PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ben Lagman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Tilberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Lagman
vs
Tilberg

188 cm
22
169 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
177 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Alpha-Omega

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Lagman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Tilberg!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Columbo Gatti and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tilberg throws a head kick but Lagman moves out of range.
Lagman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Lagman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tilberg's waist but Tilberg gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lagman off to one side.
Tilberg looks for the body kick but Lagman saw that one coming.
Tilberg tries a head kick but it misses.

Lagman looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Tilberg!

Lagman jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Tilberg is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Tilberg and Lagman has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Lagman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Tilberg is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lagman in side control, throwing shots but Tilberg defends.
Tilberg is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Lagman throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Lagman is trying to get an arm triangle but Tilberg is defending well.
Tilberg managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Lagman.
Tilberg is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Lagman is controlling him well.
Lagman 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.
Sloppy strikes there by Lagman.
Lagman fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Tilberg tries to escape but Lagman is in control.

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.
Lagman connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Tilberg some visible discomfort.

Lagman looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lagman is breathing heavily.
Tilberg is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Lagman asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Lagman working the ground and pound but Tilberg is defending the strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lagman tries for a kimura but Tilberg is defending well.
Tilberg is trying to buck Lagman off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lagman goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Tilberg has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Lagman but great work by Tilberg.
Lagman is looking to reverse the position.

Tilberg decides to stand back up.
Lagman looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Lagman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tilberg will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lagman shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tilberg as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tilberg gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Tilberg pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lagman shoots for a double leg takedown but Tilberg sprawls well. He's pushed Lagman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Matt Tilberg seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tilberg tries a head kick but it misses.
Matt Tilberg is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tilberg doesn't manage to clinch there - Lagman circles away.
Tilberg throws a right and a left that Lagman avoids nicely.
Tilberg throws a series of punches but Lagman moves out of range.
Lagman tries to clinch up.
Tilberg moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tilberg keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ben Lagman will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tilberg lands a high kick!
Tilberg misses with a wild combination.
Some wild striking there from Tilberg.
Lagman misses with a takedown attempt - Tilberg sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tilberg looks to clinch

and Lagman counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tilberg's guard now.
Tilberg wants to get back to his feet but Lagman is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tilberg working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lagman.
Tilberg is wriggling around but Lagman manages to pass to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lagman sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Tilberg defending well though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Lagman is working for a kimura but Tilberg is defending it quite comfortably.

Tilberg kicks off Lagman and gets to his feet.
Lagman fails with the takedown.
Tilberg tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Lagman counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Lagman throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tilberg has one foot on Lagman's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
A head kick by Tilberg misses

and Lagman counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Tilberg!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lagman won't let Tilberg get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Tilberg takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Tilberg wants to try and get back to his feet.

Lagman has hold of Tilberg's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Tilberg manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Lagman is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Tilberg has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Tilberg!

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lagman working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Tilberg has passed into half guard!

Lagman looking for submissions off his back.
Lagman tries to get to full guard but Tilberg has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tilberg seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Lagman wants to sweep but Tilberg has passed to side control!
Tilberg slips into full mount, dodging the strikes by Lagman.
Lagman is wriggling around trying to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lagman swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Tilberg gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Tilberg tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Lagman counters with a series of strikes. Tilberg will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Lagman dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Tilberg turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Lagman uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tilberg.
Tilberg lands with a nice combination. Lagman backs away looking to recover.
Tilberg lands with a nice combination. Lagman backs away looking to recover.
Lagman shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tilberg but Tilberg pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Lagman looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tilberg is fending him off so far but Lagman persists. Nope, Tilberg circles away and we're back to standing.

Tilberg has closed the distance and engaged Lagman in a clinch.
Tilberg is leaning against Lagman and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

Tilberg breaks from the clinch.
A punch combination from Tilberg misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tilberg tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tilberg throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Lagman's head.
Tilberg tries to clinch up but Lagman circles away and keeps his distance.
Tilberg throws a wild body kick that Lagman sees coming a mile off.
Tilberg misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lagman shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Lagman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lagman drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Lagman has gone for a leg lock! Tilberg slips out almost immediately though and dives into Lagman's guard.

Lagman looking for subs off his back but Tilberg has passed one foot through into half guard.

Tilberg stands up from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tilberg misses with a two punch combination.
Tilberg throws a left and a right that both miss

and Lagman counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice strikes from Lagman there.

Lagman is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Tilberg wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lagman looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Lagman is looking for a kimura but Tilberg is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lagman to get the leverage.
Tilberg is trying to stand.

Lagman is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Lagman is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Tilberg as he works his way to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tilberg wants to stand and escape but Lagman is having none of it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Lagman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tilberg tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Matt Tilberg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tilberg stuffs the takedown.
Ben Lagman is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tilberg misses with a combination

and Lagman counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tilberg won't be happy with that.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Matt Tilberg.
I think Lagman has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ben Lagman!