PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paul Smit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Romano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Smit might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Can't be Touched. Romano is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Almost Easy -- Avenged Sevenfold. Matt Romano has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Paul Smit's chin.

Smit
vs
Romano

190 cm
23
224 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

190 cm
27
205 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

-OVERDOSE Factory-
-OVERDOSE Factory-

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Paul Smit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Romano!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Franklyn Lucas and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romano fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Smit looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Romano avoids the head kick by Smit.

Smit looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Romano!
Romano tries to hold on but Smit pushes him away.
Smit throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Romano bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Smit keeping moving, preventing Romano from controlling successfully.
Smit is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Romano with a nice head shot there.
Romano content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Romano is looking to work some ground and pound but Smit has wrist control.
Romano throws a big right hand that misses.
Romano throwing strikes from guard but Smit blocks nicely.
Romano distracts Smit with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romano got a little sloppy there for a moment and Smit has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Romano has managed to get both his arms back between Smit's legs - danger averted.
Smit is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Romano passes into half guard.
Romano is trying to control. Smit wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Romano is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Smit wants to improve his position but Romano is controlling well.
Smit is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Romano scores with a couple of nice shots.
Romano is nestled in close to Smit, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Romano stops Smit from getting back to his feet.
Romano working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romano lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romano wants to control but Smit is keeping him busy.
Romano blocks the strikes from Smit.

Smit actively working from the bottom here.
Smit is breathing heavily.

Romano wants to work for an arm triangle but Smit is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Romano seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Smit is trying to stand up here but Romano is controlling him well.
Smit taking some punishment here, with Romano in his half guard.
Romano working the head and body with strikes.
Still in half guard, Romano seems content to control.
Romano trying to pass the guard but Smit defending well.
Smit wants to get back to his feet.
Romano lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Smit tries to roll over but Romano keeps him under control.
Romano is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Romano lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Romano tries to pass the half guard into mount. Smit knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Romano lands with a punch from half guard.
Romano lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Smit is looking to control Romano's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smit avoid being mounted?
Romano working Smit over with strikes.
Romano lands strikes from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Romano lands a nice short elbow.

Romano is looking for a kimura here.
Smit wants to improve his position but Romano is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smit is trying to maintain the position but Romano is very close to passing his half guard.
Romano thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Romano missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Romano not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Romano is pressing down on Smit's thigh, looking to free his foot. Smit is holding on for now.
Romano is nestled in close to Smit, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Smit is trying to control but can't.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A nice leg kick lands there from Romano.
Smit tries to clinch there but Romano circles away.
Nice cross by Romano.
Smit shoots for a double leg takedown but Romano sprawls well. He's pushed Smit's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Romano is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Romano dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Smit shoots in but no luck this time.
Smit shoots in for a takedown but Romano shows good takedown defense.
Romano thuds his right hand into Smit's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Smit fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Smit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romano swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Smit.
Romano wants to land a leg kick but Smit is out of range.
Smit takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Romano scores with a head kick.
Smit shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Romano defends it nicely.
Romano pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Romano shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smit on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Romano lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Matt Romano has got the better of the ground game so far.
Romano is looking to stall here but Smit recovers full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smit is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Romano trying to control but Smit is working from the bottom.
Romano works over Smit with some ground and pound from guard.
Romano lands a couple of digs.
Romano content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Smit escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Romano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Romano advances position into side control!
Romano creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Romano is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Smit has escaped the position, nice work there.
Smit takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romano is working Smit over with some ground and pound from side control.
Smit takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Smit is looking to reverse the position.
Smit taking a bit of punishment here - Romano scoring with strikes.

Romano is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smit is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Romano is trying to get an arm triangle but Smit is defending well.
Smit tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Smit is working to avoid the ground and pound but Romano connects with a decent elbow.
Romano works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smit tries to buck Romano off but Romano is having none of it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smit can't do much from the bottom here.
Smit taking punishment in the form of punches.

Romano is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Smit knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Romano scores with a couple of short elbows.
Smit is working to avoid the ground and pound but Romano connects with a decent elbow.
Romano throws an elbow but Smit slips to the side and avoids it well.
Romano throws an elbow but Smit slips to the side and avoids it well.
The ground and pound from Romano seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Romano scoring with punches and elbows.
Smit gets back to half guard.
Romano lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smit taking some punishment here, with Romano in his half guard.
Romano throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Romano lands strikes from half guard.
Smit is trying to control but can't.
Romano thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Romano is trying to control the action in half guard but Smit is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Smit looks like he's trying to stand up.

Romano is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Smit doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Romano.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smit misses with some strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Romano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Romano.
Good shot there by Romano.
Romano connects with a jab.
Romano wants to land a leg kick but Smit is out of range.
Some bone on bone action there as Smit checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Romano throws a leg kick but Smit sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Romano uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Smit has time to react.

Smit shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smit showed some decent athleticism there.
Romano slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Romano is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smit trying to control but Romano is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Romano working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romano is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smit defends well.
Romano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Smit trying to control but Romano is working from the bottom.
Romano manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Smit manages to get himself to full guard.

Smit looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Romano sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Smit's guard.
Smit is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Matt Romano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Romano has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Romano is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Romano is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Smit defends it well.
Romano prevents Smit from improving his position.

Romano is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Smit has managed to free his arm - good work.
Romano wants to free his trapped foot but Smit is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Romano not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smit wants to get back to his feet.

Romano is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Romano throwing shots but Smit is blocking nicely.
Smit preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Romano lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Romano moves into full mount! Smit won't be happy about that!
Romano connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Smit tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Romano connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Smit is squirming around, avoiding Romano's attempts to control the action.
Romano looking to finish Smit with some ground and pound. This is bad for Smit!
Smit is trying to escape the mount.
Romano controlling the position easily from mount.
Romano tries to control but Smit wriggling away.
Romano connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
A nice elbow there by Romano.
Smit swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Paul Smit has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Romano can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Smit is looking to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Romano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Romano 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Romano!