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lomachenko wants to get back to full guard.

Mayer is looking for a kimura but Lomachenko is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mayer to get the leverage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lomachenko tries to roll over but Mayer keeps him under control.
Lomachenko is working hard here to advance position.

Mayer is trying to work for a kimura but Lomachenko is defending well.

Mayer is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lomachenko has managed to free his arm - good work.

Mayer is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lomachenko is just riding it out for now. Mayer eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lomachenko is looking to improve his position.

Mayer is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lomachenko tries to get to full guard but Mayer has control of the leg.
Mayer looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lomachenko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mayer pulls his head out easily.

Mayer is working for a kimura but Lomachenko is defending it quite comfortably.
Lomachenko tries to roll over but Mayer keeps him under control.

Mayer is looking for a kimura here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lomachenko strikes from the bottom but Mayer uses the opportunity to move to side control.

Mayer tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Mayer has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Lomachenko tries to bench press Mayer off him but Mayer keeps the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Mayer is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lomachenko has escaped the position, nice work there.
Lomachenko tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damen Mayer dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mayer connects with a single shot there.
Lomachenko swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Mayer 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.
Mayer forces his way into half guard.

Mayer is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lomachenko doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Mayer.

Mayer is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lomachenko sees it coming and defends easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lomachenko is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Mayer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Mayer's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lomachenko gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

Lomachenko is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Mayer breaks Lomachenko's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Lomachenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Lomachenko, not yet.
Mayer stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lomachenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Lomachenko has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Mayer is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Lomachenko.
Lomachenko is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mayer working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lomachenko manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Mayer is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Lomachenko defends it well.

Mayer seems to be looking for submissions.
Lomachenko wants to improve his position but Mayer is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mayer moves into full mount! Lomachenko won't be happy about that!
Lomachenko is looking to get to half guard.

Mayer is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Lomachenko can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Lomachenko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mayer is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Lomachenko is in real trouble.
Lomachenko can't escape the position.
Lomachenko breaks Mayer's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

Mayer looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Mayer had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lomachenko defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Mayer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lomachenko can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damen Mayer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lomachenko misses with a wild body shot.
Mayer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mayer connects with a good right hand that stumbles Lomachenko. Lomachenko circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Mayer slips a jab from Lomachenko.
A swing and a miss from Lomachenko.
Mayer with the counter takedown but Lomachenko avoids it easily.
Lomachenko takes a jab right on the kisser.
Mayer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lomachenko.

Mayer shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Mayer trying to mount his opponent but Lomachenko defends it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lomachenko wants to get back to full guard but Mayer has mounted him!
Lomachenko is trying to reverse the position but instead Mayer has taken his back - oops!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mayer is hanging on to Lomachenko's back as he tries to escape.

Mayer patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Mayer tightening his grip on Lomachenko, looking for the choke.

Mayer patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Mayer has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Lomachenko has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Mayer looking for the choke but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
I really don't envy Lomachenko right now.

Lomachenko is having to fend off submission attempts from Mayer, who is looking to sink in the choke. Mayer doesn't have the hooks in though and Lomachenko manages to reverse position! He's now on top, in his opponent's guard.
Lomachenko with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lomachenko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Mayer has his foot on Lomachenko's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lomachenko works his way back into a safe position though.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Lomachenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mayer keeping full guard, as Lomachenko tries to pass.
Lomachenko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Mayer throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Mayer has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Lomachenko is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Mayer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mayer on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Damen Mayer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Mayer is trying to control Lomachenko's posture but Lomachenko avoids it.
Lomachenko misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Check out the look on Lomachenko's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mayer is looking to reverse the position.

Lomachenko is working to tighten his grip on Mayer's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Mayer has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Lomachenko is really squeezing tight and eventually Mayer passes out! Lomachenko breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Evgeni Lomachenko!
Our winner, Evgeni Lomachenko, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.