PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dante Gael Roman (ranked 3498 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anzhor Azhiev (ranked 9663 p4p, 550 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Gael Roman
vs
Azhiev

183 cm
42
130 lbs
32 - 32 - 1

177 cm
43
144 lbs
23 - 80 - 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 32 - 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 - 80 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anzhor Azhiev!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Azhiev feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Azhiev has gone for a leg lock! Roman slips out almost immediately though and dives into Azhiev's guard.

Roman is pushing down on Azhiev's leg trying to pass to half guard. Azhiev is fighting to maintain full guard but Roman has managed to sneak the leg through.

Azhiev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Roman scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Azhiev actively working from the bottom here.
Roman is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Azhiev looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Roman seems to be working for a kimura but Azhiev defends the submission attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roman trying to control the pace.

Azhiev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Roman pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman controlling the action here.
Roman is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Roman wants to free his trapped foot but Azhiev is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Roman uses his free foot to push down on Azhiev's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Azhiev.
Azhiev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee warns Azhiev that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Roman dominating with strikes here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Azhiev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Roman wants to finish this one by submission but Azhiev is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Roman.
Azhiev can't escape the position.
The referee warns Azhiev that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Roman raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Roman controlling his opponent.
Roman scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Azhiev?
Azhiev is wriggling around trying to escape.
A nice elbow there by Roman.

Azhiev is rocked!
BOOM! Roman connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Azhiev is still in real trouble! Can Roman finish him?
Azhiev takes a big shot to the dome and his eyes have rolled back in his head! Roman's killer instinct has kicked in as he finishes the fight with more strikes. Impressive finish.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dante Gael Roman!
A relieved looking Dante Gael Roman thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
In defeat, Anzhor Azhiev stepped up to the mic, 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.'.