PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Romanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brutus Hayes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Romanov
vs
Hayes

198 cm
21
215 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

200 cm
23
210 lbs
3 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrei Romanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brutus Hayes!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hayes.
Nice sprawl there from Romanov as Hayes shoots in.
Hayes fails with a takedown attempt.
Andrei Romanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brutus Hayes.

Romanov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Hayes trying to remain calm as Romanov controls from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Romanov decides to stand up, so the ref orders Hayes to his feet.
Romanov shoots in but Hayes avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Romanov with a poor takedown

and Hayes counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hayes.
Hayes throws a knee to the head but misses.

Hayes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hayes's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Hayes duly obliges.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hayes fails with the takedown

so Romanov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hayes looks gassed!
Romanov trying to control but Hayes is working from the bottom.
Romanov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanov trying to control but Hayes is working from the bottom.

Hayes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Romanov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hayes wants to sweep but no luck.
Hayes tries to strike from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Hayes looking for a sweep. Not yet Hayes, not yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Hayes moves into the clinch.
Romanov gets underhooks to prevent Hayes's takedown attempt.

Romanov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Hayes can't fight it off and eventually Romanov manages to take the fight to the floor. Hayes looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Hayes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Romanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Hayes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hayes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hayes is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Hayes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Romanov defends well.
Romanov stays in close to Hayes's body and controls the position.

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

Hayes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Romanov defends well.
Hayes wants to control the position but Romanov says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Hayes looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hayes makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Hayes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Romanov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Romanov gets a clinch.
Hayes keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Romanov's efforts to push away.
Hayes is working for takedown but Romanov is calmly controlling the position for now.

Hayes breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Hayes shoots in and bounces Romanov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Hayes throws and elbow that misses. Romanov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Hayes's guard. Nice move by Romanov!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hayes is on top in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hayes lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hayes has gone for a leg lock! Romanov slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hayes's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hayes is looking to stand up but Romanov isn't so interested in that idea.

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

Hayes looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Romanov passes into half guard.
Hayes is not content to let Romanov control the position.

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.
Hayes pushes Romanov off looking to stand but Romanov dives back in and keeps control.
Hayes is trying to control but Romanov passes into side control!
Romanov trying to control the position but Hayes is working away.
Hayes sneaks back into half guard.

Hayes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Andrei Romanov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanov wants to control but Hayes is keeping him busy.
Hayes trying to control here.
Romanov is trying to control the action in half guard but Hayes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hayes fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hayes lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Hayes doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Romanov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Romanov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romanov postures up.

Hayes looking for subs off his back but Romanov has passed one foot through into half guard.
Romanov stalling.
Romanov wants to pass the guard but Hayes is defending well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hayes manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Romanov dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Hayes tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Romanov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Romanov.
Hayes doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Hayes keeping moving, preventing Romanov from controlling successfully.

Hayes is looking for a triangle but Romanov pushes his legs off easily.

Hayes working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Romanov has passed into half guard!
Hayes has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Romanov is working away from the top position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hayes slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Hayes is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Hayes lands a damaging elbow.
Hayes fails to pull guard.

Hayes escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hayes goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Andrei Romanov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Romanov shoots in and drives through. Hayes sprawls well.

Hayes fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Romanov sprawls well initially but Hayes persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Romanov is looking for a sweep. Hayes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hayes not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayes moves nicely into side control.

Hayes is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Romanov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Hayes looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Hayes scoring with punches from side control.
Romanov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Hayes stalling away here and it's allowed Romanov to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanov trying to keep a closed guard but Hayes is proving a slippery customer.
Hayes wanted to stand there but Romanov had control of the position.
Hayes trying to control but Romanov is working from the bottom.
Hayes won't allow Romanov to sweep him here.
Hayes trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Romanov wriggles free and stands up.
Hayes tries to close the distance and clinch but Romanov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

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.
Romanov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hayes decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Romanov's guard.
Romanov 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.

Hayes drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Romanov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Hayes has Romanov in his guard.
Hayes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Brutus Hayes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Andrei Romanov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Hayes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brutus Hayes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Romanov 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrei Romanov!