PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mikel Roman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Koos Koekemoer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Roman
vs
Koekemoer

173 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

173 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mikel Roman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Koos Koekemoer!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Alan Glass and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roman tries to clinch but Koekemoer moves out of range.
Koekemoer lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Koekemoer swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Koekemoer misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Roman tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Koekemoer manages to circle out of the way.
Koekemoer throws a nice looking combination but Roman bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Koekemoer connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Roman's hands.
Danga de danga de dang - Koekemoer scores with a four punch combination!
Koekemoer throws a right hand that Roman ducks under and follows up with a left that Roman also avoids with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Koekemoer takes the fight into the clinch.
Koekemoer is looking to break free of the clinch but Roman has double underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Koekemoer walks away with a smile on his face. Roman gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Koekemoer darts in looking for a takedown but Roman gets double underhooks and turns Koekemoer into the cage.

Koekemoer gets tackled into the cage by Roman. Roman maintains the clinch.
Koekemoer is trying to force a seperation but Roman has the dominant position.
Roman wants to take the fight to the mat but Koekemoer manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Roman jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Koekemoer walks away with a smile on his face. Roman gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikel Roman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A lazy body kick from Koekemoer

so Roman counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Roman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Roman loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Roman cracks Koekemoer with a solid left hand.
Roman is looking to work some ground and pound but Koekemoer has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Koekemoer scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Koekemoer shoots for a takedown but Roman saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Koekemoer throws a left and a right that both miss

and Roman counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Roman prevents Koekemoer from breaking the clinch.
Koekemoer looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Koekemoer wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Roman has him pressed against the cage.
Koekemoer wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Roman is looking for a takedown.
Roman wants to take the fight to the mat but Koekemoer manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koekemoer can't break the clinch.
Koekemoer wants to get back to striking at distance but Roman won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Koekemoer's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Koekemoer just leaning against Roman, taking a breather.
Koekemoer is trying to break free.
Koekemoer is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Koekemoer has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Roman uses from the top position.
Koekemoer is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Koekemoer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Koekemoer is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Roman presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Koekemoer is looking to break free of the clinch but Roman has double underhooks.
Koekemoer wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Koekemoer can't break the clinch.
Roman jumps guard but Koekemoer turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Roman keeps control of Koekemoer as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Koekemoer wants to break free but Roman has control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roman keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Koekemoer's efforts to push away.
Koekemoer is trying to break the clinch but Roman has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koos Koekemoer dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Koekemoer tries to work over Roman's front leg with a kick but Roman checks it.
Koekemoer stalks Roman and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Roman's face. Roman staggers backwards, shaken.
Roman misses with the combination.
Koos Koekemoer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roman with a nice cross.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Roman clinches up with Koekemoer and pushes him back against the cage.

Roman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Koekemoer has closed the distance and engaged Roman in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koekemoer is trying to force a seperation but Roman has the dominant position.
Roman drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Koekemoer gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Koekemoer wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Koekemoer looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Roman can't get the takedown.
Koekemoer working hard to break the clinch.
Koekemoer wants to break free but Roman has control.
A short right from Koekemoer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Koekemoer is trying to break the clinch but Roman has him pressed against the cage.
Koekemoer is trying to force a seperation but Roman has the dominant position.
Koekemoer is trying to break the clinch but Roman is controlling him.

Roman lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Koekemoer has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Roman is on him like a limpet, forcing Koekemoer back against the cage.
Koekemoer is trying to break free.
Roman jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Koekemoer walks away with a smile on his face. Roman gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikel Roman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Roman gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Roman has Koekemoer pressed against the cage, preventing Koekemoer from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koekemoer is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Roman is defending well.
Roman fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Koekemoer can't break the clinch.
Koekemoer can't break the clinch.
Roman tries to pull guard but Koekemoer won't allow it.
Koekemoer is trying to break the clinch but Roman has him pressed against the cage.
Koekemoer is trying to break the clinch but Roman is controlling him.
Roman keeps control of Koekemoer as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Koekemoer has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Roman avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

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.

Koekemoer lands a takedown into guard.

Koekemoer gets to his feet - Roman follows without any prompting.
Koekemoer throws out a leg kick but Roman moves out of range and Koekemoer only half commits.
Roman tries to clinch up.

Koekemoer closes the distance and clinches.
Roman prevents a takedown attempt there.
Koekemoer tries to circle away but Roman has him pinned against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roman keeps control of Koekemoer as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koos Koekemoer showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Roman tries to score a power double leg takedown but Koekemoer sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Roman somewhat.
Despite the aggression on Koekemoer's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Koekemoer's corner calls for a 1-2. Koekemoer obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Koos Koekemoer seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roman on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Koekemoer has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Roman slips a jab and a cross from Koekemoer.
Roman lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Roman tries to clinch up
and Roman takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koekemoer goes for a double leg but Roman avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Roman continues to drive forward.
Roman cracks Koekemoer with an open hand slap.
Roman scores with a kick to the midsection.
Roman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Koekemoer avoids it really well and circles away.

Koekemoer closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koekemoer is trying to break the clinch but Roman is controlling him.
Koekemoer avoiding damage.
Roman is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Koekemoer pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikel Roman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Koekemoer ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Koekemoer no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Koekemoer manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Koekemoer is trying to break the clinch but Roman is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koekemoer is trying to push Roman away but Roman has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Koekemoer is trying to break free.
Koekemoer gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Roman.
Koekemoer is trying to break the clinch but Roman is controlling him.
Roman is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Koekemoer pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Koekemoer wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

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.
Koekemoer can't break the clinch.

Koekemoer pulls guard.

Koekemoer wriggles free and stands up.
Koekemoer misses with the combination.
Roman tries to clinch up.
Roman scores with a head kick. Koekemoer tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Danga de danga de dang - Koekemoer scores with a four punch combination!
Mikel Roman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Koos Koekemoer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Roman tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Koekemoer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
Koos Koekemoer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Koekemoer has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Koos Koekemoer!