PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tomas Rumiantsev (ranked 2107 p4p, 2922 weight class) and James Dalton (ranked 144 p4p, 194 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rumiantsev
vs
Dalton

170 cm
22
140
5 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
144
7 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

30th Century Beer Store

Bondi MMA ðŸï¸

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tomas Rumiantsev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, James Dalton!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Trevor Gratis and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rumiantsev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dalton swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Dalton has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Rumiantsev looks for a takedown but Dalton sprawls well.
Good standup being displayed there by Rumiantsev as he connects with a hook.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Dalton takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Dalton's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Dalton duly obliges.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dalton jabs at Rumiantsev's body.
Rumiantsev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Rumiantsev clinches up with Dalton and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Rumiantsev scores with a nice short uppercut.
Dalton blocks an uppercut.
Dalton is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Dalton wants a takedown but no success here.
Rumiantsev tries to throw a body punch but Dalton avoids it by throwing Rumiantsev back against the cage.
Dalton is working for takedown but Rumiantsev is calmly controlling the position for now.
Tomas Rumiantsev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Dalton.
Rumiantsev stops a takedown attempt from Dalton.
Rumiantsev misses with the head strike.
Dalton wants a takedown.
Rumiantsev blocks the elbow strike.
Rumiantsev avoids a wild elbow strike from Dalton.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Dalton just misses with a elbow thrown towards Rumiantsev's brow.

Dalton lands a takedown into guard.
Rumiantsev has control of Dalton's left arm, preventing Dalton from doing any damage.
Dalton wants to pass the guard but Rumiantsev is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rumiantsev is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Rumiantsev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dalton looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rumiantsev looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Dalton passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rumiantsev is looking for a sweep. Dalton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rumiantsev trying to control but Dalton postures up.
Dalton is trying to control the action in half guard but Rumiantsev is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dalton misses with a head shot. Rumiantsev uses the momentum to regain guard.
Dalton trying to control but Rumiantsev is working from the bottom.
Rumiantsev pulls Dalton in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rumiantsev is trying to control the position but Dalton postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Rumiantsev shoots in and drives through. Dalton sprawls well.
Dalton jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Rumiantsev ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Tomas Rumiantsev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rumiantsev darts in looking for a takedown but Dalton gets double underhooks and turns Rumiantsev into the cage.
Rumiantsev throws a head punch that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rumiantsev blocks the elbow strike.
Dalton is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rumiantsev misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short left from Rumiantsev.
Dalton throws an elbow but it's blocked.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but James Dalton will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rumiantsev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dalton.
Rumiantsev scores with a jab to the body.
Dalton throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rumiantsev appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Rumiantsev looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Dalton is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rumiantsev.
Rumiantsev digs a good body shot into Dalton's ribs.
Dalton throws a body punch but Rumiantsev moves out of range.
Rumiantsev is looking for a counter combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rumiantsev is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dalton.
Dalton tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Dalton pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rumiantsev changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Rumiantsev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dalton tries to clinch but Rumiantsev moves out of range.
Rumiantsev throws out a loose jab but Dalton uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dalton is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Dalton wants to clinch up but Rumiantsev keeps it at a distance.
Rumiantsev scores with a shot to the body.
Dalton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rumiantsev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dalton avoids the body shot from Rumiantsev.
Rumiantsev gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Dalton slips a jab from Rumiantsev.
And Dalton tries to counter it with a takedown but Rumiantsev pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rumiantsev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dalton moves away.

Dalton fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rumiantsev, pushing him back against the cage.
Rumiantsev misses with a punch to the body.
Dalton is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rumiantsev blocks an elbow strike.
Rumiantsev lands with a light punch inside.
Dalton misses with a punch on the inside.
Dalton lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Rumiantsev backwards.
Rumiantsev misses with a punch to the body.
Dalton blocking some punches.
Rumiantsev throws a punch but it's blocked by Dalton.

Rumiantsev has picked Dalton up - he's going for a ride! Rumiantsev dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dalton is refusing to be controlled, as Rumiantsev sits in half guard.
Dalton is pressing down on Rumiantsev's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rumiantsev wants to control from the top but Dalton keeps moving.
Rumiantsev landing some decent shots from guard.

Rumiantsev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rumiantsev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rumiantsev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dalton is keeping the position for now.
Dalton looking for a sweep. Not yet Dalton, not yet.

Dalton is looking for a triangle here but Rumiantsev uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Dalton tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dalton taking a bit of punishment here - Rumiantsev scoring with strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tomas Rumiantsev dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Rumiantsev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dalton tries to avoid it but Rumiantsev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dalton to the ground. Dalton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rumiantsev tries to clinch up but Dalton circles away and keeps his distance.
Rumiantsev goes for a double leg but Dalton avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Dalton continues to drive forward.
Dalton has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rumiantsev avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dalton lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Rumiantsev fails to land.
Dalton drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rumiantsev lands a right hand.
Rumiantsev misses with the head strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dalton lands a takedown into guard.
Rumiantsev looking to control.
Dalton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dalton works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rumiantsev is looking to improve his position.
Dalton is looking to pass Rumiantsev's guard but actually Rumiantsev recovers to full guard.
Dalton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dalton works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Dalton thows a huge punch but Rumiantsev dodges it nicely.
Dalton tries to pass to full mount but Rumiantsev defends it.
Rumiantsev controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Dalton is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Dalton trying to control the action but Rumiantsev is working from the bottom.
Dalton is thwarting Rumiantsev's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rumiantsev tries to roll over but Dalton keeps him under control.
Dalton tries to pass the half guard into mount. Rumiantsev knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Dalton gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Dalton tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dalton avoids the body shot from Rumiantsev.
A slow jab from Dalton misses its intended target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rumiantsev jabs Dalton to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Rumiantsev looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Dalton is refusing to be controlled, as Rumiantsev sits in half guard.
James Dalton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dalton is in trouble now - Rumiantsev has advanced to mount!

Rumiantsev jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Dalton is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Dalton and Rumiantsev has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dalton gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Tomas Rumiantsev.
I think Rumiantsev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:29
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!