PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sasmuki Lombardi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benjamin Cheng (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lombardi
vs
Cheng

194 cm
24
145 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

160 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Global Empire MMA Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sasmuki Lombardi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Benjamin Cheng!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Cheng shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lombardi's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Cheng wants to pass the guard but Lombardi is keeping the position.
Cheng stops Lombardi from standing up.
Lombardi wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Cheng passes into half guard.
Cheng is keen to just control but Lombardi is a slippery customer.

Cheng stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Lombardi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cheng napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Lombardi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lombardi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cheng, who protects the arm well.
Lombardi tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Cheng is trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lombardi is looking to take a break and control but Cheng is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lombardi working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cheng sneaks out the side door and pushes Lombardi away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

Cheng gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lombardi to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Lombardi wants to pass the guard but Cheng is keeping the position.
Lombardi wants to get up but he can't break Cheng's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Cheng is looking to stand up but Lombardi isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheng is trying to keep Lombardi in close.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Cheng is working an open guard so Lombardi takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Cheng has managed to clinch.
Lombardi landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Lombardi breaks the clinch.
Cheng tries to clinch there but Lombardi circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick by Cheng misses
and Lombardi counters with a good, hard body kick but Cheng shrugs it off.
Lombardi connects with a high kick.
Lombardi keeps the fight on the outside.
Lombardi lands with a nice combination. Cheng backs away looking to recover.
Cheng tries to clinch but Lombardi is having none of it.

Cheng gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Lombardi to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lombardi is stalling in the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cheng is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Crunch! Lombardi slams his shin into Cheng's torso.
Cheng tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lombardi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cheng misses with a takedown attempt
and Lombardi counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Lombardi keeps the fight on the outside.
Cheng is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lombardi takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cheng darts in trying to clinch

and Lombardi counters with a takedown into side control.
Lombardi wants to control but Cheng is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lombardi scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Cheng to see if he's OK.
Cheng tries to escape but Lombardi is in control.

Lombardi decides to stand back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lombardi.

Cheng has taken the fight to the clinch.

Lombardi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Cheng is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lombardi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Lombardi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Lombardi breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lombardi slaps away a takedown attempt from Cheng, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sasmuki Lombardi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benjamin Cheng.
Cheng is breathing heavily.
Lombardi lands with a slapping head kick.

Cheng has managed to clinch.

Lombardi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lombardi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lombardi moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Cheng is looking to clinch but Lombardi is avoiding it.
Cheng shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lombardi lets loose with a powerful body kick. Cheng will feel that in the morning.
Cheng throws a leg kick but Lombardi moved away.
Lombardi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Lombardi lands with a slapping head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheng tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Lombardi swivels and escapes.
Cheng wants to clinch but Lombardi slips to the side
and Lombardi counters with a head kick. That will keep Cheng thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Sasmuki Lombardi is winning the standup battle so far.
Lombardi plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Cheng tries to clinch up
and Lombardi counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Cheng is lucky that one didn't land flush.

Lombardi gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Cheng tries to break the clinch but Lombardi is controlling the position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Lombardi as Cheng tries to tie him up.
Cheng has Lombardi pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Lombardi manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Lombardi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cheng tries to clinch up
and Lombardi counters with a head kick.
Cheng throws a combination that misses
and Lombardi counters with a body kick.
Lombardi throws a head kick that Cheng semi-blocks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Lombardi shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Lombardi engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Cheng should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Lombardi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cheng is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sasmuki Lombardi dominated that second round.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Lombardi drives through with a takedown into Cheng's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Lombardi stands up from guard. Let's bang!
A solid body kick from Lombardi.
Lombardi delivers a nice body kick.
Cheng has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Lombardi.

Lombardi scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Cheng is refusing to be controlled, as Lombardi sits in half guard.
Cheng has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lombardi is working away from the top position though.
Cheng wants to improve his position but Lombardi is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheng gets back to full guard.
Cheng takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lombardi works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Lombardi controlling the action here.
Cheng is looking for a sweep. Lombardi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cheng trying to control here.
Lombardi controlling the action here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sasmuki Lombardi wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Cheng tries to clinch but Lombardi moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheng doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lombardi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Lombardi throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Cheng closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Cheng stands up and beckons Lombardi to his feet.

Lombardi 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.
Lombardi controls from within his opponent's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lombardi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Cheng is keeping the position for now.
Benjamin Cheng has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lombardi controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

We're going to have a standup here because Sasmuki Lombardi wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cheng is defended easily by Lombardi.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sasmuki 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27

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