PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Iliescu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaike Tristan (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.

Iliescu
vs
Tristan

183 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Roberto Iliescu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kaike Tristan!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, William Peck and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Iliescu keeps control of Tristan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tristan is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Iliescu gets through Tristan's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Tristan tries to pull guard but Iliescu holds him up against the cage and eventually Tristan drops back down to his feet.
Iliescu lands a body shot.

Iliescu breaks from the clinch.
Iliescu throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Iliescu is looking to clinch.
Iliescu swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Tristan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Iliescu is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tristan tries to pass to full mount but Iliescu defends it.

Tristan postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Iliescu to stand up.
Iliescu is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Iliescu shoots for a double leg takedown but Tristan sprawls well. He's pushed Iliescu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Iliescu blocks a head kick by Tristan.
Iliescu is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tristan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Iliescu throws a head kick that misses.
Tristan keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Tristan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Iliescu pinned against the cage. Iliescu gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tristan tries to close the distance and clinch but Iliescu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Iliescu fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roberto Iliescu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Iliescu enables Tristan to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Iliescu manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Iliescu being controlled here, momentarily.
Tristan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
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!
Tristan showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Iliescu trying to keep a closed guard but Tristan is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tristan is pushing down on Iliescu's leg trying to pass to half guard. Iliescu is fighting to maintain full guard but Tristan has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tristan takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Tristan stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Iliescu is breathing heavily.
Iliescu looks for a takedown but Tristan sprawls well.

Tristan shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Iliescu is trying to defend but Tristan finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tristan works his foot free and advances to mount.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Iliescu is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Tristan with the ground and pound from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tristan sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Iliescu knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tristan on the ground.
Iliescu tries to lock up and control but Tristan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaike Tristan dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tristan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Iliescu rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tristan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Iliescu closes the distance and clinches.
Tristan tries to break the clinch but Iliescu is controlling the position.
Tristan can't get the takedown.
Tristan tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Iliescu's elbow.
Tristan pressing his opponent against the cage.
Tristan jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Iliescu walks away with a smile on his face. Tristan gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Roberto Iliescu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tristan fails with the takedown.
Roberto Iliescu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaike Tristan.
Tristan is looking to clinch but Iliescu is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tristan blocks a head kick by Iliescu.
Tristan stuffs the takedown attempt from Iliescu. Iliescu gets slowly back to his feet.

Iliescu clinches up with Tristan and pushes him back against the cage.
Tristan fails to pull guard.
Iliescu tries to pull guard but Tristan forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Iliescu escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Iliescu avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tristan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Iliescu is fending him off so far but Tristan persists. Nope, Iliescu circles away and we're back to standing.
Tristan tries to clinch there but Iliescu circles away.
Tristan fails with a takedown attempt.
Iliescu tries to clinch there but Tristan circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iliescu misses with a few strikes there.
Tristan swats away the attempt to clinch by Iliescu.
Iliescu fails with an attempt to clinch.
A punch combination from Tristan misses.
Tristan shoots for a double leg takedown but Iliescu sprawls well. He's pushed Tristan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Iliescu pushes Tristan up against the cage in a clinch.
Iliescu taking a breather.
Iliescu on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tristan tries to pull guard but Iliescu holds him up against the cage and eventually Tristan drops back down to his feet.

Iliescu has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Tristan is trying to keep an underhook but Iliescu manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Iliescu wants to stand but Tristan has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tristan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tristan.
Tristan has control of Iliescu's left arm, preventing Iliescu from doing any damage.
Let's hope that Tristan has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tristan trying to keep a closed guard but Iliescu is proving a slippery customer.
Tristan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Tristan performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Tristan winds up and cracks Iliescu with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Tristan stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kaike Tristan will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Iliescu fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tristan, pushing him back against the cage.

Iliescu manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Tristan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Iliescu is trying to keep Tristan in close.
Iliescu looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tristan is one step ahead there.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Tristan passes Iliescu's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tristan uses his free foot to push down on Iliescu's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Iliescu.
Tristan takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

Tristan gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tristan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Iliescu defends it nicely.

Tristan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tristan showed some decent athleticism there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tristan passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Iliescu!
Tristan with good strikes from the mount here!
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!
Iliescu takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Tristan lands a big elbow.
Kaike Tristan has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tristan is working to isolate an arm here. It's a telegraphed submission attempt but he's gone for it anyway - and he's got it! Tristan extends the arm and Iliescu is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kaike Tristan!