PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Fernando Poe Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leroy Rominov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Poe Jr's entrance music is Through the fire and flame. A fine choice. Fernando Poe Jr had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.8lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. 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.

Poe Jr
vs
Rominov

179 cm
20
167 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

167 cm
19
165 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fernando Poe Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Leroy Rominov!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poe Jr is looking to clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Poe Jr.
Poe Jr showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rominov.
Poe Jr slips a jab and a cross from Rominov.
Rominov looks to land a combination but Poe Jr avoids it well.

Rominov pushes Poe Jr up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rominov jumps into guard, dragging Poe Jr to the mat.
Poe Jr pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rominov is keeping the position for now.
Rominov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Poe Jr is controlling him.
Rominov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poe Jr throwing strikes but missing.
Poe Jr wants to stand but Rominov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Poe Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Rominov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rominov wants to stand but Poe Jr is controlling the position.
Poe Jr has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rominov is proving hard to escape from.
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.
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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Poe Jr shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Rominov defends it nicely.
Rominov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Poe Jr is defended easily by Rominov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fernando Poe Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rominov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poe Jr ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Poe Jr no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Poe Jr looking for a sweep. Not yet Poe Jr, not yet.
Rominov looking to pass the guard.
Rominov stands up over Poe Jr, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Poe Jr has a closed guard, preventing Rominov from standing up.
Rominov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Rominov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Rominov checks the leg kick.
No luck for Rominov with that takedown attempt.
Poe Jr tries for a takedown but Rominov circles away easily
enabling Rominov to counter with a crisp jab.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A looping hook to the body misses from Rominov. Poe Jr does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rominov misses with a series of wild punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leroy Rominov dominated that round.
That's time! Poe Jr's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Poe Jr misses with a takedown
and Rominov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Rominov misses with a body shot.
Rominov misses with a two punch combination.

Poe Jr gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rominov trying to move into half guard but instead Poe Jr has managed to sweep!
Poe Jr being controlled here momentarily.

Rominov pushes Poe Jr off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poe Jr throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rominov counters with a series of strikes. Poe Jr will be more careful next time no doubt.

Rominov rushes Poe Jr and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Rominov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Poe Jr shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Rominov counters with a single leg into guard. Poe Jr didn't expect that.
Rominov won't allow Poe Jr to get back to his feet.
Rominov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poe Jr controls Rominov momentarily but Rominov frees himself.

Poe Jr is working an open guard so Rominov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Rominov lands with a nice body punch.
Rominov thumps Poe Jr with a low kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rominov throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Poe Jr to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poe Jr misses with a takedown

so Rominov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fernando Poe Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rominov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Rominov gets to his feet. Poe Jr looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Rominov misses with a wild combination.
Poe Jr fails with the takedown
and Rominov counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rominov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Poe Jr.
A good leg kick by Rominov.
Poe Jr slips a jab and a cross from Rominov.
Rominov fails to land with a series of punches.
Rominov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Poe Jr circles away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rominov swinging wildly here.
Rominov throws a right hand that Poe Jr ducks under and follows up with a left that Poe Jr also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leroy Rominov 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. This is the final round!

Rominov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Poe Jr fails with the takedown

and Rominov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Poe Jr!
Poe Jr is trying to escape the mount.
Rominov lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Rominov punishing his opponent with strikes.
Poe Jr taking shots to the head.

Poe Jr is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rominov fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Oh Poe Jr is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rominov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Rominov wants to finish this one by submission but Poe Jr is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Rominov.
Poe Jr seems to have got his legs back now.
Rominov content just to control the position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Poe Jr wants to control but Rominov is having none of it.
Poe Jr swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rominov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Rominov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Rominov with the ground and pound from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rominov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Leroy Rominov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Rominov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leroy Rominov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rominov 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 26:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leroy Rominov!