PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valentin Romanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tommy James has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Romanov
vs
James

185 cm
18
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Valentin Romanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tommy James!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Viktor Lagutenko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

James clinches.
The referee calls for James to work.
James scores with a nice hook to the head.
James is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Romanov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
James is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
James pushes Romanov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
James changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Romanov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Valentin Romanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy James.
James lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Romanov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Romanov showed some decent athleticism there.
James is holding on to half guard well.

Romanov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Romanov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romanov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Romanov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, James has managed to free his arm - good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
James tries to roll over but Romanov keeps him under control.
Romanov trying to control the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
James keeping control of the position.
James avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Romanov.
Romanov 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

James clinches with his opponent.

James has picked Romanov up - he's going for a ride! James dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
James trying to mount his opponent but Romanov defends it.
Romanov looks like he's trying to stand up.

Romanov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
James moves into full mount! Romanov won't be happy about that!
James wants to control the pace but Romanov is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Romanov is in a horrible position here. James smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
James trying to control but Romanov is having none of it.
James throws some wild stikes that Romanov manages to avoid easily.
Romanov is looking to improve his position but James isn't that keen on the idea.
James trying to control but Romanov is having none of it.
James looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy James dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

James takes the fight into the clinch.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

James instigates a clinch.
James lands a shoulder strike.
Romanov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. James just stands there and leans against the cage.

James turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and James manages to end up in side control.
Romanov wants to get back to his feet.
James is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
James trying to control the action but Romanov is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Romanov kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Despite being in the dominant position, Tommy James just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

James moves into range and clinches up with Romanov.
James is pressed up against the cage. Romanov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag James down to the mat. James avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Romanov shoots for a double leg takedown but James sprawls well. He's pushed Romanov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Valentin Romanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romanov tries to score a power double leg takedown but James sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Romanov somewhat.
James lands a nice leg kick that just misses Romanov's sensitive parts.
Valentin Romanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Romanov with that takedown attempt.
James wants to clinch.
James fails with an attempt to clinch.

James scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
James happy to just control the position for now.
Romanov is looking to reverse the position.
James lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanov is being controlled here.
James wants to lay and pray for a moment but Romanov keeps working.
Romanov is trying to escape the position but James is controlling the position.
Let's hope that James has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Romanov avoids any damage from the ground and pound of James.
James controls the position.

Despite being in the dominant position, Tommy James just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Romanov tries for a takedown but James circles away easily

and James counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Romanov!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Romanov wants to hold on but James pushes him away.
James tries to control but Romanov wriggling away.
James sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
James trying to control but Romanov is having none of it.

James looking to secure an arm triangle but Romanov defends it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy James showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Romanov misses with a combination

and James counters with a nice double leg into side control. Romanov won't be happy with that.
James throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
James is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
James trying to control the position but Romanov is working away.
James controlling from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanov takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Romanov tries to buck James off but James is having none of it.
Romanov struggling a bit here.
James trying to control the position but Romanov is working away.

James is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Romanov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Romanov is not content to let James control the position.

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

Despite being in the dominant position, Tommy James just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Romanov fails with the takedown
and James counters with a one-two to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Romanov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Romanov lands in his opponent's guard.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Romanov postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! James is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Romanov, into his guard.
James wants to control from the top but Romanov keeps moving.
Valentin Romanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James tries to free his leg and advance position but Romanov is retaining full guard.
Romanov keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
James passes Romanov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
James looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
James is keen to just control but Romanov is a slippery customer.
Tommy James has got the better of the ground game so far.
James not doing much here.
James missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Romanov regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from James.
James wants to control from the top but Romanov keeps moving.
James working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Romanov's head.
Romanov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as James controls the pace.

Romanov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but James can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Romanov keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy James comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well James has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 26:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 26:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 26:30

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