PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcel Romanow (ranked 1678 p4p, 3896 weight class) and Eddie McDermott (ranked 197 p4p, 417 weight class). McDermott has chosen I'm Shipping up to Boston as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Romanow
vs
McDermott

175 cm
26
247
7 - 9 - 0

198 cm
27
265
11 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marcel Romanow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eddie McDermott!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Igor Prikhodko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romanow takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

McDermott gets caught napping as Romanow dives in and scores a takedown. McDermott manages to retain guard.
Romanow stops McDermott from standing up.
Romanow stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McDermott swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Romanow slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Romanow working the ground and pound but McDermott is defending the strikes.

Romanow working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Romanow working the head and body with strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romanow working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanow working the ground and pound but McDermott is defending the strikes.
Romanow lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear McDermott down.
McDermott parries the strikes from Romanow easily there. Romanow is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable McDermott to escape.
Romanow tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Romanow 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.
Romanow trying to control the position but McDermott is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
An elbow from Romanow crashes against the mat.
Romanow misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
McDermott parries the strikes from Romanow easily there. Romanow is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable McDermott to escape.
Romanow working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Romanow throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Romanow throws a strike aimed at the side of McDermott's head but McDermott avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDermott taking punishment in the form of punches.
Sloppy strikes there by Romanow.
Romanow throws a strike aimed at the side of McDermott's head but McDermott avoids it well.
McDermott is pushing Romanow's head away, looking to escape. Romanow manages to hold on to the position though.
Romanow misses with the ground and pound.
Romanow is looking to take a break and control but McDermott is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McDermott wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanow wants to lay and pray for a moment but McDermott keeps working.
Romanow is really struggling to control McDermott but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Romanow is chipping away with strikes.
Romanow working the strikes but McDermott uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Romanow throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Romanow thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed McDermott's head.
McDermott is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Romanow scores with a couple of nice shots.
McDermott tries to kick Romanow off but Romanow keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romanow lands strikes from half guard.
Romanow missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Romanow lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Romanow seems to be working for a kimura but McDermott defends the submission attempt.
McDermott avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Romanow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romanow landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Romanow is looking for a kimura but McDermott is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Romanow to get the leverage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marcel Romanow dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Romanow slaps away a takedown attempt from McDermott, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Romanow waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McDermott.
A jab from Romanow misses.
Romanow lands with a nice body punch.
Romanow is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McDermott can do to turn this around?
Romanow displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McDermott throws out the jab.
Romanow changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Eddie McDermott seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McDermott pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McDermott throws a head kick but Romanow moves out of range.
The crowd cheers as McDermott lands an impressive looking overhand right. Romanow doesn't seem phased though.
Romanow clobbers McDermott with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romanow throws a shot from downtown. McDermott moves away and avoids it.
McDermott thows a leg kick but Romanow checks it

and Romanow counters with a shoot takedown. McDermott fights it but they end up in guard.
Romanow throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McDermott works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Romanow throws a strike but McDermott rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romanow looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDermott wants to stand and escape but instead Romanow has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

McDermott wants to stand up but Romanow is controlling him.
Romanow throwing strikes but missing.
Romanow trying to move into half guard but instead McDermott has managed to sweep!

McDermott is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
McDermott scoring with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romanow looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McDermott in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McDermott throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Romanow works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
McDermott makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McDermott lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Romanow is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Romanow utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Romanow keeping moving, preventing McDermott from controlling successfully.
Romanow is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Romanow slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanow throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Romanow with the ground and pound but McDermott uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Romanow might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Romanow missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Romanow tries to free his leg and advance position but McDermott is retaining full guard.
McDermott is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Romanow is controlling him.
McDermott is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Romanow connects with a couple of short punches.

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.
Romanow stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McDermott swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Romanow won't allow McDermott to get back to his feet.
Romanow throws a big right hand that misses.
Romanow throwing strikes but missing.
Romanow throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McDermott works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Romanow stops McDermott from standing up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Romanow looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for McDermott!

McDermott explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marcel Romanow 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!

Romanow uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McDermott.
Romanow throwing a counter right hand but McDermott manages to avoid it.
We've been told by Romanow's head coaches at St Petersburg MMA Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Romanow digs a good hook to McDermott's body.
McDermott tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Romanow defends well and McDermott ends up having to push Romanow into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
McDermott misses with a hook. Romanow ducked under it nicely.
McDermott throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Nice defenses there by Romanow.
Romanow attempts a counter takedown but McDermott avoids it well and moves away.
McDermott lands an overhand right.
Romanow takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
McDermott drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Romanow misses with an uppercut. McDermott saw that one coming.
McDermott throws a big shot that misses.
McDermott takes a jab right on the kisser.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Romanow swings widly with a right hand
and McDermott counters with a good low kick that Romanow was not able to check.
McDermott works the jab nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanow looks to score with a jab to the body but McDermott is just out of range.
Nice defenses there by Romanow.
Romanow was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A telegraphed right hand from McDermott misses the target.
Romanow throwing a counter right hand but McDermott manages to avoid it.
Romanow waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McDermott.

McDermott gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Romanow to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Romanow throws an elbow that misses. McDermott uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Romanow's guard. Nice move by McDermott!

McDermott stopping the sweep attempt from Romanow.
McDermott must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Romanow avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Romanow utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDermott wants to stand but Romanow is controlling his posture from full guard.
McDermott trying to control but Romanow is working from the bottom.
Romanow has control of McDermott's left arm, preventing McDermott from doing any damage.

Romanow escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McDermott gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as McDermott accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Romanow is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McDermott is aware though and is defending well.
McDermott missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Marcel Romanow is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDermott controls from within his opponent's guard.
McDermott trying to control the position from guard on top but Romanow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Romanow preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Eddie McDermott has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Romanow keeping moving, preventing McDermott from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
McDermott throws a sloppy head kick and Romanow moves out of range easily.
McDermott staying out of range there.
A head kick misses from McDermott.
Romanow appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Romanow throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McDermott bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Romanow's head backwards.
Romanow listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDermott fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Romanow cracks McDermott with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Romanow lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
McDermott takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
McDermott connects with a jab.
McDermott misses with a hook
and Romanow counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
McDermott fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Romanow checks it well.
A quick step to the side and Romanow tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Romanow with a nice cross.
A big left from McDermott misses.
McDermott takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Romanow dips to his left and cracks McDermott with an uppercut!

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 Marcel Romanow.
Well Romanow 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcel Romanow!
A very excited looking Marcel Romanow made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.