PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vincent Lombardi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Foster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Lombardi
vs
Foster

183 cm
27
190 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

190 cm
27
196 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vincent Lombardi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Foster!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, John Kavanagh and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Foster fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lombardi, pushing him back against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lombardi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

It looks like Ben Foster has been cut.
Foster is trying to drag Lombardi to the mat but Lombardi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Foster goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lombardi prevents it.
Lombardi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Foster has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lombardi misses with a punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Lombardi.
Lombardi slows down the pace here.
Foster is trying to maintain a safe position but Lombardi gets an underhook and turns Foster into the cage.
Foster has Lombardi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lombardi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Vincent Lombardi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Foster.
Foster tries to break free but Lombardi pushes him back against the cage.
Lombardi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Foster tries to pull guard but Lombardi holds him up against the cage and eventually Foster drops back down to his feet.
Lombardi scores with a nice hook to the head.
Lombardi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Foster drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lombardi gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Still in the clinch, Lombardi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Lombardi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Lombardi.
Foster looks gassed!
Foster goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lombardi prevents it.
Lombardi lands a left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lombardi working aggressively here.
Lombardi lands with a short shot to the head.
Lombardi taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Lombardi stops a takedown attempt from Foster.
Lombardi gets through Foster's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lombardi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Lombardi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lombardi is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Foster blocks an uppercut.
Lombardi prevents the takedown attempt.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Lombardi.
Lombardi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lombardi misses with the head strike.
Lombardi lands a left hand.
Lombardi lands a hook that snaps the head of Foster backwards.
Lombardi lands with a short shot to the head.
Lombardi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A short right from Lombardi on the inside.
Lombardi avoiding damage.
Lombardi lands a hook to the side of the head.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Lombardi takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Lombardi lands a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Lombardi takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A nice left hand lands by Lombardi.
Lombardi scores with a hook to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Lombardi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Lombardi lands with a left to the head.
Lombardi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fosters head.

Lombardi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vincent Lombardi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Foster gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lombardi counters with an outside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lombardi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Lombardi scoring well with a low kick there.
Lombardi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Lombardi scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Lombardi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crunch! Lombardi slams his shin into Foster's torso.
Foster takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Lombardi.
Foster takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Ben Foster seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Foster moves into the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Lombardi.
Foster tries to pull guard but Lombardi holds him up against the cage and eventually Foster drops back down to his feet.
Foster jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Lombardi walks away with a smile on his face. Foster gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Foster misses with a lunging right hand

and Lombardi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Lombardi scores with a shot to the side of Foster's head.
Lombardi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fosters head.
Lombardi digs a right hand underneath Foster's ribcage. Foster let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Lombardi softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Lombardi.
Lombardi gets through Foster's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lombardi throws a head punch that misses.
Foster fails to pull guard.

Lombardi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Lombardi takes the fight into the clinch.
Lombardi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lombardi working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lombardi throws a punch but it's blocked by Foster.

Lombardi breaks from the clinch.
Lombardi lands a nice leg kick that just misses Foster's sensitive parts.
Lombardi fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Lombardi.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Foster on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Lombardi. Lombardi obviously looking to wear him down.
Crunch! Lombardi slams his shin into Foster's torso.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent Lombardi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ben Foster's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

A jab from Lombardi finds it's way through Foster's defenses.

Foster takes the fight into the clinch.
Lombardi lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Foster backwards.
Foster goes for a takedown attempt but Lombardi pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Foster fails with the takedown
and Lombardi counters with a slapping leg kick.
Lombardi connects with a leg kick. Foster looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

Foster fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lombardi, pushing him back against the cage.
Lombardi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fosters head.
Lombardi stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short uppercut from Lombardi.
Foster is breathing heavily.
Lombardi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short right from Lombardi on the inside.
Lombardi lands a hook to the side of the head.
Lombardi avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lombardi lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Foster.
Lombardi has a couple of punches blocked by Foster.
Foster's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Lombardi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lombardi controlling the action here for a moment.
Lombardi lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lombardi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Come on Lombardi - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Lombardi pushes Foster back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Still in the clinch, Lombardi scores with a nice short uppercut.
Foster tries for a takedown. No joy.
Vincent Lombardi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Foster.
Lombardi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fosters head.
Lombardi lands a shoulder strike.
Lombardi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Foster can do to turn this around?

Lombardi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lombardi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Foster. That did some damage!
Lombardi scores with a decent looking hook.

Lombardi closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lombardi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lombardi scores with a head kick. Foster tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Foster misses with a takedown attempt
and Lombardi counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Foster takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lombardi.
Foster sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A chopping leg kick lands by Lombardi.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lombardi.
Foster takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Foster shoots and misses
and Lombardi counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lombardi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lombardi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Lombardi throws a head kick that Foster semi-blocks.
Foster shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lombardi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Foster is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Good leg kick by Lombardi there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Foster gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lombardi counters with a big head kick but Foster shrugs it off.
Foster misses with a takedown attempt
and Lombardi counters with a nice leg kick.

Foster closes the distance and pushes Lombardi back into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lombardi lands with a left to the head.
Lombardi scores with a shoulder strike.
Lombardi lands with a light punch inside.
Foster blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Foster is trying desperately to land a takedown but Lombardi is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Foster.
Foster is working for takedown but Lombardi is calmly controlling the position for now.
Foster changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Lombardi fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Foster with a poor takedown
and Lombardi counters with an outside leg kick.
Ben Foster is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
That kick from Lombardi tenderised Foster's leg. Foster is trying to keep his angry face on.
An inside leg kick lands from Lombardi.
Foster throws a leg kick
and Lombardi counters with a leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lombardi tries a head kick but it misses.
Foster doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lombardi counters with a body kick that stops Foster in his tracks momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vincent Lombardi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ben Foster's cut.
That's time! Lombardi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Foster moves into the clinch.
Foster tries to pull guard but Lombardi won't allow it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Foster.
Foster blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lombardi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Lombardi makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Foster goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lombardi prevents it.

Foster pulls guard successfully.
Lombardi sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Lombardi drops back looking for a leg! Foster is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Foster manages to kick Lombardi off! Lombardi jumps back into Foster's guard.
Lombardi is standing up over Foster. Foster looks to escape but Lombardi dives into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lombardi wants to control but Foster is keeping him busy.
Foster is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Lombardi is controlling him well.
Foster is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Lombardi is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Foster really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Lombardi working for a submission but Foster is keeping him at bay.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Foster tries to lock up and control but Lombardi gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Lombardi tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Lombardi goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Foster turns into him and now he's in Lombardi's guard.
Lombardi trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Foster pushing down on Lombardi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Foster is trying to control. Lombardi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Lombardi works his way to full guard. Good work.
Vincent Lombardi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
Foster stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lombardi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Foster trying to control but Lombardi is working from the bottom.
Ben Foster has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Foster pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lombardi is keeping the position for now.
Lombardi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lombardi trying to pass the guard but Foster defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vincent Lombardi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lombardi has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:26
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:26
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vincent Lombardi!