PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jamarcus Roman (ranked 4066 p4p, 4135 weight class) and Unudda Faita (ranked 450 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.

Roman
vs
Faita

179 cm
25
225
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
250
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jamarcus Roman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Unudda Faita!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Bruno Lombardi and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Roman shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Roman showed some decent athleticism there.
Still in half guard, Roman seems content to control.
Faita is staying active underneath Roman, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Roman tries to stand but can't do so whilst Faita controls his leg.

Roman gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Faita shoots in for a double leg but Roman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Roman moves in looking to clinch but Faita pushes him off.
Faita shoots in but Roman avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Roman is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Faita.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Faita has Roman up against the cage in a clinch.
Faita jumps guard but Roman turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Jamarcus Roman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Unudda Faita.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Faita avoids it.

Faita manages to break the clinch.
Faita looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Faita fails with the takedown.
Roman tries to close the distance and clinch but Faita swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Roman closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Faita did well to prevent Roman getting side control.
Faita wants to control but Roman is keeping busy.
Roman uses his free foot to push down on Faita's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Faita.
Roman lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roman is working for a guillotine from mount but Faita frees his head quite easily.

Roman is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Faita can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Roman looking to control but Faita is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Roman is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Faita has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Faita tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roman has hold of Faita's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Faita manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Faita is working to get back to half guard.
Faita tries to hold on but Roman pushes him away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roman connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Roman lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
BOOM! Roman connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Faita wants to control but Roman is having none of it.
Roman could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Faita is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roman is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Faita can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
A nice elbow there by Roman.

Roman has control of Faita's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Faita regains control of the situation pretty easily.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Faita can do anything to dispel that myth.
Faita is wriggling around trying to escape.
Faita tries to lock up and control but Roman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Roman is landing with some decent strikes but Faita is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Roman can't control as he wanted to and Faita manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jamarcus Roman dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Roman tries to clinch there but Faita circles away.
Jamarcus Roman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Roman.

Roman decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Faita takes the fight into the clinch.

Roman decides to pull guard.
Roman is trying to control the position but Faita postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faita wants to pass the guard but Roman is keeping the position.
Roman has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Roman throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Faita really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roman is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Faita is aware though and is defending well.
Roman is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Faita avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Roman is trying to keep Faita in close.
Faita is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman keeping moving, preventing Faita from controlling successfully.

Roman has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Faita off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Roman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Faita rushes Roman and presses him up against the cage.
Faita is trying to pull guard but Roman turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Roman creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Roman is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Roman tries to throw a body punch but Faita avoids it by throwing Roman back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faita tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Roman drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Faita gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Roman jumps guard but Faita stands there with Roman around his waist. Roman gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jamarcus Roman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roman with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Faita is looking for a takedown.
Roman trying to land knees to the body.

Faita escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Roman shoots in and drives through. Faita sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faita stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Faita wants it to stay on the feet.

Roman gets tackled into the cage by Faita. Faita maintains the clinch.
Faita managing to block the knees to the body from Roman.

Faita breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Faita shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Roman defends it nicely.
Faita moves out of range as Roman throws a body kick.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Roman.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Faita works over Roman's head and body with a nice combination.

It looks like Jamarcus Roman has been cut.
Faita fails with the takedown.
Roman is looking to counter the offense by Faita and move into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Unudda Faita will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Jamarcus Roman's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

No luck for Faita with that takedown attempt.
Roman changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Faita misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Roman wants to clinch up but Faita keeps it at a distance.

Faita instigates a clinch.
Faita drops down looking for an ankle pick but Roman pulls his leg out and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Faita.
Jamarcus Roman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Unudda Faita.

Faita closes the distance and pushes Roman back into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roman tries to land a knee to the head but Faita blocks with his arms.

Roman pulls guard effortlessly.
Roman is trying to keep Faita in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman has Faita pulled in close to control his posture.
Roman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Roman wants to sweep here but Faita controlling him for the moment.

Faita stands up from guard. Let's bang!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Roman goes for a takedown in the clinch but Faita prevents it.
Roman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Faita can do to turn this around?
Roman prevents the takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Faita jumps guard.
Faita trying to control the position.

Roman stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Faita stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Faita wants it to stay on the feet.
Roman shoots and misses
enabling Faita to counter with a crisp jab.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Roman tries a head kick but it misses.

Faita closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Faita tries for a takedown but Roman manages to get underhooks.
Faita is looking for a takedown.
Faita dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Faita wants to take the fight to the mat but Roman manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Unudda Faita seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Faita is looking to take this one to the mat.
Faita jumps guard but Roman turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Faita manages to break the clinch.
Roman shoots in looking for a takedown but Faita manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Roman's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Faita clinches up with Roman and pushes him back against the cage.
Faita tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Faita fails to pull guard.
Faita on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roman tries to pull guard but Faita holds him up against the cage and eventually Roman drops back down to his feet.
Faita is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Roman is defending well.
Roman is pressed up against the cage. Faita has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Roman down to the mat. Roman avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Roman has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Faita finds it's way round the side to connect with Roman's head.
Roman fails with a takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Faita leaves Roman with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Faita fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Unudda Faita comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Faita has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!