PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Christian Howard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Samoa Rome (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rome has chosen Samoan Death as his entrance music. Samoa Rome acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Howard
vs
Rome

174 cm
26
166 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

188 cm
27
164 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Christian Howard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Samoa Rome!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howard throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rome misses with a wild body shot.
Howard slips under a jab from Rome.

Howard scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Howard is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rome has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rome is pushing Howard's head away, looking to escape. Howard manages to hold on to the position though.
Howard is looking to take a break and control but Rome is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rome is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rome is trying to improve his position.
Howard throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Rome works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Howard trying to control the action but Rome is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard thows a huge punch but Rome dodges it nicely.
Rome is looking to control Howard's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rome avoid being mounted?

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rome gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Howard counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Howard wants a takedown.
Rome tries to break free but Howard pushes him back against the cage.
Rome is trying to break free.
Howard is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rome gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Rome is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Howard is keeping busy.

Rome decides to pull guard.
Howard seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rome keeping full guard, as Howard tries to pass.

Rome escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Howard gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Rome is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Howard defends well.
Rome manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Howard manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard wants to get back to his feet but Rome is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Howard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rome is aware though and is defending well.
Howard wants to improve his position but instead Rome has moved into half guard.

Rome is looking for a kimura but Howard is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rome to get the leverage.
Rome tries to pass the half guard into mount. Howard knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Howard is not content to let Rome control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Howard is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Howard. No joy for Rome on that attempt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Howard.
Howard misses with a few strikes there.

Nice combo by Rome! Oh, that's hurt him - Howard falls to the canvas and Rome follows him into side control.

Howard is rocked!

Rome is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Howard knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Rome wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Howard, who protects the arm well.
Rome looks gassed!

Rome looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samoa Rome dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rome misses with a hook. Howard ducked under it nicely.
Rome throws a nice looking combination but Howard bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Howard tries to clinch there but Rome circles away.

Rome closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Howard did well to prevent Rome getting side control.
Howard tries to roll over but Rome keeps him under control.

Rome is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Howard moves into full guard.
Rome is breathing heavily.

Rome has gone for a leg lock! Howard slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rome's guard.
Howard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Howard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Howard trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rome's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howard trying to control but Rome is working from the bottom.
Howard passes Rome's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Howard is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rome doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Howard.

Rome kicks off Howard and gets to his feet.
Howard misses with a series of wild punches.
Rome ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Howard moves away.
Rome throws a jab when Howard was well out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Howard tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rome paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Howard moves out of range as Rome strikes.

Howard shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Howard was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rome sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Howard landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rome is pressing down on Howard's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Howard stops Rome from standing up.
Rome avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Howard content to stall in guard here.

Rome working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Howard doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Howard manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rome is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Howard got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rome has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Howard has managed to get both his arms back between Rome's legs - danger averted.
Howard trying to control but Rome is working from the bottom.
Rome is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Samoa Rome will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Howard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Rome misses with a wild combination.
Rome throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Howard moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Rome tries for a takedown but Howard circles away easily

and Howard counters with a single leg into guard. Rome didn't expect that.

Rome has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Howard can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Howard wants to control from the top but Rome keeps moving.
Rome takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rome can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Howard controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Howard chips away with some ground and pound.

Rome has his foot on Howard's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Howard works his way back into a safe position though.
Rome has a closed guard, preventing Howard from standing up.

Rome had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Howard defends it easily.
Howard controls from within his opponent's guard.
Howard with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Rome has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Howard can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Christian Howard has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Howard postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Howard trying to control the position from guard on top but Rome is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rome looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Howard avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rome wants to sweep but no luck.
Howard seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Howard tries to free his leg and advance position but Rome is retaining full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Howard avoids the body shot from Rome.

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.

Howard closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rome to the mat! Rome manages to get full guard.

Rome is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Christian Howard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Howard with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Howard wants to control from the top but Rome keeps moving.
Rome looking for a sweep. Not yet Rome, not yet.
Samoa Rome is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rome keeping full guard, as Howard tries to pass.
Howard throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rome works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Christian Howard showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rome 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Samoa Rome!