PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roma Romanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Lawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jack Lawson will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Romanov
vs
Lawson

182 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
20
182 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Roma Romanov !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jack Lawson!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Bart Greer and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Romanov shoots in and gets a takedown into Lawson's guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Romanov trying to control but Lawson is working from the bottom.
Lawson is trying to control the position but Romanov postures up.
Lawson wants to stand up but Romanov is controlling him.
Lawson controls Romanov momentarily but Romanov frees himself.
Romanov wants to control from the top but Lawson keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Romanov scores with a takedown into Lawson's guard.

Lawson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Romanov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Lawson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Romanov cracks Lawson with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanov wants to control from the top but Lawson keeps moving.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lawson can do anything to dispel that myth.

Lawson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Romanov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Romanov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Romanov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Romanov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lawson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Romanov chips away with some ground and pound.
Romanov is stalling in the full guard.
Romanov throws a big elbow that misses.
Romanov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lawson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Romanov defends it easily.
Romanov landing with the ground and pound.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Romanov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Romanov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Lawson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Romanov postures up and lands a big shot to Lawson's brow.
Romanov is working Lawson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Romanov throwing strikes from guard but Lawson blocks nicely.

Lawson is looking for a triangle but Romanov pushes his legs off easily.
Lawson looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanov stands up over Lawson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Romanov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Romanov lands a couple of digs.
Lawson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Romanov landing with the ground and pound.
Lawson is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Romanov is working Lawson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Romanov connects with a couple of short punches.
Romanov working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romanov throws a strike but Lawson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lawson stops Romanov from standing up.
Lawson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Romanov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Lawson stands and steps away. Romanov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Romanov keeps the fight on the outside.
Lawson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Some bone on bone action there as Romanov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

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

Lawson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Romanov is aware though and is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roma Romanov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Romanov fails with the takedown.
Romanov shoots in looking for a takedown. Lawson tries to sprawl out of it but Romanov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lawson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Romanov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Romanov lands in his opponent's guard.
Romanov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romanov landing with the ground and pound.

Lawson working for a triangle but Romanov defends it easily.
Romanov with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lawson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Romanov defends it easily.
Romanov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Romanov throws a strike but Lawson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Romanov wants to hit a switch here but Lawson passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Romanov there!
Romanov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lawson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lawson is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Romanov to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Romanov shrugs it off.
Romanov regains half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lawson controlling the action here.
Lawson wants to free his trapped foot but Romanov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Romanov actively working from the bottom here.
Lawson prevents Romanov from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson wants to pass the guard but Romanov is defending well.
Lawson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Romanov is looking to improve his position.
Romanov slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Lawson won't allow Romanov to get back to his feet.
Romanov keeping moving, preventing Lawson from controlling successfully.
Lawson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romanov looking for a sweep but Lawson has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Roma Romanov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lawson tries to control but Romanov wriggling away.

Lawson is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Romanov shoots in and bounces Lawson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Romanov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Romanov stops Lawson from standing up.
Lawson is trying to keep Romanov in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Roma Romanov will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lawson throws a series of punches but Romanov moves out of range.
Lawson connects with an inside leg kick.
Romanov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Romanov fails with the takedown
and Lawson counters with a nice body shot.
Lawson has a takedown stuffed.
Lawson shoots in looking for a takedown but Romanov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Lawson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Lawson tries to clinch up but Romanov circles away and keeps his distance.

Romanov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lawson is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lawson is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Romanov is controlling him well.

Romanov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Romanov in side control lands a decent elbow.
Romanov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Romanov throwing strikes but Lawson manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Romanov is trying to improve his position.
Romanov is not content to let Lawson control the position.
Romanov struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romanov pushes Lawson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Lawson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Romanov is looking to regain half guard here but Lawson keeps moving and retains side control.

Lawson decides to stand back up. Lawson steps back and let's Romanov get back to his feet.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Romanov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Lawson misses with a few strikes there.
Lawson lands a jab to the head.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Lawson enables Romanov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Lawson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Lawson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Romanov postures up in Lawson's guard and throws a big left but Lawson blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lawson working a defensive guard here.
Romanov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Romanov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lawson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Romanov works over Lawson with some ground and pound from guard.
Romanov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Romanov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Romanov stopping the sweep attempt from Lawson.
Lawson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Romanov is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romanov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Romanov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Romanov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Romanov stopping the sweep attempt from Lawson.
Romanov lands a couple of digs.
Jack Lawson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lawson doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Roma Romanov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Romanov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roma Romanov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Romanov , winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roma Romanov !