PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Carrol Randolph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maris Ponomarjovs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Randolph
vs
Ponomarjovs

173 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

178 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Carrol Randolph!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Maris Ponomarjovs!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Micheangelo Fripello and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Randolph drives through with a takedown into guard.
Randolph sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ponomarjovs keeping moving, preventing Randolph from controlling successfully.
Randolph controlling from the top position.
Randolph trying to stand up but can't free himself from Ponomarjovs's guard.

Randolph gets to his feet. Ponomarjovs looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ponomarjovs closes the distance and clinches.

Ponomarjovs successfully pulls guard.
Randolph throwing strikes from guard but Ponomarjovs blocks nicely.
Randolph looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponomarjovs wants to stand and escape but Randolph is having none of it.
Randolph cracks Ponomarjovs with a solid left hand.
Ponomarjovs lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ponomarjovs stopping the sweep attempt from Randolph.
Ponomarjovs trying to control but Randolph is working from the bottom.

Ponomarjovs avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Randolph is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Ponomarjovs presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponomarjovs prevents a takedown attempt there.

Ponomarjovs escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ponomarjovs looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Randolph has one foot on Ponomarjovs's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Ponomarjovs looks winded!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ponomarjovs fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Randolph throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ponomarjovs was covering up waiting for the punch and Randolph finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Randolph gets to his feet. Ponomarjovs looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Randolph slips a jab from Ponomarjovs.

Ponomarjovs shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Randolph's guard.

Randolph manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Randolph shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Randolph shoots in and drives through. Ponomarjovs sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carrol Randolph. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Randolph throws a head kick but Ponomarjovs moves out of range.

Ponomarjovs has taken the fight to the clinch.
Randolph tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Randolph tries to pull guard but Ponomarjovs forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Ponomarjovs pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Randolph wants to stand and escape but instead Ponomarjovs has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ponomarjovs throwing strikes from guard but Randolph blocks nicely.
Ponomarjovs is stalling in the full guard.

Ponomarjovs wants to stand up, so he's looking to wriggle free of Randolph's closed guard. He's half up but Randolph has locked on to an arm! Uh oh! Randolph pivots and extends the arm, Ponomarjovs falls face first to the mat and taps??... does he?? YES! He's tapping! Excellent counter grappling there by Randolph! Well done that man!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Carrol Randolph!