PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Slammer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lazar Cristi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Slammer
vs
Cristi

190 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

187 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tommy Slammer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lazar Cristi!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cristi looks to land a combination but Slammer avoids it well.
Slammer swinging wildly here.
Slammer throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Cristi clinches up against the cage.

Slammer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Slammer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cristi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cristi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Slammer keeps the fight on the outside.
Cristi chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Slammer can pounce on him.
Slammer rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Cristi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Cristi closes the distance and pushes Slammer back into the cage.

Slammer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cristi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Cristi looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Slammer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cristi manages to avoid it.
Cristi wants to clinch.
Slammer tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cristi sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Slammer somewhat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cristi leaves Slammer with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Slammer misses with a takedown attempt - Cristi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Slammer. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cristi has managed to clinch.
Cristi tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Slammer scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Lazar Cristi has been cut.
Slammer looking to stall.
Slammer prevents the takedown attempt.
Slammer effectively controlling the action here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Slammer is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Cristi pulls guard successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Cristi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Slammer stopping the sweep attempt from Cristi.
Cristi has a closed guard, preventing Slammer from standing up.

Cristi kicks Slammer off and gets to his feet.
Cristi tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cristi misses with a head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cristi lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Slammer circles away quickly and effectively.
Slammer thumps Cristi with a low kick.

Slammer closes the distance and pushes Cristi back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cristi avoiding damage as Slammer throws knees to the body.
Slammer lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Slammer is trying to stall.
Slammer with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Slammer is breathing heavily.
Slammer tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Slammer tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Slammer taking a breather.
Slammer can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Cristi working hard to break the clinch.
Cristi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Cristi wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cristi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Slammer trying to land knees to the body.
Cristi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Slammer with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cristi lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Cristi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Cristi slowing the pace effectively.
Slammer throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cristi blocks it with crossed arms.
Cristi lands a nice uppercut.
Slammer blocks an elbow strike.

Cristi pulls guard successfully.
Cristi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Slammer manages to get himself to full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Cristi stands up and waves to Slammer to follow him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cristi punishes Slammer's body with a nice straight punch.

Slammer tries to keep at a distance but Cristi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Slammer using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cristi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lazar Cristi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lazar Cristi's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cristi tries to clinch but Slammer moves out of range.

Slammer gets a clinch.
Slammer throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Slammer tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Cristi avoids it.
The referee calls for Cristi to work.
Cristi blocks an elbow strike.
Cristi is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Slammer gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Slammer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cristi connects with a crisp jab.
Slammer tries to work over Cristi's front leg with a kick but Cristi checks it.

Cristi forces Slammer back against the cage and clinches.
Cristi wants to break the clinch but can't.
Slammer wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Cristi has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Slammer after a bit of a struggle.
Slammer using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Cristi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Slammer taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slammer wants to break free but Cristi has control.
Cristi is trying to push Slammer away but Slammer has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cristi blocks an elbow strike.
Slammer will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cristi up against the cage.

Slammer escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Cristi clinches up against the cage.
Cristi blocks an elbow strike from Slammer.
Slammer throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cristi blocks it with crossed arms.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cristi lands a right hand that snaps the head of Slammer backwards.
Cristi pushes off an throws an elbow but Slammer leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Slammer tries to break the clinch but Cristi is controlling the position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Cristi as Slammer tries to tie him up.
Cristi jumps guard but Slammer stands there with Cristi around his waist. Cristi gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Tommy Slammer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lazar Cristi.
Slammer throws an elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cristi lands with a left to the head.
Cristi managing to block the knees to the body from Slammer.
Slammer wants to break the clinch but can't.
Slammer pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Slammer gets underhooks to prevent Cristi's takedown attempt.
With the fighters up against the cage, Slammer throws an elbow but misses.
Slammer throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Slammer throws a knee to the head but misses.
Cristi tries to break the clinch but Slammer is controlling the position.
Slammer trying to stall but Cristi improves his position.
Cristi wants to break free but Slammer has control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Slammer tries to land a knee to the head but Cristi blocks with his arms.

Slammer breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Slammer tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cristi paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tommy Slammer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Slammer throws a leg kick but Cristi sees it coming and moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cristi throws a leg kick but Slammer sees it coming and moves out of range.
Cristi shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Slammer defends it nicely.
Slammer shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cristi defends it nicely.
Sloppy strikes from Cristi. Those never looked like landing.
Slammer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cristi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cristi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Cristi fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Slammer looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Cristi closes the distance and pushes Slammer back into the cage.
Slammer is trying to push Cristi away but Cristi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Cristi tries to pull guard but Slammer forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Slammer pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cristi tries to clinch there but Slammer circles away.
Slammer walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nice takedown defense from Cristi. No joy for Slammer on that attempt.

Slammer tries to keep at a distance but Cristi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Slammer trying to control the position but instead, Cristi has worked for underhooks and has pushed Slammer into the cage.
Cristi wants to break free but Slammer has control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Cristi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Slammer to keep the fight standing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Slammer avoiding damage as Cristi throws knees to the body.
Slammer is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cristi is keeping busy.
Slammer is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
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 Tommy Slammer will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Lazar Cristi's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Slammer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cristi manages to avoid it.

Cristi has managed to clinch.

Slammer breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Slammer takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Nice shot lands for Slammer.
Slammer moves in looking to clinch but Cristi pushes him off.
Slammer fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cristi avoids it really well and circles away.
Cristi is looking to clinch but Slammer is avoiding it.
Slammer shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cristi but Cristi pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Cristi clinches with his opponent.
Slammer throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cristi blocks it with crossed arms.
Slammer looking to slow down the pace here.
Slammer tries a knee to the head but Cristi blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cristi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tommy Slammer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Slammer wants to slow Cristi down by chopping away at his legs.
Cristi tries to clinch but Slammer is having none of it.
Slammer will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Slammer slaps away a takedown attempt from Cristi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Cristi fails with the takedown.
Cristi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Slammer gets tackled into the cage by Cristi. Cristi maintains the clinch.
Slammer looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Cristi pushes Slammer back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Cristi wants to break free but Slammer has control.
Cristi scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Cristi is trying to push Slammer away but Slammer has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Slammer manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Slammer is defended easily by Cristi.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommy Slammer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Slammer as Cristi shoots in.
Cristi tries to clinch up.
Slammer tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Cristi closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Slammer is looking to break free of the clinch but Cristi has double underhooks.
Slammer wants to break the clinch but can't.
Cristi tries to pull guard but Slammer holds him up against the cage and eventually Cristi drops back down to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cristi managing to block the knees to the body from Slammer.

Cristi jumps into guard, dragging Slammer to the mat.
Slammer trying to control but Cristi is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cristi is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cristi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Slammer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Cristi throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cristi sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Cristi gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Cristi throws a one two combo.
Slammer misses with a hook. Cristi ducked under it nicely.

Cristi darts in and clinches Slammer up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cristi takes an elbow to the forehead.
Slammer landing knees to the body.
Slammer is looking to break free of the clinch but Cristi has double underhooks.
Cristi has Slammer pressed against the cage.
Cristi avoids the elbow strike from Slammer, against the cage.
Cristi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Slammer creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Slammer taking a breather.
Tommy Slammer has scored more points in the clinch so far.
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!
Cristi goes for a takedown attempt but Slammer pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cristi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Slammer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Slammer darts in trying to clinch
and Cristi counters with a one-two to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lazar Cristi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Cristi 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lazar Cristi!
Lazar Cristi took his opportunity to call for a title shot in his post fight interview.