PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dante Gael Roman (ranked 4619 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anzhor Azhiev (ranked 9347 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gael Roman
vs
Azhiev

183 cm
44
130 lbs
36 - 33 - 1

177 cm
45
144 lbs
33 - 88 - 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 36 - 33 - 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 33 - 88 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Anzhor Azhiev!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Sosuke Kotani and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good standup being displayed there by Roman as he connects with a hook.

Azhiev closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Azhiev wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Roman, who protects the arm well.

Azhiev swings around for an armbar but Roman sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Azhiev's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roman forces his way into half guard.

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

Azhiev looking for submissions off his back.
Roman passes the guard and advances to mount!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Azhiev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Azhiev keeps trying to improve his position.
Azhiev is still trying to improve position.
The referee warns Azhiev that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman controlling the pace for now.
Roman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Roman's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Roman lands a couple of good shots and Azhiev has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Azhiev is really stuck here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roman biding his time, controlling Azhiev.

Roman is persistently looking for the submission but Azhiev is defending it well.
Azhiev tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman has good solid back control here.
The referee is taking a good look at Azhiev as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Roman!
Azhiev is really stuck here.
Azhiev is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Azhiev tries to escape but Roman has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Roman scores with punches and elbows.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Azhiev can't escape the position.
Azhiev is taking damage to the body and head.
Roman has the hooks in. Azhiev is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Roman looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Roman has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Azhiev.
Roman punishes Azhiev with strikes from the back mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Roman controlling the positon.
You can see the frustration on Azhiev's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Roman is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

Azhiev is rocked!
Roman doesn't have the hooks in and Azhiev manages to turn into his guard.
Azhiev is still in real trouble! Can Roman finish him?

Azhiev drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Roman manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Azhiev has Roman in his guard.

Roman engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Azhiev seems to have recovered his senses.
Roman with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Roman working some strikes from top position.
Roman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Azhiev working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Roman doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Roman manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roman works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Still in half guard, Roman seems content to control.

Roman is working for a submission of some sort.
Roman perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Azhiev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Azhiev is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Roman scores with a couple of nice shots.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Roman working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Roman content to control rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Gael Roman dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Azhiev shoots in and gets a takedown into Roman's guard.
Roman is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Well, if Roman is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Azhiev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Roman is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Azhiev sees it coming and defends easily.

Roman is working for a submission of some sort.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

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

Azhiev looking for submissions off his back.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Roman in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Azhiev with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Roman passes the guard and advances to mount!
Roman is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Roman takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Further stalling from Roman.
Azhiev is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roman working for a guillotine from mount but Azhiev is in no mood to give up.
Azhiev working to try and regain half guard.
Roman controlling the position easily from mount.
Azhiev in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
BOOM! Roman connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Roman tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Roman is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Azhiev sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

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

Roman is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Azhiev actively working from the bottom here.
Roman drops an elbow to the side of Azhiev's head.
Roman working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Roman trying to control the pace.
Roman lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Azhiev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Roman pulls his head out easily.
Roman lands with a punch from half guard.
Roman is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Roman trying to pass the guard but Azhiev defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Azhiev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Azhiev has hold of Roman's hands but Roman slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Roman wants to work for an arm triangle but Azhiev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Roman working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Azhiev is looking for a sweep. Roman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Roman is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Roman trying to control the pace.

Roman is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Azhiev defends it well.
Still in half guard, Roman seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Gael Roman dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Azhiev drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Azhiev wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Roman, who protects the arm well.
Roman manages to work his way to half guard, despite Azhiev's best efforts.

Azhiev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Roman doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Azhiev.

Azhiev is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Azhiev wants to work for an arm triangle but Roman is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Azhiev looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Azhiev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Roman gets back to full guard.

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

Roman controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Roman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Azhiev can do to turn this around?

Roman drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Roman jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Roman chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Roman slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Roman has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Roman postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Azhiev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Roman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Roman advances position into side control!
Azhiev prevents Roman from improving position.
Azhiev tries to bench press Roman off him but Roman keeps the position.
Anzhor Azhiev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman takes a little break here. Azhiev wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Roman lands a few punches from side control.
Roman controlling the position.
Roman scores with punches from side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

Roman wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Azhiev, who protects the arm well.
Roman lands a few punches from side control.

Roman is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Azhiev knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Roman has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Azhiev!
Azhiev can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roman lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Azhiev hang on?
Azhiev sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Roman lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Azhiev won't allow Roman to pass to mount.
Azhiev has hold of Roman's hands but Roman slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Roman working over Azhiev with some ground and pound. Azhiev looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Roman is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Roman wants to pass the guard but Azhiev is defending well.
Dante Gael Roman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Roman slows the pace down in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Azhiev looking for submissions off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dante Gael Roman showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dante Gael Roman!
An out of breath Dante Gael Roman thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
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.'.