PBP Commentary

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

Roman
vs
Free

175 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

187 cm
19
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Craig Roman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lyku Free!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Albert Achterberg and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Free shoots in for a takedown but Roman shows good takedown defense.

Free drives through with a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Free wants to pass the guard but Roman is keeping the position.
Free wants to stand but Roman has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Free tries to free his leg and advance position but Roman is retaining full guard.
Roman wants to stand but Free is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Free wants to control from the top but Roman keeps moving.

Roman has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Free can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Free looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Free misses with a hook.
Free tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Roman swivels and escapes.
As Free tries to get set, Roman tries to push him back and clinch up but Free manages to avoid the attempt.

Free shoots in and gets a takedown into Roman's guard.
Free is looking to stand up but Roman won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roman is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Free trying to control the position from guard on top but Roman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Free in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Free wants to control from the top but Roman keeps moving.
Roman thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Free slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Roman throws a leg kick

so Free counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Free would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Roman could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Roman keeping moving, preventing Free from controlling successfully.
Free is looking to stand up but Roman won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Free passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Free tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Roman might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Free is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Free performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Free not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Free trying to control the action but Roman is working from the bottom.

Free is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyku Free dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Roman misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Free.
Despite the aggression on Free's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Free misses the jab.
Roman swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Free shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Roman is trying to defend but Free finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Free works his foot free and advances to mount.
Roman is trying to stand up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roman is in all sorts of trouble here.
Free trying to control but Roman is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Free.
Free looking to take Roman's back but Roman rolls and after a scramble, Roman ends up on top in guard. Nice escape there from Roman to escape a tricky position.
Free has Roman pulled in close to control his posture.

Free throws his legs up looking for a submission but Roman uses it to pass to side control.
Free wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman trying to control the action but Free is working from the bottom.
Roman is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Free is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Free wants to get back to his feet but Roman drags him back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Free dodges the ground and pound from Roman.
Roman wants to stand but Free is controlling his arm.
Free wants to control but Roman postures up.
Free is trying to get back to half guard.
Roman working away.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Lyku Free seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roman misses with a body punch

and Free counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Free perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Free has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Free not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lyku Free has got the better of the ground game so far.
Free looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Free throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Free is pressing down on Roman's thigh, looking to free his foot. Roman is holding on for now.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Free in particular looking to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Free 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.

Free wants to work for an arm triangle but Roman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyku Free showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Free is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Roman's half guard.
Free wants to stand up but Roman has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Roman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Roman is staying active underneath Free, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Free is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Free keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Free is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Roman has managed to free his arm - good work.
Free thows a huge punch but Roman dodges it nicely.
Free looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Roman looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Free decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Roman checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Roman keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Roman has Free pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Roman pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Free tumbling to the mat - Roman dives into Free's guard.

Free looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Roman passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Free looks like he's trying to stand up.
Free has his hands clasped together around Roman's back. He's all about the action.
Free pushes Roman off looking to stand but Roman dives back in and keeps control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Free can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Free has hold of Roman's hands but Roman slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Roman thows a huge punch but Free dodges it nicely.
Free tries to roll over but Roman keeps him under control.
Free is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Roman jumps into side control!

Roman stands up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Roman throws a body shot but no joy.
Craig Roman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lyku Free is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Free closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Roman to the mat! Roman manages to get full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lyku Free.
I've got Free winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyku Free!