PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mbiufo Spazzolini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stanislav Romanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mbiufo Spazzolini has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Spazzolini
vs
Romanov

181 cm
18
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
166 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mbiufo Spazzolini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stanislav Romanov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Romanov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Spazzolini's guard.
Romanov looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Spazzolini wants to sweep here but Romanov controlling him for the moment.

Romanov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Spazzolini controls Romanov momentarily but Romanov frees himself.
Spazzolini wants to sweep but no luck.
Spazzolini working a defensive guard here.

Romanov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Spazzolini has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Romanov has managed to get both his arms back between Spazzolini's legs - danger averted.
Romanov preventing the sweep.
Spazzolini trying to control the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Spazzolini holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spazzolini looking to hit a scissor sweep but Romanov is one step ahead there.

Romanov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Spazzolini manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Romanov has Spazzolini in his guard.
Spazzolini wanted to stand there but Romanov had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romanov is controlling Spazzolini's posture.
Spazzolini has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Romanov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Spazzolini swinging wildly here.
Spazzolini tries to bum rush Romanov with a series of wild strikes but Romanov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Spazzolini drives through with a takedown into guard.

Romanov is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Romanov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Spazzolini pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spazzolini has Romanov pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Spazzolini pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Romanov tumbling to the mat - Spazzolini dives into Romanov's guard.

Romanov is working an open guard so Spazzolini takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Spazzolini tries a head kick but it misses.
Romanov dives in and grabs Spazzolini's left leg, looking for a takedown. Spazzolini pushes down on Romanov's head and hops out.
Spazzolini lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Spazzolini.
Romanov looks for a takedown but Spazzolini sprawls well.
Mbiufo Spazzolini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stanislav Romanov.
Spazzolini shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Romanov eats them both and turns towards Spazzolini to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romanov fails to land the takedown.
Stanislav Romanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Romanov blocks a head kick by Spazzolini.
Spazzolini goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Romanov is defended easily by Spazzolini.
Spazzolini lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Romanov circles away quickly and effectively.
Romanov tries for a takedown but Spazzolini sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Spazzolini lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Spazzolini.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Romanov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Spazzolini looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Romanov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Romanov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Spazzolini misses with an elbow from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mbiufo Spazzolini dominated that round.
That's time! Spazzolini's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A right-left combo lands from Spazzolini.
Spazzolini fails to land with a series of punches.
Danga de danga de dang - Spazzolini scores with a four punch combination!

Romanov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Romanov showed some decent athleticism there.
Spazzolini trying to control here.
Spazzolini is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Romanov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Romanov's back!
I really don't envy Romanov right now.
Romanov is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Romanov trying to control the hands but Spazzolini breaks the grip.
Spazzolini trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Romanov doesn't escape.
Spazzolini tries to keep control of the position but Romanov is staying busy.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Spazzolini has the hooks in. Romanov is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romanov controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Romanov looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
A lull in the action here.
Romanov wants to control his opponent's hands but Spazzolini gets his hands free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Romanov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Spazzolini.
Romanov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Romanov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Romanov blocks a head kick by Spazzolini.
Spazzolini tries a head kick but it misses.
Mbiufo Spazzolini is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Romanov fails with the takedown.
Romanov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Spazzolini is fending him off so far but Romanov persists. Nope, Spazzolini circles away and we're back to standing.
Spazzolini rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Romanov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Romanov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romanov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Romanov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Spazzolini is just riding it out for now. Romanov eventually gives up the hold.
Spazzolini is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Romanov is working for a kimura but Spazzolini is defending it quite comfortably.
Spazzolini is not content to let Romanov control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Mbiufo Spazzolini will probably get the nod.
That's time! Spazzolini's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Spazzolini fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Romanov, pushing him back against the cage.
Spazzolini is trying to break free.

Romanov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Spazzolini is trying to keep an underhook but Romanov manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Spazzolini is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spazzolini is trying to control but can't.
Spazzolini gets full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Spazzolini wants to sweep but no luck.

Spazzolini had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Romanov defends it easily.
Romanov passes Spazzolini's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romanov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Spazzolini sees it coming and defends easily.

Romanov is working for a kimura but Spazzolini is defending it quite comfortably.
Spazzolini is looking to escape.
Romanov is keen to just control but Spazzolini is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spazzolini is looking to control Romanov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Spazzolini avoid being mounted?

Spazzolini is defending against the submission attempts here by Romanov.
Spazzolini tries to roll over but Romanov keeps him under control.
Romanov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Spazzolini does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Spazzolini trying to control from the bottom.
Romanov trying to control the action but Spazzolini is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Stanislav Romanov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Romanov fails to land the takedown.
Danga de danga de dang - Spazzolini scores with a four punch combination!

Romanov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Spazzolini's half guard.
Spazzolini wants to control but Romanov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Stanislav Romanov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Romanov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Romanov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Romanov is working for a kimura but Spazzolini is defending it quite comfortably.
Romanov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Romanov is trying to work for a kimura but Spazzolini is defending well.
Spazzolini misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Stanislav Romanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mbiufo Spazzolini is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Romanov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stanislav Romanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Spazzolini has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!