PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dmitrii Roman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Bilbrough (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Roman
vs
Bilbrough

168 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitrii Roman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eric Bilbrough!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roman avoids a punch combination nicely.
Roman lands with a nice combination. Bilbrough backs away looking to recover.
Roman misses with a few strikes there.
Roman lands a front kick.
Bilbrough scores with a spinning back kick!
Roman bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Roman is looking to clinch but Bilbrough is avoiding it.
Bilbrough misses the shot to the body.

Roman shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Roman was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bilbrough trying desperately to get to his feet.
Roman is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Bilbrough can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Roman wants to control the pace but Bilbrough is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bilbrough working to try and regain half guard.
Bilbrough tries to lock up and control but Roman gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Bilbrough manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Roman decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Roman. No joy for Bilbrough on that attempt.
Bilbrough looks gassed!
Roman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bilbrough pinned against the cage. Bilbrough gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Roman looks for a takedown but Bilbrough sprawls well.
Bilbrough circles away from the clinch attempt.
Roman fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dmitrii Roman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Roman 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.
Roman trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bilbrough's guard.
Roman prevents Bilbrough from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bilbrough lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
Bilbrough is trying to keep Roman in close.
Roman prevents Bilbrough from getting back to his feet.
Bilbrough looking for a sweep. Not yet Bilbrough, not yet.
Bilbrough throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Roman stopping the sweep attempt from Bilbrough.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Roman tries for a takedown but Bilbrough sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Roman wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Eric Bilbrough seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good leg kick by Roman there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Roman checks a low kick from Bilbrough.
Bilbrough is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Roman has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bilbrough breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Roman shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Bilbrough is in all sorts of trouble here.

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

and Bilbrough counters with a single leg into guard. Roman didn't expect that.
Bilbrough is looking to stand up but Roman won't let him.
Roman wants to get back to his feet but Bilbrough is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bilbrough wants to stand and escape but instead Roman has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Bilbrough has Roman pulled in close to control his posture.
Bilbrough keeping moving, preventing Roman from controlling successfully.
Bilbrough keeping full guard, as Roman tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bilbrough looking for a sweep. Not yet Bilbrough, not yet.
Bilbrough working a defensive guard but Roman manages to pass into side control anyway.
Roman trying to control the position but Bilbrough is working away.
You can see the frustration on Bilbrough's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bilbrough is trying to work for a sweep but Roman has mounted him!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bilbrough can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bilbrough tries to hold on but Roman postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitrii Roman dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bilbrough moves into range and clinches up with Roman.

Roman is fighting off a takedown attempt but Bilbrough is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Roman to the mat. Roman regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Bilbrough stays in close to Roman's body and controls the position.
Bilbrough has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Roman is proving hard to escape from.
Bilbrough stopping the sweep attempt from Roman.
Bilbrough trying to control but Roman is working from the bottom.

Bilbrough decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Roman, up you get!
A head kick misses from Roman.
Roman drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Roman moves out of range of the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bilbrough fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bilbrough slips a jab and a cross from Roman.
Roman moves away from the strike by Bilbrough.
Bilbrough darts in trying to clinch

and Roman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bilbrough's guard.
Bilbrough wants to get back to his feet but Roman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bilbrough keeping moving, preventing Roman from controlling successfully.
Bilbrough wants to stand up but Roman is controlling him.

Roman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Bilbrough pushes Roman off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman misses with a takedown

and Bilbrough holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Bilbrough managing to block the knees to the body from Roman.

Bilbrough has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Roman regains guard immediately.

Bilbrough decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Bilbrough thows a leg kick but Roman checks it
and Roman counters with a head kick.
Bilbrough tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Roman counters by moving into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Bilbrough scores with a knee to the head.

Roman is fighting off a takedown attempt but Bilbrough is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Roman to the mat. Roman regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Bilbrough throws a strike but Roman rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bilbrough controls Roman momentarily but Roman frees himself.
Bilbrough trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Bilbrough can't keep his opponent in guard - Roman advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bilbrough pushes Roman off looking to stand but Roman dives back in and keeps control.
Bilbrough is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bilbrough wants to control but Roman is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Bilbrough kicks off Roman and gets to his feet.
An inside leg kick from Bilbrough misses.
Bilbrough throws an overhand right that lands on Roman's shoulder, as Roman tries to avoid the shot.
A thudding body kick lands there by Bilbrough!
Bilbrough looks to land a combination but Roman avoids it well.

Bilbrough has Roman up against the cage in a clinch.
Roman wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bilbrough with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bilbrough managing to block the knees to the body from Roman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bilbrough breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Roman fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bilbrough.
Roman circles away from the clinch attempt
and Roman counters with a low kick, right behind Bilbrough 's knee.
Bilbrough dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Roman. That did some damage!
Bilbrough misses with a lunging right hand

and Roman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bilbrough's guard.
Roman wanted to stand there but Bilbrough had control of the position.
Roman being controlled here momentarily.
Roman wants to control from the top but Bilbrough keeps moving.
Dmitrii Roman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bilbrough looking to hit a scissor sweep but Roman is one step ahead there.
Roman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Bilbrough showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Roman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Roman fails to land the takedown.
Bilbrough tries to clinch up but Roman circles away and keeps his distance.
Roman shoots in for a takedown but Bilbrough shows good takedown defense.
Bilbrough throws a low kick, looking for Roman's leg but Roman calmly moves out of range.
Roman with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bilbrough counters with a solid body kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dmitrii Roman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roman lands a jab-cross combination.
Roman fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bilbrough.
Bilbrough with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Bilbrough drives through and clinches with Roman against the cage.

Bilbrough breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Bilbrough drives through with a takedown into guard.

Bilbrough decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Bilbrough throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice sprawl there from Bilbrough as Roman shoots in.
Bilbrough showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Roman.
Bilbrough fails with the takedown
and Roman counters with a body kick that stops Bilbrough in his tracks momentarily.
Roman swats away the attempt to clinch by Bilbrough.
Roman wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Bilbrough takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bilbrough. That did some damage!
Bilbrough throws a leg kick
and Roman counters with a thumping low kick.
Bilbrough throws a left and a right that both miss
and Roman counters with a low kick, right behind Bilbrough 's knee.
Bilbrough takes a swing at Roman's ribcage but misses.
Roman scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Bilbrough swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Roman counters with a series of strikes. Bilbrough will be more careful next time no doubt.
Roman wants to clinch but Bilbrough slips to the side

and Bilbrough counters by moving into the clinch.

Roman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bilbrough.
Bilbrough avoids the head kick by Roman.
Roman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bilbrough but Bilbrough pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bilbrough lands a front kick.

Bilbrough clinches.
The referee calls for Bilbrough to work.
Bilbrough drops down looking for an ankle pick but Roman pulls his leg out and moves away.
Roman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bilbrough misses with an attempted mid kick.
Roman lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Bilbrough backs up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Bilbrough counters with a nice double leg into side control. Roman won't be happy with that.
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!
Bilbrough wants to control but Roman is keeping him busy.
Bilbrough moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Roman struggling a bit here.
Roman gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
It looks like Bilbrough is going to stand back up.
Roman is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roman actively working from the bottom here.
Bilbrough sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Bilbrough thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Roman's head.
Bilbrough is nestled in close to Roman, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Bilbrough is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roman is looking to control Bilbrough's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Roman avoid being mounted?
Bilbrough content to control rather than advance.
Roman tries to get to full guard but Bilbrough has control of the leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bilbrough thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Bilbrough comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bilbrough has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Bilbrough!