PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Frank Romita (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Campbell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romita comes into the arena with Rollin' Like A Boss blaring out of the sound system. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Romita
vs
Campbell

165 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
156 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Frank Romita!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alex Campbell!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romita fails to land the takedown.
Campbell tries to clinch up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Campbell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Romita fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Campbell avoids it really well and circles away.

Romita scores with a takedown into Campbell's guard.
Romita is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romita throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Campbell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Romita tries to free his leg and advance position but Campbell is retaining full guard.
Romita trying to control the position from guard on top but Campbell is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Romita cracks Campbell with a solid left hand.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Campbell can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romita controlling from the top position.
Romita trying to move into half guard but instead Campbell has managed to sweep!
Romita might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Romita has a closed guard, preventing Campbell from standing up.

We're going to have a standup here because Frank Romita wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Romita swats away the attempt to clinch by Campbell.
The fight stays on the outside here - Campbell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campbell tries to clinch there but Romita circles away.

Romita closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Romita lands in his opponent's guard.
Campbell wants to get back to his feet but Romita is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Campbell is trying to keep Romita in close.
Romita passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romita in side control, throwing shots but Campbell defends.
Campbell tries to bench press Romita off him but Romita keeps the position.

Romita is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Campbell knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Romita is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Campbell will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Romita tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Romita 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.

Romita blocks a low kick nicely.
Campbell is looking to clinch but Romita is avoiding it.
Campbell tries to clinch but Romita moves out of range.
Campbell wants to clinch up but Romita keeps it at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Romita is defended easily by Campbell.
Alex Campbell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Campbell tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Romita manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romita circles away from the clinch attempt.
Campbell is looking to clinch.
Campbell tries to clinch but Romita is having none of it.
Campbell wants to clinch.

Campbell moves into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Romita as Campbell tries to tie him up.
Campbell utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Campbell throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Romita blocks it with crossed arms.
Romita letting Campbell take a breather here.
Campbell lands a knee to the head.
Campbell using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Romita has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Romita changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Campbell fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Campbell tries to clinch but Romita moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romita swats away the attempt to clinch by Campbell.
Campbell tries to close the distance and clinch but Romita swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Campbell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Romita shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Romita. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Romita shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Campbell's guard.
Romita throws a strike but Campbell rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Romita is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Romita looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Campbell trying to stand up but can't free himself from Romita's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Campbell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Campbell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Romita swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Campbell tries to clinch up but Romita circles away and keeps his distance.
Romita avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Campbell throws a head kick but Romita moves out of range.
Romita circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A solid leg kick lands there for Campbell.
Romita swats away the attempt to clinch by Campbell.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romita tries a low kick but Campbell avoids it.
Campbell misses with a lunging right hand

and Romita counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Campbell's guard now.
Romita wants to control from the top but Campbell keeps moving.
Romita trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Romita is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Romita throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romita is looking to work some ground and pound but Campbell has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romita trying to control but Campbell is working from the bottom.
Romita with a flurry of punches that miss.
Romita wants to control from the top but Campbell keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Frank Romita just wasn't active enough.
Romita shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Campbell sprawls well. Campbell wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Romita gets slowly back to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Campbell throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Romita.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Campbell doesn't manage to clinch there - Romita circles away.
Campbell lands with a kick to the ribs.

Campbell has managed to clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Romita avoiding damage as Campbell throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Campbell trying to land knees to the body.
Campbell tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Romita goes for a takedown attempt but Campbell pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Campbell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Romita paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Campbell tries to clinch up but Romita circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Campbell fails with an attempt to clinch.
Romita shoots for a double leg takedown but Campbell sprawls well. He's pushed Romita's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alex Campbell.
I think Campbell has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Frank Romita!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Frank Romita!
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Alex Campbell!

Frank Romita wins by split decision!