PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dana Solomon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Lebron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Solomon
vs
Lebron

173 cm
24
194 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

173 cm
24
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dana Solomon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Lebron!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Franklyn Lucas and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lebron throws a leg kick but Solomon sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Solomon gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Solomon can't find room to land a body shot as Lebron controls the action.
Solomon misses with a hook from the clinch.

Solomon is fighting off a takedown attempt but Lebron is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Solomon to the mat. Solomon regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Solomon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Solomon keeping full guard, as Lebron tries to pass.
Solomon keeping moving, preventing Lebron from controlling successfully.

Solomon is working an open guard so Lebron takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Solomon closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Lebron sneaks out the side door and pushes Solomon away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Lebron shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Solomon's guard.
Solomon pulls Lebron in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lebron is controlling him.
Solomon is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Solomon working a defensive guard here.
Lebron works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Lebron is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Lebron working Solomon over with strikes.
Lebron tries to stand but can't do so whilst Solomon controls his leg.
Lebron is trying to control the action in half guard but Solomon is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two 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.

Lebron postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Solomon to stand up.
Lebron throws a nice head kick!

Dana Solomon's cut is getting worse.
Solomon could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Lebron darts in and clinches Solomon up against the cage.

Lebron pulls Solomon into guard.
Solomon stopping the sweep attempt from Lebron.
Lebron doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Solomon wants to get up but he can't break Lebron's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Lebron has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Solomon off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Lebron closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Solomon did well to prevent Lebron getting side control.
Solomon tries to get to full guard but Lebron has control of the leg.
Lebron wants to take a breather but Solomon is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lebron not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lebron trying to control from half guard but Solomon is working away.
Solomon regains full guard. Nicely done.
Lebron wants to control from the top but Solomon keeps moving.
Lebron looks winded!
Lebron might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Solomon haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Lebron wanted to stand there but Solomon had control of the position.
Lebron stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Solomon swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Solomon bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lebron's guard.

Solomon wants to stand but Lebron has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Solomon avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lebron manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Solomon manages to get himself to full guard.

Solomon looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lebron is one step ahead there.
Solomon pulls Lebron in close to prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Lebron dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dana Solomon's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lebron looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Solomon pushes Lebron off and gets back to his feet.

Lebron bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lebron wants to control but Solomon is keeping him busy.
Solomon is trying to improve his position.
Solomon keeping his opponent close.
Solomon is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Lebron off and has taken his back!
You can see the frustration on Lebron's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Lebron controlling Solomon 's hands.
Lebron breaks Solomon's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Lebron looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lebron trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lebron trying to control but Solomon is working from the bottom.
Lebron passes easily into side control. Nice work.
James Lebron has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lebron tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Solomon is looking for a sweep.
Solomon struggling a bit here.
Solomon looking for a sweep but Lebron has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Lebron has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Solomon's face.
Solomon tries to hold on but Lebron pushes him away.
Solomon is trying to escape the mount.
Solomon is squirming around, avoiding Lebron's attempts to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lebron looking to finish with strikes here!
Lebron trying to control but Solomon is having none of it.
Lebron looking to control and managing it successfully.
Lebron looking to control but Solomon is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

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.
Lebron lands a nice shot to the head.
Solomon wants to hold on but Lebron pushes him away.
Solomon is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lebron trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Lebron is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Solomon tries to hold on but Lebron pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Lebron showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dana Solomon's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lebron throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Solomon tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lebron is in Solomon's guard.
Solomon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Solomon trying to control the position here.
Lebron tries to free his leg and advance position but Solomon is retaining full guard.
Lebron throwing strikes from guard but Solomon blocks nicely.

Lebron decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
James Lebron is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Solomon clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lebron tries to land a knee to the head but Solomon blocks with his arms.
Lebron prevents Solomon from breaking the clinch.

Lebron manages to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lebron is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Lebron trying to strike off his back.
Lebron trying to control the position.
Lebron wants to sweep here but Solomon controlling him for the moment.
Lebron takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Lebron is working an open guard so Solomon takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Solomon rushes Lebron and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Solomon throws a punch but it's blocked by Lebron.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees in the clinch landing for Solomon.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Lebron.
Solomon lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Solomon misses with some punches.
Lebron has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lebron is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Solomon throws a head punch that misses.

Lebron manages to pull guard.

Solomon decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Lebron, up you get!

Lebron clinches up with Solomon and pushes him back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Solomon.

Lebron gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Solomon regains guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Solomon is trying to control the position but Lebron postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lebron looking to pass the guard.
Solomon is pulling down on Lebron's head. It's preventing any offense from Lebron, at least for the moment.
Solomon is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Solomon seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Solomon stops Lebron from getting back to his feet.

Lebron looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Solomon.
Lebron trying to control but Solomon postures up.
Lebron wants to get back to full guard but Solomon has passed into side control.
Lebron tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Solomon stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Dana Solomon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Lebron is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Solomon misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dana Solomon.
I think Lebron 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 Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Lebron!