PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Josiah Roman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Umar Sherif (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Roman
vs
Sherif

188 cm
23
346 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

195 cm
25
290 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Josiah Roman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Umar Sherif!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Glass and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sherif shoots in looking for a takedown. Roman tries to sprawl out of it but Sherif keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Roman manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sherif shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Roman thuds his shin into the meat of Sherif's side.
Roman fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Sherif has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Sherif moves into range and clinches up with Roman.
Sherif has had enough of the clinch but Roman keeps him there for the moment.

Roman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Sherif.
Sherif misses with a body shot.
Roman changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Roman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherif tries to clinch but Roman is having none of it.
Roman will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Sherif shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Roman as he avoids it easily.
Josiah Roman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Umar Sherif.

Roman closes the distance and clinches.
Sherif fails to pull guard.
Sherif tries to break the clinch but Roman is controlling the position.
Roman with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Roman stops a takedown attempt from Sherif.

Roman pulls guard successfully.
Sherif throwing strikes from guard but Roman blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Sherif has passed into side control.
Roman is trying to improve his position.
Roman sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Roman manages to get to full guard.
Sherif slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman scores with a nice shot.
Roman wants to sweep here but Sherif controlling him for the moment.
Roman is pulling down on Sherif's head to control his posture.
Roman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Sherif's guard.

Sherif has his hands on Roman's head, controlling the position.
Roman is working Sherif over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Sherif looking for a guillotine here but Roman defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherif working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Roman.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Roman's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Roman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Roman throws an elbow that misses. Sherif uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Roman's guard. Nice move by Sherif!

Roman could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Roman will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Sherif passes Roman's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sherif perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josiah Roman dominated that round.
That's time! Roman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sherif tries for a takedown but Roman sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Roman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sherif.

Roman takes the fight into the clinch.
Roman tries to pull guard but Sherif won't allow it.

Sherif's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Roman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sherif can do to turn this around?
Sherif pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sherif shoots in for a double leg but Roman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sherif keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Despite the aggression on Sherif's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Roman doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sherif makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherif tries to clinch there but Roman circles away.
Roman keeps the fight on the outside.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sherif.
Sherif tries to score a power double leg takedown but Roman sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sherif somewhat.
An attempted straight right counter from Roman misses the target.
Josiah Roman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Umar Sherif.
Sherif is breathing heavily.
Sherif fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
It looked like Roman was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Roman clinches up against the cage.
Roman drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sherif can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherif working hard to break the clinch.

Roman breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Roman avoids the head kick by Sherif.
Sherif fails with the takedown.
Roman is looking for a counter combo.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Roman jumps guard and drags Sherif to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Roman is on top in guard.

Roman with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Roman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sherif works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Roman is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Roman scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Roman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Sherif really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Roman drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Sherif dives on top into guard.

Roman trying to keep a closed guard but Sherif is proving a slippery customer.
Roman seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sherif throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Roman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sherif is one step ahead there.
Roman has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Roman keeping moving, preventing Sherif from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josiah Roman dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Sherif shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Roman counters with a good low kick that Sherif was not able to check.
Roman throws a body punch but Sherif moves out of range.

Sherif has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sherif is trying to drag Roman to the mat but Roman just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sherif has had enough of the clinch but Roman keeps him there for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roman drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sherif pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sherif throws a left and a right that both miss
and Roman connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Roman dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sherif takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherif misses with a wild body shot.

Roman closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Roman lands in his opponent's guard.
Sherif wants to sweep here but Roman controlling him for the moment.
Roman lands a couple of digs.

Sherif is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Roman stands up and waves to Sherif to follow him.
Roman lands a leg kick that knocks Sherif off balance momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherif defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Roman.
Sherif shoots and misses

and Roman counters by clinching up.
Josiah Roman has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Umar Sherif.

Roman breaks the clinch.
Josiah Roman is winning the standup battle so far.
Roman swinging wildly here.
Roman fails with the takedown.
Sherif tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Sherif gets caught napping as Roman dives in and scores a takedown. Sherif manages to retain guard.

Sherif scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Roman wants it to stay on the feet.
Sherif shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Roman but Roman pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Sherif fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Roman shoots in and gets a takedown into Sherif's guard.
Roman won't allow Sherif to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roman is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Sherif is working an open guard so Roman takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Roman is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Some wild striking there from Roman.
Sherif fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Roman drops down looking for a counter takedown but Sherif sprawls and moves away.
A low kick from Sherif is predictable there

and Roman counters with a takedown into side control.

Sherif bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

And that's the end of the fight!
Umar Sherif comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Roman has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 28:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!