PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Haile Gebreselassie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Roman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Roman comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Momma said knock you out kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Gebreselassie
vs
Roman

170 cm
25
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
27
182 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Haile Gebreselassie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Johnny Roman!
The judges for this bout are Taro Takaoka, Yuuki Gou and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roman tries to bum rush Gebreselassie with a series of wild strikes but Gebreselassie uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Gebreselassie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Roman.
Gebreselassie pushes Roman away with a front kick.
Roman thows a body shot but no joy.
Roman throws a hook to the side of Gebreselassie's head but Gebreselassie sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Roman throws a shot from downtown. Gebreselassie moves away and avoids it.
Gebreselassie throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Roman throws a series of punches but Gebreselassie moves out of range.
Roman misses with a body shot.
A leg kick checked by Roman.
A punch combination from Roman misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A chopping leg kick lands by Gebreselassie.
Johnny Roman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Roman moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Haile Gebreselassie has been cut.

Gebreselassie throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Roman tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gebreselassie is in Roman's guard.
Gebreselassie pushing down on Roman's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gebreselassie is looking to advance position but Roman won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Gebreselassie in particular looking to stall.
Gebreselassie working the head and body with strikes.
Gebreselassie is nestled in close to Roman, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gebreselassie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Gebreselassie passes to side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gebreselassie trying to control the action but Roman is working from the bottom.
Gebreselassie just content to control the position.
Roman is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Gebreselassie is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Gebreselassie working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Gebreselassie is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Roman is surviving well by controlling Gebreselassie's body position as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gebreselassie content just to control the position here.
Roman keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gebreselassie looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Roman is trying desperately to improve position.
Gebreselassie tries to control but Roman wriggling away.
Roman keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Gebreselassie with a couple of short strikes.
Roman is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haile Gebreselassie dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Haile Gebreselassie's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Roman has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gebreselassie.
Roman tests Gebreselassie's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Roman scores with a body shot.
Gebreselassie looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Gebreselassie showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Roman.
Roman throws a right hand that Gebreselassie ducks under and follows up with a left that Gebreselassie also avoids with ease.

Gebreselassie rushes Roman and presses him up against the cage.

Gebreselassie escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Roman misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Roman jabs at Gebreselassie's body.
Roman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Roman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Some wild striking there from Roman.
Johnny Roman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roman is breathing heavily.
Roman thows a body shot but no joy.
Gebreselassie throws a nice head kick!
A combination from Roman does no damage.
Roman takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Gebreselassie scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Gebreselassie fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Roman, pushing him back against the cage.
Roman jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Gebreselassie walks away with a smile on his face. Roman gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Roman lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Gebreselassie circles away quickly and effectively.
An inside leg kick lands from Gebreselassie.

Gebreselassie changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Roman looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gebreselassie cracks Roman with a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gebreselassie advances nicely into full mount.
Gebreselassie controlling from mount.
Roman is working to get back to half guard.

Roman is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Gebreselassie locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Roman is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Haile Gebreselassie!