PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Rovanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominic Caelum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Rovanov might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to System Of A Down - Chop Suey!. On his way into the cage it seems that Maxim Rovanov has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Maxim Rovanov seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Rovanov
vs
Caelum

185 cm
25
205 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Maxim Rovanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dominic Caelum!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, David Hoff and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rovanov looks for a takedown but Caelum sprawls well.
Rovanov swinging wildly here.
Caelum fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rovanov manages to avoid it.
Rovanov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Caelum avoids it really well and circles away.
Caelum tries to counter with a clinch but Rovanov shakes him off and moves away.

Caelum clinches up with Rovanov and pushes him back against the cage.
Caelum misses with an elbow over the top.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rovanov tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxim Rovanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Caelum throws an elbow but it misses.
Rovanov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Caelum is defending well.
Rovanov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Caelum is keeping busy.

Caelum's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caelum throws a head kick that misses.
Rovanov missing with a left hand there. Caelum was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Rovanov closes the distance and pushes Caelum back into the cage.
Rovanov avoids the elbow strike from Caelum, against the cage.

Caelum pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Caelum slips under a jab from Rovanov.

Rovanov gets caught napping as Caelum dives in and scores a takedown. Rovanov manages to retain guard.
Rovanov throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Caelum would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Caelum scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rovanov is trying to keep Caelum in close.
Rovanov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rovanov tries to strike from the bottom.
Rovanov has momentary wrist control but Caelum slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caelum tries to stand but Rovanov is controlling from the bottom.
Caelum seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Caelum passes into half guard.
Caelum not doing much here.
Let's hope that Caelum has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Caelum is going to stand back up.
Caelum tries to pass to full mount but Rovanov defends it.
Caelum blocks the strikes from Rovanov.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Caelum scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rovanov tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Rovanov tries to kick Caelum off but Caelum keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Caelum trying to control the pace.
Rovanov trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Caelum manages to pass to mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Rovanov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Rovanov wants to control but Caelum is having none of it.
Rovanov is trying desperately to improve position.
Caelum landing shots from mount.
Rovanov is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Caelum cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rovanov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rovanov is working to get back to half guard.
Rovanov flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Rovanov is breathing heavily.
Caelum lands a heavy elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominic Caelum 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.

Rovanov throws a right hand that misses

and Caelum counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rovanov is working for takedown but Caelum is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rovanov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Caelum prevents it.

Caelum escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rovanov misses with a right hand
and Caelum counters with a one-two to the body.

Caelum clinches.
Rovanov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Caelum smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxim Rovanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Caelum manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Rovanov on his heels. He'll look to pass Rovanov's guard now, I'm sure.
Caelum trying to control but Rovanov is working from the bottom.
Caelum passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Caelum tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Caelum is trying to get an arm triangle but Rovanov is defending well.
Rovanov is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Caelum asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Rovanov tries to improve position but can't.
Caelum wants to stand but Rovanov has his arm trapped.
Rovanov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Caelum working the ground and pound from side control.
Rovanov wants to control but Caelum postures up.

That's two 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.
Rovanov strikes from the bottom but Caelum takes advantage and advances to full mount!
Rovanov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Caelum controlling from mount.
Rovanov is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Rovanov is looking to improve his position but Caelum isn't that keen on the idea.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Caelum blocks Rovanov's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Caelum controlling from mount.
Caelum in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caelum wants to stand but Rovanov is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Caelum lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Caelum lands a couple of good shots and Rovanov has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Rovanov is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Caelum just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

Caelum is looking for the choke from the back position but Rovanov is controlling his hands well.

Rovanov defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Caelum looking for the choke from the back.
Caelum is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Caelum gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Caelum gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Caelum apologises and we restart here on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rovanov throws the left hand but Caelum avoids the punch easily.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Caelum.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rovanov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rovanov is trying to buck Caelum off.
Caelum in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Caelum scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Rovanov to see if he's OK.

Caelum is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rovanov has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominic Caelum showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Rovanov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rovanov misses with a looping right.

Caelum drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Caelum is chipping away with strikes.
Caelum cracks Rovanov with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Caelum controlling the position.
Rovanov is trying to improve his position.
Caelum is staying tight to Rovanov's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Caelum has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rovanov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Caelum tries to stand but Rovanov is controlling his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rovanov is trying to work for a sweep but Caelum has mounted him!
Rovanov is bucking up trying to escape but Caelum cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Caelum looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rovanov is looking to improve his position but Caelum isn't that keen on the idea.
Caelum has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Caelum looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rovanov is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rovanov is trying desperately to improve position.
Caelum tries to control but Rovanov wriggling away.
Maxim Rovanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Caelum content just to control the position here.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Caelum.
Caelum wants to control the pace but Rovanov is squirming around nicely.
Rovanov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rovanov in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Rovanov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Caelum takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Rovanov is trying to reverse the position but instead Caelum has taken his back - oops!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Caelum is cranking Rovanov's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for Rovanov! He's tightened the choke and Rovanov is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Dominic Caelum!