PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Curtis Rome (ranked 4914 p4p, 2365 weight class) and Marcus Aurelius (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rome
vs
Aurelius

170 cm
21
150
3 - 6 - 0

167 cm
31
148
12 - 17 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great low kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Redemption ink

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Curtis Rome!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marcus Aurelius!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rome closes the distance and clinches up with Aurelius, looking for a takedown. Rome pushes Aurelius against the cage but Aurelius circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Aurelius avoids a kick to the body.
Rome throws a series of punches but Aurelius avoids them all with ease.
Rome wants to clinch.
Aurelius swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Aurelius stuffs the takedown.
Rome fails with the takedown
and Aurelius counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Curtis Rome. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rome tries a head kick but it misses.
Rome looks to land a body kick but Aurelius moved away.
Aurelius throws a right and a left that Rome avoids nicely.
Aurelius leaves Rome with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rome shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Aurelius sprawls well. Aurelius wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rome gets slowly back to his feet.
Rome is looking to score with low kicks.
Rome walks forward, straight into a front kick from Aurelius.
Rome is looking to score with low kicks.
A little jabbing left from Aurelius on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rome wants to clinch
enabling Aurelius to counter with a crisp jab.

Rome takes the fight into the clinch.
Aurelius lands an elbow inside that Rome shrugs off.

It looks like Curtis Rome has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rome on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rome fails to pull guard.
Aurelius is stalling here.

Rome breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rome looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Aurelius now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Rome takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Rome drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Aurelius is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rome thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Rome trying to control the position but Aurelius is working away.
Aurelius is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Rome trying to control the position but Aurelius is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Aurelius is trying to get back to his feet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Aurelius clinches up against the cage.

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

Rome closes the distance and clinches.
Rome is looking to take this one to the mat.

Aurelius manages to break the clinch.

Rome gets a double leg takedown into Aurelius's guard.
Rome prevents Aurelius from getting back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Aurelius dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Curtis Rome's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Rome tries for a takedown but Aurelius sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Aurelius enables Rome to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Aurelius manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Rome stops Aurelius from standing up.
Rome pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aurelius is keeping the position for now.
Rome won't allow Aurelius to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aurelius keeping full guard, as Rome tries to pass.
Rome is looking to pass into half guard but Aurelius pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Aurelius is in guard.

Curtis Rome overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rome is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rome is adopting a defensive guard.
Aurelius passes Rome's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aurelius is looking to advance position but Rome won't allow it.

Aurelius is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rome is just riding it out for now. Aurelius eventually gives up the hold.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Rome wants to get back to full guard.
Rome trying to control from the bottom.
Rome is concentrating on defense, preventing Aurelius from advancing position.

Aurelius is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rome sees it coming and defends easily.

Aurelius is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rome doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Aurelius.
Rome has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Aurelius is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rome is looking for a sweep. Aurelius is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rome is working hard here to advance position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Aurelius content to control rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
A jab from Aurelius finds it's way through Rome's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
No luck for Rome with that takedown attempt.
Aurelius connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Rome throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Aurelius's waist but Aurelius gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rome off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Curtis Rome. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Aurelius lands a nice looking body shot.
Aurelius circles away from the clinch attempt.
Aurelius lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Aurelius.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rome slips a jab and a cross from Aurelius.
Rome fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Aurelius showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Curtis Rome's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Rome misses with a takedown
and Aurelius counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rome tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Aurelius manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A nice side step and Aurelius releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Aurelius loads up on a big right hand but Rome slips the punch.
Curtis Rome seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rome misses with a takedown
and Aurelius counters with a left and a right that stings Rome.

Rome feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Rome pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aurelius is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Aurelius wants to get back to his feet but Rome is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rome looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Aurelius keeping moving, preventing Rome from controlling successfully.
Aurelius is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rome is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rome pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Aurelius is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Aurelius moves out of range of the body kick.
Marcus Aurelius is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Rome manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Aurelius on his heels. He'll look to pass Aurelius's guard now, I'm sure.
Rome trying to control the position from guard on top but Aurelius is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rome wants to pass the guard but Aurelius is keeping the position.
Rome won't allow Aurelius to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rome controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Rome won't allow Aurelius to get back to his feet.

Aurelius wriggles free and stands up.
Rome tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Aurelius defends well and Rome ends up having to push Aurelius into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Curtis Rome. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Aurelius's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aurelius jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Aurelius leaves Rome with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Rome stuns Aurelius with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aurelius punishes Rome's body with a nice straight punch.
Rome misses with a takedown attempt - Aurelius sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rome takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Marcus Aurelius seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice shot lands for Rome.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aurelius tries to clinch but Rome is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rome fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Aurelius avoids it really well and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Aurelius comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Aurelius 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Aurelius!
Marcus Aurelius managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!), into his post fight interview.