PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roman Ship (ranked 2377 p4p, 2248 weight class) and Bruno Neves (ranked 115 p4p, 108 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.

Ship
vs
Neves

195 cm
32
283
18 - 27 - 1

195 cm
38
265
34 - 29 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

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Fantasy Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 27 - 1, fighting out of London, Roman Ship!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 29 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bruno Neves!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Sano and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neves takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ship fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ship cracks Neves with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ship throws an overhand right that lands on Neves's shoulder, as Neves tries to avoid the shot.
Ship misses the jab.
Neves tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Neves connects with a crisp jab.

It looks like Roman Ship has been cut.
Neves misses with a double jab

and Ship counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Neves wants to improve his position but Ship is controlling well.
Ship not doing much here.

Ship is working for a kimura but Neves is defending it quite comfortably.
Neves told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ship is stalling here. Neves is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Ship seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Neves has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Ship can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neves trying to control the action but Ship is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ship is looking to reverse the position.
Ship gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ship regains full guard. Nicely done.

Ship has his foot on Neves's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Neves works his way back into a safe position though.
Neves stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ship swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Neves slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ship has control of Neves's left arm, preventing Neves from doing any damage.
Ship controls Neves momentarily but Neves frees himself.
Neves missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ship looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

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

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.
Ship is pulling down on Neves's head. It's preventing any offense from Neves, at least for the moment.
Neves missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ship thuds his right hand into Neves's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

Ship moves into the clinch.
Ship swings wildly with an uppercut but Neves uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Ship dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Roman Ship's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Neves takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Ship bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Neves's head.
Ship connects with a body shot that sends Neves's belly button to the back.
Ship shoots for a double leg takedown but Neves sprawls well. He's pushed Ship's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
And Neves tries to counter it with a takedown but Ship pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Bruno Neves is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Neves walks into a left hand.
Neves looks to throw the jab but Ship is out of range.

Neves tries to sprawl but Ship drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Ship is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ship wants to take a breather but Neves is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ship working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Neves's thigh. Neves counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Neves keeping moving, preventing Ship from controlling successfully.

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

Neves content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Ship escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Neves gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Neves trying to control but Ship is working from the bottom.
Neves content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neves wants to control from the top but Ship keeps moving.
Ship has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

Ship working for a triangle but Neves defends it easily.
Ship keeping full guard, as Neves tries to pass.
Ship avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Neves trying to control but Ship is working from the bottom.

Ship working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Neves doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Neves manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neves trying to control the position from guard on top but Ship is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ship looking for a guillotine here but Neves defends easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Neves lands a couple of digs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Ship dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Roman Ship's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ship takes a swing at Neves's ribcage but misses.
Ship is looking to clinch but Neves is avoiding it.
Neves throws out a counter right but Ship avoids it with no problem.
Neves walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Ship throws a body punch but Neves moves out of range.
Roman Ship seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ship doesn't manage to clinch there - Neves circles away.
Neves swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Ship drives through with a takedown into Neves's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Ship wants to control from the top but Neves keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ship is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neves keeping moving, preventing Ship from controlling successfully.
Ship engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ship trying to control the position from guard on top but Neves is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bruno Neves has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Roman Ship is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ship looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Ship forces Neves back against the cage and clinches.

Neves has hold of one of Ship's legs. Ship is fighting the takedown attempt but Neves gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Neves stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ship swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ship has Neves pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neves tries to free his leg and advance position but Ship is retaining full guard.
Ship is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ship pulls Neves in close to prevent any damage.
Neves won't allow Ship to sweep him here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ship is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Neves misses with a combination

and Ship counters with a shoot takedown. Neves fights it but they end up in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ship trying to control but Neves is working from the bottom.
Ship is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Ship is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Neves is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Neves has escaped and now he's on top!

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ship holds on and takes a little breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roman Ship showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ship 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roman Ship!
After winning the bout, Roman Ship thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.