PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dardan Egzon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Lumumba (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.

Egzon
vs
Lumumba

169 cm
22
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Granite chin

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 Tokyo, Dardan Egzon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ivan Lumumba!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Shigeki Fujiwara and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lumumba moves in looking to clinch but Egzon pushes him off.

Lumumba clinches with his opponent.
Lumumba with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Egzon turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Egzon manages to end up in side control.
Lumumba taking punishment in the form of punches.
Egzon scores with a couple of short elbows.
Egzon lands an elbow.
Lumumba is looking for a sweep.
Lumumba is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Egzon off and has taken his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Egzon is in bad spot here.

Lumumba working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Egzon just trying to survive but Lumumba is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Lumumba lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Lumumba working for a choke but Egzon is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Egzon is trying to get back to his feet but Lumumba has full control of the position and if anything, Egzon has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Lumumba has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
Egzon trying to get back to his feet but Lumumba is in full control for now.
Lumumba avoiding Egzon 's attempts to control his hands.

Egzon defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Egzon trying to get back to his feet but Lumumba is in full control for now.

Lumumba looking for the choke but no joy.
Egzon wants to control his opponent's hands but Lumumba gets his hands free.

Lumumba is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Egzon could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Lumumba avoiding Egzon 's attempts to control his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Egzon rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Lumumba is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Egzon doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lumumba.

Lumumba is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Egzon pushes Lumumba off looking to stand but Lumumba dives back in and keeps control.

Lumumba is looking for a kimura but Egzon is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lumumba to get the leverage.
Lumumba prevents Egzon from improving his position.

Lumumba is trying to work for a kimura but Egzon is defending well.
Egzon might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Egzon is looking for a sweep. Lumumba is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Lumumba dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Lumumba tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Egzon paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Egzon closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Lumumba did well to prevent Egzon getting side control.
Lumumba is trying to stand.
Lumumba is looking to get back to is feet but Egzon passes into side control.
Lumumba taking a bit of punishment here - Egzon scoring with strikes.
Lumumba taking punishment in the form of punches.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Lumumba is looking for a sweep.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Egzon working the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Egzon scoring with punches from side control.
Lumumba is trying to get back to half guard.
Egzon trying to control the action but Lumumba is working from the bottom.
Lumumba is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Egzon in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Egzon is chipping away with strikes.
Egzon lands some shots froms side control.

Egzon tries for a kimura but Lumumba is defending well.
Lumumba is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Egzon asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Egzon scores with punches from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lumumba is trying to improve his position.
Egzon works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Lumumba takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Lumumba is letting Egzon control him for a moment.
Egzon cracks Lumumba with a big right hand but Lumumba just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Lumumba tries to escape but Egzon is in control.
Egzon working the ground and pound from side control.
Egzon creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Lumumba is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Egzon's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Egzon is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Egzon.
Lumumba has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Egzon is working away from the top position though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lumumba can do anything to dispel that myth.
Egzon looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Lumumba with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Lumumba is looking for a sweep. Egzon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lumumba is trying to stand.
Egzon seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Lumumba won't allow Egzon to pass to mount.
Egzon looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Lumumba actively working from the bottom here.
Lumumba is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Egzon's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Egzon's back!
Lumumba is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Egzon is trying to get back to his feet but Lumumba has full control of the position and if anything, Egzon has just worked his way into a worse spot.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lumumba tries to keep control of the position but Egzon is staying busy.

Lumumba has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Egzon has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Egzon is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Egzon wants to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dardan Egzon dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Lumumba moves into the clinch successfully.
Lumumba lands a left hand that snaps the head of Egzon backwards.
Lumumba has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Egzon is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lumumba stops a takedown attempt from Egzon.

Egzon pulls Lumumba into guard.

Lumumba drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Egzon manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Lumumba has Egzon in his guard.

Lumumba is trying to control the position but Egzon postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lumumba can't keep his opponent in guard - Egzon advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Lumumba is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Egzon pulls his head out easily.
Egzon takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Egzon working over Lumumba with some ground and pound. Lumumba looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Egzon winds up and cracks Lumumba with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Egzon winds up and cracks Lumumba with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Dardan Egzon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lumumba tries to get to full guard but Egzon has control of the leg.

Egzon is trying to work for a kimura but Lumumba is defending well.
Egzon is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Egzon prevents Lumumba from standing back up.
Lumumba is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Egzon's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Egzon's back!
Egzon tries to roll but Lumumba sticks to his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lumumba is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Egzon defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Lumumba takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Egzon wants to get back to his feet.
Lumumba is not going to allow Egzon to sit and survive in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Egzon preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Lumumba.
Egzon wants to escape the position but for the time being he's just trying to control the pace.

Lumumba looking for the choke but no joy.
Egzon just trying to survive but Lumumba is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Egzon wants to get back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lumumba controlling well, preventing Egzon from escaping the position.
Egzon trying to control the action but Lumumba just sinks the hooks in.
Egzon trying to get back to his feet but Lumumba is in full control for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Lumumba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lumumba 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 Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Lumumba!