PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Temitope Obama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gaudencio Roman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Temitope Obama has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Obama
vs
Roman

196 cm
24
141 lbs
9 - 9 - 0

150 cm
25
130 lbs
5 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Temitope Obama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gaudencio Roman!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Obama scores with a kick to the body.
Temitope Obama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Obama checks a leg kick.
Obama lands with a straight right. Roman didn't see that one coming.
We've been told by Obama's head coaches at Cylon Training Academy that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Roman avoids the head kick by Obama.
Obama sets himself, and Roman steps forward looking for the clinch! Obama avoids it this time.
Obama throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Gaudencio Roman has been cut.
Roman throws a head kick that misses
and Obama counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Obama looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Roman takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Roman scores with a jab to the body.
Obama throws a big shot that misses.
Roman let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Roman misses with a wild combination.
Obama tries to bum rush Roman with a series of wild strikes but Roman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Obama scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Roman throws a head kick but Obama moves out of range.
Roman throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Obama drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Obama throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Roman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Obama passes into half guard.
Obama will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Roman is looking to control Obama's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Roman avoid being mounted?

Obama wants to work for an arm triangle but Roman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Obama works his way into full mount!
Roman is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Obama is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Roman has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Roman!
Obama can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Roman controls the pace.
Roman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Obama is keeping the position for now.
Roman is working Obama over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Obama wants to sweep but no luck.

Obama is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Obama is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Roman wants to control from the top but Obama keeps moving.
Roman sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman trying to control but Obama is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Obama is trying to control the position but Roman postures up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Obama is on top in guard.

Roman striking off his back but it's not causing Obama any problems.

Obama 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.
Obama trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Obama works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Obama wants to lay and pray for a moment but Roman keeps working.
Obama really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obama lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Obama seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Roman does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Roman can do anything to dispel that myth.
Roman is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Obama scores with a couple of nice shots.
Roman is staying active underneath Obama, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Obama is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Obama wants to work for an arm triangle but Roman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Roman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Obama is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Obama is working for a submission of some sort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Temitope Obama dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gaudencio Roman's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Obama closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Roman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Obama. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Obama thows a huge punch but Roman dodges it nicely.
Roman regains full guard. Nicely done.

Roman is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Roman has his foot on Obama's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Obama works his way back into a safe position though.
Temitope Obama overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Obama throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roman throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Obama is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Obama is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Roman is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Roman has escaped and now he's on top!

Roman advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obama won't allow Roman to pass to mount.
Obama is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Roman can do to turn this around?
Roman prevents Obama from improving his position.
Roman works his way into full mount!
Obama regains half guard.

Roman is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Obama actively working from the bottom here.
Obama regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Obama utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Obama not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Roman's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Roman stopping the sweep attempt from Obama.

Obama looking for a guillotine here but Roman defends easily.
Obama pulls Roman in close to his closed guard and prevents Roman from doing any damage or advancing position.
Roman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Roman wants to stand but Obama is controlling his posture from full guard.
Obama has his hands on Roman's head, controlling the position.
Roman trying to control the position from guard on top but Obama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Obama pulls Roman in to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Roman advances to half guard.
Roman is looking to stall here but Obama recovers full guard.
Obama is trying to control the position but Roman postures up.

Roman drops back, looking for a kneebar! Obama looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Obama looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Obama!

Roman looking for a sweep but Obama has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Obama moves to take his opponent's back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Obama is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Roman has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Roman is in bad spot here.

Roman 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 Obama gets his way!

Obama is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Roman is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Obama off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Obama is landing with strikes. Roman can't take much more of this.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Roman defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Obama is hanging on to Roman's back as he tries to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Temitope Obama dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gaudencio Roman's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Roman throws a big shot that misses.
Roman throws a poor cross that misses

so Obama counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Obama 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.
Obama stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Roman swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Roman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Obama advances to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roman wants to control but Obama is keeping busy.
Roman manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman seems keen to control Obama's posture.

Roman has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Obama can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Obama advances to half guard.
Roman on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Obama is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Roman has managed to free his arm - good work.
Roman wants to improve his position but Obama is controlling well.
Obama thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Obama is working away from the top position though.
Obama uses his free foot to push down on Roman's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Roman.
Roman is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Roman is squirming around, avoiding Obama's attempts to control the action.
Roman tries to hold on but Obama pushes him away.
Obama is dominating on the ground here - he's now on his opponent's back, looking to sink in the hooks. Roman is in real trouble.

Roman fending off the submission attempt from Obama.
Roman trying to get back to his feet but Obama is in full control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman just trying to survive but Obama is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Obama is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Roman is defending well though. Obama let's go of the attempt for now.
Obama has the hooks in. Roman is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Temitope Obama is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Roman is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Obama is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roman showing good submission defense here.
Gaudencio Roman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Obama controlling well, preventing Roman from escaping the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Obama is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Roman is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Temitope Obama!
After winning the bout, Temitope Obama thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.