PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Super Suk Suriyawong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Romar Bamba (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.

Suk Suriyawong
vs
Bamba

186 cm
25
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
23
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Super Suk Suriyawong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Romar Bamba!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Kenichi Hosakawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Suriyawong just misses with a punch to the body.
Suriyawong throws a series of punches but Bamba moves out of range.
Bamba uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Suriyawong.
Bamba blocks a head kick by Suriyawong.
Bamba takes a kick to the side of the head.
Suriyawong lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bamba circles away quickly and effectively.
Bamba takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Super Suk Suriyawong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Suriyawong!
Suriyawong keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Bamba moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Suriyawong throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Bamba changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Suriyawong tries to avoid it but Bamba manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Suriyawong to the ground. Suriyawong escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Bamba rushes Suriyawong and presses him up against the cage.
Suriyawong tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Suriyawong working hard to break the clinch.
Bamba lands a nice knee to the body.
Suriyawong utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Suriyawong taking a breather.
Suriyawong throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bamba blocks it with crossed arms.

Bamba breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Suriyawong lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Suriyawong throws a nice inside leg kick.
Suriyawong tries to bum rush Bamba with a series of wild strikes but Bamba uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suriyawong moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Bamba looks gassed!
Bamba looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Suriyawong scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Suriyawong ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Suriyawong lands with a hook. Bamba tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Suriyawong misses with a combination
and Bamba counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Suriyawong throws a shot to the body.
Suriyawong lands a glancing blow to the side of Bamba's head.
Suriyawong rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bamba moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Suriyawong lands a head kick. Bamba smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Suriyawong misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Suriyawong throws a head kick but Bamba moves out of range.
Suriyawong getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Suriyawong scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Suriyawong connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Suriyawong lets loose with a powerful body kick. Bamba will feel that in the morning.
Suriyawong misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Suriyawong lands a high kick!
A nice leg kick lands there from Suriyawong.
Nice body kick there by Suriyawong.
Bamba stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Suriyawong.
Suriyawong fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bamba dodges the punch combination from Suriyawong.
Suriyawong misses with a two punch combination.
Super Suk Suriyawong is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bamba takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A nice combination there by Suriyawong.
Bamba is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bamba looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Suriyawong feints and then cracks Bamba's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bamba down.
A nice leg kick lands there from Suriyawong.
Suriyawong throws a series of punches but Bamba moves out of range.
Good shot there by Suriyawong.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suriyawong throws a head kick but Bamba moves out of range.
Bamba tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bamba is defended easily by Suriyawong.
Super Suk Suriyawong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Romar Bamba.
Suriyawong looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Bamba takes the fight into the clinch.
Bamba misses with a knee strike.
Suriyawong unloads a knee to the mid-section.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Suriyawong misses with a knee to the head.
Bamba fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bamba throws a knee to the head but misses.
Suriyawong wants to get back to striking at distance but Bamba won't allow it.
Suriyawong keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bamba's efforts to push away.
Suriyawong with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Bamba pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bamba throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Suriyawong's waist but Suriyawong gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bamba off to one side.
Bamba is trying desperately to land a takedown but Suriyawong is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Bamba.
Bamba takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Horrible takedown by Bamba or perhaps it was just good defense by Suriyawong which made him look bad.
Suriyawong misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Bamba rushes Suriyawong and presses him up against the cage.
Suriyawong using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Suriyawong is trying to stall.
Bamba tries to land knees in the clinch but Suriyawong avoids the damage to the body.

Suriyawong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bamba looks to land a combination but Suriyawong avoids it well.
Suriyawong scores with a leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Suriyawong connects with a high kick.
Suriyawong misses the shot to the body.

Bamba closes the distance and clinches.
Bamba wants to break free but Suriyawong has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Super Suk Suriyawong dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Suriyawong cracks Bamba with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Bamba tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Bamba drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bamba advances position into side control!
Suriyawong is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Bamba decides to stand up, so the ref orders Suriyawong to his feet.
Suriyawong thuds his shin into the meat of Bamba's side.
A lazy body kick from Bamba
and Suriyawong counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Bamba rushes Suriyawong and presses him up against the cage.
Suriyawong wants to break the clinch but can't.
Suriyawong is trying to force a seperation but Bamba has the dominant position.

Bamba successfully pulls guard.

Bamba has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Suriyawong can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suriyawong is looking to stand up but Bamba won't let him.
Bamba is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Bamba throws his legs up looking for a submission but Suriyawong uses it to pass to side control.
Bamba is trying to get back to half guard.
Bamba is trying to control Suriyawong's posture but Suriyawong avoids it.
Bamba is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Suriyawong wants to stand but Bamba is controlling his arm.
Bamba is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Bamba manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Bamba looking for submissions off his back.
Bamba is trying to control but Suriyawong manages to pass to mount!
Bamba is wriggling around trying to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Suriyawong is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Bamba's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Suriyawong tries to land a leg kick but Bamba saw it coming and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bamba misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bamba fails with a takedown attempt.
Suriyawong misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bamba.
Suriyawong tries a head kick but it misses.

Bamba throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Suriyawong was covering up waiting for the punch and Bamba finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Suriyawong wants to stand up but Bamba is controlling him.
Bamba advances to half guard.
Bamba trying to control from half guard but Suriyawong is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bamba looks to land a strike but Suriyawong avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Suriyawong avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bamba scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bamba trying to control but Suriyawong is working from the bottom.

Suriyawong is working an open guard so Bamba takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Suriyawong scores with a head kick.

Bamba clinches.
Suriyawong tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bamba avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Romar Bamba showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Bamba closes the distance and pushes Suriyawong back into the cage.

Bamba breaks from the clinch.
Suriyawong throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Suriyawong throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Suriyawong circles away from the clinch attempt.
A cross from Suriyawong lands.
Suriyawong misses with a two punch combination.
Suriyawong plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Bamba tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Suriyawong swivels and escapes.
Suriyawong stalks Bamba and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Bamba's face. Bamba staggers backwards, shaken.
Suriyawong falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bamba counters with a left and a right that stings Suriyawong.
Suriyawong throws a nice looking combination but Bamba bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Suriyawong throws a head kick that misses.
Suriyawong attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Suriyawong throws a head kick that misses.
Super Suk Suriyawong is winning the standup battle so far.
A head kick misses from Bamba.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bamba throws a sloppy head kick and Suriyawong moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bamba moves into the clinch.

Bamba breaks from the clinch.

Bamba clinches.
Suriyawong looking to throw knees to the head but Bamba is blocking nicely.

Bamba successfully pulls guard.

Bamba had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Suriyawong defends it easily.

Bamba wriggles free and stands up.
Suriyawong throws a wild body kick that Bamba sees coming a mile off.
Suriyawong lands a glancing blow to the side of Bamba's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bamba fails with a takedown attempt.
Bamba takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Suriyawong with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Suriyawong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Suriyawong plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Bamba has Suriyawong up against the cage in a clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Bamba's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Bamba. Suriyawong shrugs it off though.
Suriyawong works over Bamba's head and body with a nice combination.
Bamba tries to score a power double leg takedown but Suriyawong sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bamba somewhat.
Super Suk Suriyawong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Romar Bamba.

Bamba rushes Suriyawong and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suriyawong slowing the pace effectively.

Bamba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Suriyawong throws a jab when Bamba was well out of range.

Bamba has taken the fight to the clinch.
Suriyawong misses with a knee strike.
Bamba lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Suriyawong stalling in the clinch but Bamba improves position.
Bamba misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Suriyawong.
Bamba has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Suriyawong.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Bamba.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Bamba obliges.

Bamba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Suriyawong throws a nice looking combination but Bamba bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Suriyawong throws a right and a left that Bamba avoids nicely.

Bamba closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bamba leaning his opponent against the cage.
Suriyawong working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bamba breaks from the clinch.
Suriyawong throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Bamba.
Suriyawong misses with a head kick.

Bamba gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bamba has had enough of the clinch but Suriyawong keeps him there for the moment.
Suriyawong scores a nice knee to the body.
Suriyawong managing to block the knees to the body from Bamba.
Suriyawong keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bamba's efforts to push away.
Suriyawong throws a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Suriyawong.
Bamba missing with knees to the body.
Suriyawong wants to get back to striking at distance but Bamba won't allow it.
Bamba tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Bamba wants the takedown. Suriyawong is fighting it off but Bamba persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Suriyawong's guard against the cage.
Bamba showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Bamba gets to his feet. Suriyawong looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

And that's the end of the fight!
Romar Bamba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bamba 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Romar Bamba!