PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hank Lombard (ranked 2265 p4p, 312 weight class) and Chris Severn (ranked 2246 p4p, 309 weight class). Lombard kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Shinedown - Sound Of Madness . Hank Lombard has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lombard
vs
Severn

190 cm
29
212 lbs
13 - 12 - 1

195 cm
36
215 lbs
28 - 25 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
Dauntless

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 12 - 1, fighting out of London, Hank Lombard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 25 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Chris Severn!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lombard shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Severn defends it nicely.
Lombard thows a left - swing and a miss!
A jab from Lombard finds it's way through Severn's defenses.
A bone on bone clash there as Severn blocks the leg kick.
And Severn tries to counter it with a takedown but Lombard pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Lombard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Severn counters with a body kick.
Lombard moves in looking to clinch but Severn pushes him off.
Lombard lands a nice looking kick to the body. Severn takes a step back to recover.
Lombard throws an overhand right that lands on Severn's shoulder, as Severn tries to avoid the shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Severn fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Lombard rushes Severn and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lombard misses with the head strike.
Severn prevents the takedown attempt.
Lombard misses with a punch on the inside.
Lombard has a couple of punches blocked by Severn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Severn.
Severn is trying to drag Lombard to the mat but Lombard just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Severn looking for a takedown.

Lombard lands a takedown into guard.
Severn looking to control.
Severn keeping moving, preventing Lombard from controlling successfully.
Severn is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lombard slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Lombard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Severn swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Severn keeping moving, preventing Lombard from controlling successfully.
Lombard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Severn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lombard passes Severn's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Lombard is looking to take a break and control but Severn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Severn gets full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lombard stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Severn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Severn keeping moving, preventing Lombard from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lombard pushes down on Severn's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Lombard is pressing down on Severn's thigh, looking to free his foot. Severn is holding on for now.
Lombard is working hard here to advance position.
Severn gets full guard.
Lombard forces his way into half guard.
Lombard works his way into side control.

Lombard is trying to get an arm triangle but Severn is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lombard tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lombard has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Severn wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Lombard tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Lombard has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
I wouldn't like to be where Severn is right now.

Lombard 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.

Hank Lombard dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Severn needs to keep his hands up - Lombard had a free shot at his head there.
Lombard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Severn sprawls well. Severn wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lombard gets slowly back to his feet.
And Severn tries to counter it with a takedown but Lombard pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Lombard connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Severn bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nice shot by Lombard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Severn enables Lombard to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Severn manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Lombard pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Severn is keeping the position for now.
Lombard postures up.
Severn can't keep his opponent in guard - Lombard advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Severn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Severn trying to control but Lombard postures up.

Lombard is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Severn sees it coming and defends easily.

Lombard is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Severn is looking for a sweep. Lombard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lombard is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Severn reverses the position - he's now on top in Lombard's guard.
Severn is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Severn wants to pass the guard but Lombard is keeping the position.
Lombard keeping moving, preventing Severn from controlling successfully.

Lombard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Severn is aware though and is defending well.

Lombard working for a triangle but Severn defends it easily.
Severn is looking to pass into half guard but Lombard pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Lombard is in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lombard looking to pass the guard.
Lombard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Severn is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Lombard is looking to advance position but Severn has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Severn fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lombard wants to control but Severn is having none of it.
Severn controlling his opponent.
Severn raining down hammerfists from mount.
Severn trying to control but Lombard is having none of it.
Lombard is desperately trying to improve his position but Severn has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hank Lombard will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Lombard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Severn sprawls well. Severn wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lombard gets slowly back to his feet.
Severn feints the counter takedown.
Lombard wants to clinch up but Severn keeps it at a distance.
Severn blocks a low kick nicely.
Lombard misses with a hook

and Severn moves into the clinch.
Severn is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Lombard pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Lombard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lombard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Lombard.
Lombard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Severn is looking to control Lombard's arms but Lombard gets an underhook and turns him. Now Severn has his back to the cage.

Severn pulls Lombard into guard.
Lombard wants to pass the guard but Severn is keeping the position.
Lombard trying to control the position from guard on top but Severn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Severn is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Lombard drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Severn dives on top into guard.

Severn is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Severn trying to control but Lombard is working from the bottom.

Lombard throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Severn scoring with some ground and pound.
Lombard keeping moving, preventing Severn from controlling successfully.
Severn is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Lombard is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lombard has his foot on Severn's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Severn works his way back into a safe position though.
Severn wants to pass the guard but Lombard is keeping the position.
Severn is still trying to improve position.
Chris Severn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Severn must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Severn avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Severn trying to control the position from guard on top but Lombard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Hank Lombard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Severn looking to sit in guard and control but Lombard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Lombard not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Lombard won't allow Severn to sweep him here.
Lombard controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Severn tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lombard slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lombard lands a nice leg kick that just misses Severn's sensitive parts.

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 Hank Lombard.
Well Lombard 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hank Lombard!
A relieved looking Hank Lombard thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.