PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dante Gael Roman (ranked 4041 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anzhor Azhiev (ranked 9693 p4p, 0 weight class). Anzhor Azhiev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gael Roman
vs
Azhiev

183 cm
42
130 lbs
31 - 32 - 1

177 cm
43
144 lbs
23 - 78 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 32 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dante Gael Roman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 78 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anzhor Azhiev!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Shirou Masuda and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Azhiev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Roman wriggles free and stands up.

Azhiev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Roman quickly recovers to half guard.

Azhiev is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Azhiev is looking for a kimura but Roman is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Azhiev to get the leverage.
Roman is looking to control Azhiev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Roman avoid being mounted?
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Roman flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Roman trying to hold on to Azhiev's head to control him but Azhiev postures up.
Roman slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Azhiev drops back, looking for a kneebar! Roman looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Roman looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Roman!

Roman landing a few strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman controlling the position.
Azhiev is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Roman is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Roman sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Azhiev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Roman pulls his head out easily.
Roman wants to free his trapped foot but Azhiev is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Azhiev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Roman pulls his head out easily.
Ground and pound from Roman.
Roman wants to free his trapped foot but Azhiev is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Azhiev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Roman moves nicely into side control.
Azhiev tries to improve position but can't.
Roman lands a few punches from side control.
Azhiev stops Roman from passing to mount.
A lull in the action here.
Roman connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Azhiev some visible discomfort.
Azhiev is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Roman controlling the position.

Roman tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Roman has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roman tries for a kimura but Azhiev is defending well.
Azhiev tries to buck Roman off but Roman is having none of it.

Roman has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Azhiev dives in and scores a takedown into Roman's guard.
Roman tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Azhiev pushing down on Roman's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Azhiev is working for a submission of some sort.

Azhiev seems to be working for a kimura but Roman defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roman is looking to improve his position.
Roman is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Azhiev's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Azhiev's back!

Roman looking for the RNC.
Azhiev covers up after that shot from Roman.

Roman 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, Azhiev has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Azhiev showing good submission defense here.
Roman loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Azhiev hold on?
Azhiev is really stuck here.

Roman patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

Roman working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Azhiev is doing well to defend. Roman seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Azhiev is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Dante Gael Roman!
A very excited looking Dante Gael Roman made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.
Anzhor Azhiev spoke after the fight, saying 'I still want that title shot. Im the most experienced fighter here and everyday wants to see me smash the champ so lets do it whenever he starts ducking me.'.