PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Luka Romero (ranked 1451 p4p, 1337 weight class) and Earl Ravenberg (ranked 87 p4p, 79 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Romero
vs
Ravenberg

175 cm
30
140
7 - 4 - 0

170 cm
26
140
9 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

FF Gear

Core Combat

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Luka Romero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Earl Ravenberg!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romero throws a right hand that misses
letting Ravenberg counter with a right hand.
Ravenberg closes this distance looking for a takedown but Romero circles away.
Romero lands a nice shot that snaps Ravenberg's head back.
Romero misses with a double jab
and Ravenberg counters with a left to the body.
Ravenberg blocks a head kick by Romero.
Ravenberg ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Romero throws a head kick that misses.
Ravenberg is looking for the big counter here.
Romero misses with a straight right.
Ravenberg will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero misses the jab.
Decent striking displayed by Romero there.
Ravenberg ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Romero is predictable there
and Ravenberg counters with a nice uppercut.
Ravenberg checks the leg kick nicely there.
Ravenberg keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Ravenberg is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Romero with a body shot.

Ravenberg throws a big overhand right that connects, sending Romero tumbling to the canvas!

Romero is rocked!
Romero is looking to stand up but Ravenberg isn't so interested in that idea.
Oh Romero is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romero has momentary wrist control but Ravenberg slips an elbow through the middle.
My spies in Natty Vincere inform me that Ravenberg has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ravenberg working some strikes from top position.
Romero wants to stand but Ravenberg is controlling the position.
Ravenberg with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ravenberg wants to control from the top but Romero keeps moving.
Romero wants to stand up but Ravenberg is controlling him.
Romero seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Ravenberg postures up in Romero's guard and throws a big left but Romero blocks it.
Ravenberg throwing strikes but missing.
Ravenberg stops Romero from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ravenberg landing with the ground and pound.
Ravenberg prevents Romero from getting back to his feet.
Ravenberg tries to free his leg and advance position but Romero is retaining full guard.
Romero seems to have got his legs back now.
Ravenberg keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Romero's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ravenberg stops Romero from standing up.
Ravenberg throwing strikes from guard but Romero blocks nicely.
Romero wants to stand but Ravenberg is controlling the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Romero swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ravenberg feints the counter takedown.
Ravenberg has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Ravenberg has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Romero.
Romero just misses with a punch to the body.
Luka Romero is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Romero looks to throw the jab but Ravenberg is out of range.
Romero swinging wildly here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ravenberg counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The fighters circling - Romero throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Romero throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
It seemed like Ravenberg was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ravenberg drops his hands momentarily and Romero takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Ravenberg cracks Romero with a big right hand and Romero goes down!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Romero keeping moving, preventing Ravenberg from controlling successfully.
Ravenberg won't allow Romero to get back to his feet.
Ravenberg works over Romero with some ground and pound from guard.
Romero wants to stand up but Ravenberg is controlling him.
Ravenberg with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Ravenberg trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ravenberg distracts Romero with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ravenberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Romero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Romero wants to stand and escape but Ravenberg is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ravenberg scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ravenberg prevents Romero from getting back to his feet.
Romero preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ravenberg prevents Romero from getting back to his feet.

Romero pushes Ravenberg off and scrambles back to his feet.
A nice combination there by Romero.
Ravenberg takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ravenberg fails in his attempt to clinch.
Romero scores with a nice strike.
Ravenberg blocks a low kick nicely.
Ravenberg throws a counter combo.
Romero throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ravenberg tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Romero manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Romero.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Earl Ravenberg will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Romero connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Romero throws a chopping leg kick but Ravenberg manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Ravenberg lands with a good body shot.
Romero misses with an uppercut
and Ravenberg counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Romero takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Ravenberg steps into range and cracks Romero with a monster punch that buckles his knees! Romero flops backwards and Ravenberg dives into his guard looking to finish!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Romero wants to stand up but Ravenberg is controlling him.
Ravenberg arches his back and unloads with a massive left and a right! Romero's eyes roll back into his head, he's out cold! The ref dives in to stop the fight - wow, they were hard shots!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Earl Ravenberg!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Earl Ravenberg made sure he mentioned Core Combat, along with how happy he was to win his fight.