PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vic Romano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Romano
vs
Smith

177 cm
22
186 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
192 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vic Romano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Smith!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Daniel Cesar and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith misses with a few strikes there.
Smith throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Romano.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Romano showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
Romano slips a jab and a cross from Smith.
A punch combination from Smith misses.
Romano tries to clinch but Smith is having none of it.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Romano shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Romano landing shots from mount.
Romano controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano wants to control the pace but Smith is squirming around nicely.

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.
Smith's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Smith is squirming around, avoiding Romano's attempts to control the action.
Romano controlling from mount.
Smith really wants to buck Romano off and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano tries to control but Smith wriggling away.

Romano is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Smith has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Smith!
Romano throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Romano wants to stand but Smith is controlling the position.
Romano managing to control the position.
Romano is breathing heavily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Romano is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vic Romano dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Smith circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Romano showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
Romano tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smith misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smith lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Smith.
Romano tries a head kick but it misses.
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Romano moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Mike Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smith swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smith throws a series of punches but Romano avoids them all with ease.
Smith misses with a double jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Romano instigates a clinch.
Romano lands a nice elbow.
Romano lands a knee to the head.
Romano landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Romano manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Romano throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano has a couple of punches blocked by Smith.
Romano keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Come on Romano - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Romano has double underhooks.
Smith wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Smith is trying to break free.
Romano has Smith pushed against the cage.
Smith avoiding damage as Romano throws knees to the body.
Romano prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Romano with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Romano keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Romano lands a knee to the head.
Romano unloads a knee to the mid-section. Smith lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Romano with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Smith is rocked!
Romano landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Smith is still on wobbly legs! Can Romano finish him?
Romano lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Romano throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Romano looking to throw knees to the head but Smith is blocking nicely.
Smith seems to have recovered his senses.
Smith takes a knee right on the jaw!
Smith blocks an elbow strike.
Romano using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Smith has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Smith on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smith wants to break free but Romano has control.
Romano with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Romano lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Romano tries to land a knee to the head but Smith blocks with his arms.
Romano throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smith blocks it with crossed arms.
Smith is trying to break free.
Romano is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Romano throws a knee to the head but misses.
Romano lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Romano has double underhooks.
A head punch on the inside from Romano fails to land.
Romano missing with knees to the body.
Romano lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Romano trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Smith has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Romano with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Romano pushes off an throws an elbow but Smith leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Romano prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Romano manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Romano prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Romano prevents Smith from breaking the clinch.
Romano stalling in the clinch but Smith improves position.
Smith wants to break free but Romano has control.
Romano is trying to maintain a safe position but Smith gets an underhook and turns Romano into the cage.
Romano misses with a knee strike.
Romano is looking to control Smith's arms but Smith gets an underhook and turns him. Now Romano has his back to the cage.

Smith breaks the clinch.
No joy there for Smith, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smith misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A combination from Smith does no damage.
A head kick misses from Smith.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Romano moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Vic Romano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four 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.
Smith fails to land with a series of punches.

Romano has managed to clinch.
Romano misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smith.
Smith is trying to break free.
Romano tries to land a knee to the head but Smith blocks with his arms.
Romano missing with knees to the body.
Smith takes a knee right on the jaw!
Romano looking to throw knees to the head but Smith is blocking nicely.
Romano tries to land a knee to the head but Smith blocks with his arms.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Romano is controlling the position.
Romano connects with a nasty looking knee right to Smith's face.
Romano is looking to control Smith's arms but Smith gets an underhook and turns him. Now Romano has his back to the cage.
Romano tries to land knees in the clinch but Smith avoids the damage to the body.
Smith tries to break the clinch but Romano is controlling the position.
Romano misses with a knee strike.
Romano is trying to maintain a safe position but Smith gets an underhook and turns Romano into the cage.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smith is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Romano tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vic Romano dominated that second 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Smith throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Smith gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Romano wanted to stand there but Smith had control of the position.
Romano won't allow Smith to get back to his feet.

Romano decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Smith, up you get!
Smith takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romano 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.

Romano decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Smith, up you get!
Romano pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Smith duly obliges.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Romano showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
Smith throws a nice looking combination but Romano bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Smith misses with a wild combination.
Smith throws a lazy head kick

and Romano counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Romano decides to stand and escape the position.
Mike Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss

and Romano counters with a shoot takedown. Smith fights it but they end up in guard.

Romano stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Smith misses with a double jab.
Smith throws a left and a right that both miss

and Romano counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Romano.
Romano throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smith blocks it with crossed arms.
Romano tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Romano tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Smith managing to block the knees to the body from Romano.
Romano with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Smith is looking to break free of the clinch but Romano has double underhooks.
Romano is looking to control Smith's arms but Smith gets an underhook and turns him. Now Romano has his back to the cage.
Smith wants to break free but Romano has control.
Romano tries a knee to the head but Smith blocks it.
Romano creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Smith is trying to break the clinch but Romano has him pressed against the cage.
Smith wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smith blocks it with crossed arms.
Romano leaning against his opponent.
Romano tries a knee to the head but Smith blocks it.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith falls off balance throwing a combination

and Romano holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Smith letting Romano take a breather here.
Romano landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A short right from Romano on the inside.
Romano stalls.
Romano misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right from Romano.
Romano missing with knees to the body.
Romano trying to land knees to the body.
Romano with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Romano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Romano throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Romano keeps control of Smith as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smith swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Romano counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Romano wants to stand but Smith has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Romano is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Romano stands up from Smith's guard - Romano perhaps looking for a knockout.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vic Romano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Romano, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:26
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27

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