PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexey Durandin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Scott Roman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Durandin's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKLCQvQohGI. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Durandin
vs
Roman

180 cm
20
190 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

186 cm
24
183 lbs
11 - 7 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Durandin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Scott Roman!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Ivan Kurochkin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Roman gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Roman is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Durandin is defending well for now.
Durandin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Roman is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Roman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Durandin gets tackled into the cage by Roman. Roman maintains the clinch.
Roman presses Durandin against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Roman tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Durandin avoids it.

Durandin has clasped his hands together around Roman's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Roman is trying to get back to half guard.
Roman is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Durandin asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Durandin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Roman knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Durandin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Durandin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durandin in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Roman is looking to regain half guard here but Durandin keeps moving and retains side control.
Roman wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Durandin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Roman knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Roman regains half guard there - taking advantage of Durandin's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

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.

Durandin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Roman doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Durandin.

Durandin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Roman sees it coming and defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Roman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Roman flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Still in half guard, Durandin seems content to control.

Roman kicks off Durandin and gets to his feet.
Roman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Scott Roman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roman throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Roman finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Roman throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Durandin's head.

Roman gets a clinch.
Durandin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Durandin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Roman gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexey Durandin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice elbow from Roman.
Roman working some nice short punches in the clinch.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Roman crunches a lovely knee into Durandin's ribcage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roman makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Durandin drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Roman pressing his opponent against the cage.
Roman lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Roman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Roman gets in close and instigates a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Durandin tries for a takedown but Roman manages to get underhooks.
Durandin tries to pull guard but Roman won't allow it.
Durandin is trying to drag Roman to the mat but Roman just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Roman using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Durandin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Roman dominated that round.
That's time! Durandin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Roman has taken the fight to the clinch.
Durandin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Roman is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Durandin wants to stall.

Roman breaks the clinch.
Durandin avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Durandin moves out of range of the body kick.
Roman lands with a hook. Durandin tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A left and a right from Roman both land. Nice combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Roman rushes Durandin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Roman unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Roman manages to break the clinch.

Roman closes the distance and pushes Durandin back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman stalls.
Durandin tries to pull guard but Roman won't allow it.

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

Roman forces Durandin back against the cage and clinches.
Durandin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Roman pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexey Durandin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Durandin managing to block the knees to the body from Roman.
Roman is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Durandin is defending well for now.

Roman is fighting off a takedown attempt but Durandin is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Roman to the mat. Roman regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Durandin wants to control from the top but Roman keeps moving.

Roman uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Roman instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Roman.

Roman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Roman throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Durandin's head.
Roman bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Roman clinches up with Durandin and pushes him back against the cage.
Roman tries to land knees in the clinch but Durandin avoids the damage to the body.

Roman breaks from the clinch.
Roman throws a right and a left that Durandin avoids nicely.
Scott Roman seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Roman closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Durandin.
Roman landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Durandin is working for takedown but Roman is calmly controlling the position for now.

Roman breaks the clinch.

Roman closes the distance and clinches.
A knee to the head by Roman.
Roman is pressed up against the cage. Durandin has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Roman down to the mat. Roman avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Roman pushes Durandin up against the cage in a clinch.

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

Roman rushes Durandin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Durandin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Roman lands an elbow inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roman lands a knee to the head.
Roman putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Durandin in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Roman stops a takedown attempt from Durandin.
Roman is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Roman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Roman misses with a head kick.

Roman drives through and clinches with Durandin against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Durandin has clasped his hands together around Roman's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Roman explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Roman throws a nice inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Roman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Roman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Durandin, pushing him back against the cage.

Roman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Roman moves into the clinch successfully.
Roman tries a knee to the head but Durandin blocks it.
Durandin takes an elbow to the temple.

Roman breaks the clinch.
Roman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Durandin moves away.
Durandin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Roman counters with a solid body kick.
Roman defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Durandin.

Roman moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman tries to land a knee to the head but Durandin blocks with his arms.
Durandin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Roman fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexey Durandin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roman throws a head kick that misses.
Roman lands a nice looking kick to the body. Durandin takes a step back to recover.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Roman gets caught napping as Durandin dives in and scores a takedown. Roman manages to retain guard.

Durandin drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Roman manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Durandin has Roman in his guard.
Roman postures up in Durandin's guard and throws a big left but Durandin blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman preventing the sweep.

Roman gets to his feet - Durandin follows without any prompting.
Roman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Roman cracks Durandin with an open hand slap.
Roman feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Durandin's calf.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Roman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Durandin, pushing him back against the cage.
Durandin jumps guard but Roman stands there with Durandin around his waist. Durandin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Roman stalling.
Roman makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Roman lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Alexey Durandin has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Durandin blocks it with crossed arms.
Durandin tries for a takedown but Roman manages to get underhooks.
Roman lands a nice elbow.
Roman stops a takedown attempt from Durandin.
Roman using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Roman breaks from the clinch.

Roman moves into the clinch.
Roman stalling the fight.
Roman prevents a takedown attempt there.

Roman manages to break the clinch.

Roman lands a big head kick that sends Durandin tumbling to the mat! Roman takes a step backwards and waves Durandin back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Roman gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Roman escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Durandin chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Roman can pounce on him.

Roman has taken the fight to the clinch.

Roman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Roman tries to land a leg kick but Durandin saw it coming and moves away.
Roman connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Durandin has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Roman.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Durandin has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Roman.
Durandin avoids the head kick by Roman.

Roman moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Roman really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexey Durandin's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Roman moves into the clinch successfully.
Roman using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Roman has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Durandin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Roman pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Durandin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Roman pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Roman breaks the clinch.
Roman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Roman looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Durandin with a lazy takedown attempt

and Roman counters by clinching up.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexey Durandin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roman connects with a nasty looking knee right to Durandin's face.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Roman displaying some good clinch control by pressing Durandin up against the cage.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick from Roman.

Roman clinches up with Durandin and pushes him back against the cage.
Scott Roman seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

Roman breaks the clinch.

Roman has taken the fight to the clinch.
Roman gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Durandin.

Roman manages to break the clinch.
Durandin dodges the punch combination from Roman.
Roman misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman throws a head kick that misses.
Durandin slips a jab and a cross from Roman.

Roman gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Durandin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Roman content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Roman lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Durandin backwards.
Roman crunches a lovely knee into Durandin's ribcage.

Roman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Roman closes the distance and pushes Durandin back into the cage.
Durandin wants a takedown but no success here.
Roman lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Durandin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Roman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Roman misses with a double jab.
Scott Roman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roman turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Roman looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Roman throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Roman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Roman looks to land a body kick but Durandin moved away.
A head kick misses from Roman.

Roman instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Roman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Durandin misses with a takedown
and Roman counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Scott Roman is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Roman has managed to clinch.

Roman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Roman moves into the clinch successfully.
A frustrated look appears on Roman's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Roman tries to circle away but Durandin has him pinned against the cage.
Durandin tries to stall but Roman uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Roman lands a nice elbow.

Roman's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Roman clinches up with Durandin and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Scott Roman dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Alexey Durandin's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Good work by Durandin as he checks the leg kick.
Durandin has his takedown stuffed
and Roman counters with a one-two to the body.
Durandin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Roman has Durandin up against the cage in a clinch.
Durandin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Roman just stands there and leans against the cage.
Durandin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Roman is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexey Durandin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roman with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Roman lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Durandin jumps guard but Roman stands there with Durandin around his waist. Durandin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Roman with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Roman.
Durandin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Roman gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Roman tries a knee to the head but Durandin blocks it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Roman.
Durandin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Roman pulls him back up using the underhooks.

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

Roman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Durandin, pushing him back against the cage.
Roman lands a nice elbow.
Roman working Durandin over with knees to the body.
Roman cracks Durandin with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Roman manages to break the clinch.
Roman scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Roman throws a sloppy head kick and Durandin moves out of range easily.
Roman throws a head kick but Durandin moves out of range.

Roman takes the fight into the clinch.
Roman lands an elbow inside.

Roman breaks the clinch.

Roman moves into range and clinches up with Durandin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Roman lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Durandin wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman stalls.

Roman breaks from the clinch.
Durandin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Roman counters with a head kick.
Alexey Durandin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Roman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Roman scores with a head kick. Durandin tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Roman misses with a hook.

Roman rushes Durandin and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roman prevents a takedown attempt there.
Durandin wants a takedown.
Roman lands a knee to the head.

Roman breaks from the clinch.
Roman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Durandin fails with the takedown
and Roman counters with a two punch combo.
Scott Roman 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.

Roman moves into range and clinches up with Durandin.
Roman scores a nice knee to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Roman unloads a knee to the mid-section. Durandin lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Roman takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

And that's the end of the fight!
Scott Roman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Roman winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 42:50
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 42:50
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 42:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Scott Roman!
Scott Roman is the new middleweight champion!