PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Julian Lahm (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rosen Lyubenov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lahm
vs
Lyubenov

193 cm
19
170 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

178 cm
24
174 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Namunamu Clothing

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Julian Lahm!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rosen Lyubenov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Sergei Dronov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lyubenov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Lahm to the mat! Lahm manages to get full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Lyubenov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Lahm is proving hard to escape from.
Lyubenov postures up and lands a big shot to Lahm's brow.
Lahm on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Lahm tries to get out of the position.

Lyubenov stands up and waves to Lahm to follow him.
Lahm really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Lyubenov lets loose with a powerful body kick. Lahm will feel that in the morning.
Lyubenov connects with an inside leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Lyubenov.

Lyubenov drives through and clinches with Lahm against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lyubenov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Lyubenov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lahm after a bit of a struggle.

Lyubenov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lahm uses from the top position.
Lahm postures up.
Lahm loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lahm looking to pass the guard.
Lyubenov is trying to keep Lahm in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lahm with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Lahm with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lahm throws a big right hand that misses.
Lyubenov trying to keep a closed guard but Lahm is proving a slippery customer.
Lahm throwing strikes from guard but Lyubenov blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lyubenov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Lyubenov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Lahm trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lyubenov is trying to keep Lahm in close.
Lahm in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lahm throws an elbow that misses. Lyubenov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lahm's guard. Nice move by Lyubenov!
Lahm wants to stand up but Lyubenov is controlling him.
Lyubenov trying to control the position from guard on top but Lahm is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lyubenov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Lyubenov tries to free his leg and advance position but Lahm is retaining full guard.
Lyubenov wants to control from the top but Lahm keeps moving.
Lahm pulls Lyubenov in close to his closed guard and prevents Lyubenov from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Rosen Lyubenov.
Lahm jabs at Lyubenov's body.
Lahm throws an off balance right hand
and Lyubenov counters with an outside leg kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lyubenov.
Lyubenov wants to clinch.

Lyubenov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lahm's half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lyubenov stands up and beckons Lahm to join him on the feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lahm takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Lyubenov doesn't manage to clinch there - Lahm circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rosen Lyubenov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lyubenov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lyubenov slips a jab from Lahm.
Lahm defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lyubenov.
Lyubenov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Lyubenov tries to clinch but Lahm is having none of it.
Lyubenov has his takedown stuffed
and Lahm counters with a straight right hand.
Lahm lands a slapping body shot.
Lyubenov shoots and misses
and Lahm counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Julian Lahm has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rosen Lyubenov.
Lahm lands a jab to Lyubenov's midsection.
Lyubenov tries to clinch but Lahm moves out of range.
Lahm connects with a crisp jab.
Lahm takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Lyubenov closes the distance and clinches up with Lahm, looking for a takedown. Lyubenov pushes Lahm against the cage but Lahm circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lahm misses with a body shot.
Rosen Lyubenov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lahm lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lyubenov at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lahm has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Lyubenov.
Lyubenov closes the distance and clinches up with Lahm, looking for a takedown. Lyubenov pushes Lahm against the cage but Lahm circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lyubenov is breathing heavily.
Lahm scores with a jab to the body.
Lahm misses the shot to the body.
Lyubenov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Lyubenov fails with a takedown attempt.
A left and a right from Lahm both land. Nice combination.
Lyubenov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Lahm getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
A jab from Lahm finds it's way through Lyubenov's defenses.
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!
Lahm connects with a looping right hand.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lyubenov is defended easily by Lahm.
Julian Lahm is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lyubenov pulls guard effortlessly.
Lahm in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lahm working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lyubenov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Lahm got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lyubenov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lahm has managed to get both his arms back between Lyubenov's legs - danger averted.
Lahm trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lahm landing some decent shots from guard.
Lahm will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lahm working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lyubenov looking to control.
Lahm trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lyubenov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lahm throws an elbow that misses. Lyubenov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lahm's guard. Nice move by Lyubenov!
Lyubenov wants to control from the top but Lahm keeps moving.

Lahm uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Julian Lahm is winning the standup battle so far.
Lahm lands with a good body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lyubenov tries for a takedown but Lahm sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lahm connects with a crisp jab.
Lahm uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Lyubenov dodges the punch combination from Lahm.
Lahm tries to bum rush Lyubenov with a series of wild strikes but Lyubenov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lahm throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Lyubenov moves into the clinch.

Lyubenov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lahm connects with the punch.
Rosen Lyubenov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lahm thows a body shot but no joy.
Lahm connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Lyubenov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Lahm just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Lahm dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lyubenov shoots and misses
and Lahm counters with a series of strikes. Lyubenov will be more careful next time no doubt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lyubenov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lahm swats away the attempt to clinch by Lyubenov.
Lahm lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Lyubenov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lahm.
Lahm takes a swing at Lyubenov's ribcage but misses.
Lyubenov avoids the body shot from Lahm.
Lahm tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lyubenov was well out of range. Poor timing from Lahm.
Lyubenov misses with a combination
and Lahm counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lahm's jab looks to have found its range, popping Lyubenov under the eye.

Lahm gets tackled into the cage by Lyubenov. Lyubenov maintains the clinch.
Lahm wants a takedown.
Lahm has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Lyubenov after a bit of a struggle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lyubenov lands a shoulder strike.

Lyubenov pulls Lahm into guard.
Lahm is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lahm passes Lyubenov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Lyubenov is trying to maintain the position but Lahm is very close to passing his half guard.
Lyubenov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lahm's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lahm's back!

Lyubenov looking for the RNC.
Lahm is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lyubenov tightening his grip on Lahm, looking for the choke.
Lahm looking very determined here, making life difficult for Lyubenov.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Lahm is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Lyubenov gets his way!
Lahm has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lyubenov tries to keep control of the position but Lahm is staying busy.

Lyubenov has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Lahm! Can he survive? No! He's out! Lyubenov gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Rosen Lyubenov!