PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roman Gains (ranked 4110 p4p, 4174 weight class) and Tawhid Islam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Gains
vs
Islam

150 cm
18
170
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
175
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Roman Gains!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tawhid Islam!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Patrick Alders and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Islam closes the distance and clinches.
Gains could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Gains manages to pull guard.

Gains is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Islam defends well.
Gains working a defensive guard here.
Gains wants to stand and escape but Islam is having none of it.
Gains wants to sweep but no luck.
Gains keeping moving, preventing Islam from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Islam is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Gains might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Islam wanted to stand there but Gains had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gains trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Islam misses with an uppercut.
Islam fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Gains jabs Islam to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Gains shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Islam sprawls well. Islam wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Gains gets slowly back to his feet.
Islam unleashes a big counter combination but Gains bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Gains shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gains throws a lazy right hand but Islam sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Gains fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Islam, pushing him back against the cage.
Gains fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roman Gains. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Islam is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Islam has Gains pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Islam pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Gains tumbling to the mat - Islam dives into Gains's guard.

Gains pushes Islam off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Islam fails with a takedown attempt.
Islam avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Islam steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Gains.
Islam tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gains swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Gains instigates a clinch.
Islam blocks an elbow strike from Gains.
Islam misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Islam ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Islam no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Gains would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Gains trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Gains got a little sloppy there for a moment and Islam has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gains has managed to get both his arms back between Islam's legs - danger averted.
Islam controls Gains momentarily but Gains frees himself.

Islam has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Gains is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Gains jumps guard but Islam turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Islam successfully pulls guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gains looking to sit in guard and control but Islam gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gains pulls Islam in close to prevent any damage.

Gains looking for a guillotine here but Islam defends easily.
Islam wants to control from the top but Gains keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tawhid Islam will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Gains doesn't manage to clinch there - Islam circles away.
Islam circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gains wants to clinch up but Islam keeps it at a distance.
And Islam tries to counter it with a takedown but Gains pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Gains lands with an overhand left.
Gains lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Gains tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Islam swivels and escapes.
Gains fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Islam darts in looking for a takedown but Gains gets double underhooks and turns Islam into the cage.
Islam tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Gains is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gains feints a jab promting Islam to slip. Gains then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Islam slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A punch combination from Islam misses.
Islam tries to clinch there but Gains circles away.
Islam tries to bum rush Gains with a series of wild strikes but Gains uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gains is looking to counter the offense by Islam and move into the clinch.
Gains doesn't manage to clinch there - Islam circles away.
Islam swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Gains tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Islam defends well and Gains ends up having to push Islam into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roman Gains. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gains misses with a knee strike.

Islam escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gains throws a sloppy head kick and Islam moves out of range easily.
Islam throws a poor cross that misses
and Gains counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Islam shoots in for a takedown but Gains shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Gains. Islam does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Islam moves into the clinch successfully.

Islam pulls Gains into guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Islam is on top in guard.

Islam passes Gains's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Gains gets full guard.
Gains looking to control.
Islam trying to stand up but can't free himself from Gains's guard.

Islam gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Islam looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gains is fending him off so far but Islam persists. Nope, Gains circles away and we're back to standing.
Islam will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gains shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Islam defends it nicely.
Islam shoots in looking for a takedown. Gains tries to sprawl out of it but Islam keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gains manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gains fails with a takedown attempt.
Roman Gains is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Islam doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gains counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Gains.
Islam wants to counter with a clinch but Gains pushes him away.
Gains blocks a head kick by Islam.

Gains drives through and clinches with Islam against the cage.
Gains is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Islam tries to pull guard but Gains won't allow it.
Gains is trying to force a seperation but Islam has the dominant position.
Islam prevents Gains from breaking the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Roman Gains will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Islam shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gains as he jumps to the side.
Gains throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Islam lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Islam shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gains defends it nicely.
Gains pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gains misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gains throws a head kick but Islam moves out of range.
Gains tries to close the distance and clinch up but Islam swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gains shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gains shoots in looking for a takedown but Islam manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Gains's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roman Gains. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Islam is looking to slow Gains down with leg kicks.
Islam looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gains is fending him off so far but Islam persists. Nope, Gains circles away and we're back to standing.
Gains tries to clinch but Islam is having none of it.
Gains has his takedown stuffed
and Islam counters with a two punch combo.
Roman Gains is winning the standup battle so far.

Islam has Gains up against the cage in a clinch.
Islam jumps guard but Gains turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Gains is trying to break the clinch but Islam is controlling him.
Gains is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Islam pulls guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Islam is controlling Gains's posture.
Islam looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gains is stalling in the full guard.
Islam is trying to keep Gains in close.
Islam is looking to stand up but Gains isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gains looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Islam can do anything to dispel that myth.
Islam manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Gains manages to get himself to full guard.

Islam wants to control from the top but Gains keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Islam pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gains is keeping the position for now.
Gains bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Islam's guard.

Islam looking to control but Gains passes into half guard.
Gains missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Islam wants to control but Gains passes into side.
Gains trying to control the action but Islam is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Tawhid Islam.
I think Islam has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight for Roman Gains!
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight for Tawhid Islam!
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight for Roman Gains!

Roman Gains wins by split decision!