PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maksim Romanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and FrAn CrO (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romanov comes to the cage accompanied by hollywood undead- undead. CrO comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Eminem - Not Afraid kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! FrAn CrO acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Romanov
vs
CrO

150 cm
25
305 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

225 cm
18
300 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

xXx - Voodoo Labs - 159+ Energy - $45

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Maksim Romanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, FrAn CrO!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Albert Achterberg and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Romanov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Romanov looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Romanov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

It looks like FrAn CrO has been cut.
Romanov wants to lay and pray for a moment but CrO keeps working.
CrO tries to bench press Romanov off him but Romanov keeps the position.
CrO wants to control but Romanov postures up.
CrO is trying to get back to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Romanov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Romanov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear CrO down.
Romanov cracks CrO with a big right hand but CrO just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Romanov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on CrO's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
CrO is looking to regain half guard here but Romanov keeps moving and retains side control.
CrO can't do much from the bottom here.
CrO is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Romanov off and has taken his back!

CrO patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

CrO is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Romanov looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

CrO working for the choke.

Romanov is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
CrO throws a sloppy head kick and Romanov moves out of range easily.
CrO pulls out of a head kick attempt.
CrO throws a half hearted mid kick.
CrO throws a low kick but Romanov moves out of range easily.
CrO thows a body shot but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
CrO tries for a takedown but Romanov circles away easily

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

Romanov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and CrO defends it well.
CrO is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Romanov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Romanov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
CrO manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romanov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Romanov throws a big elbow that misses.
CrO lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Romanov!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Romanov is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
CrO lands a big elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

CrO with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
CrO wants to control the pace but Romanov is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maksim Romanov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on FrAn CrO'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.

CrO has Romanov up against the cage in a clinch.
CrO trying to land knees to the body.
CrO is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
CrO misses with a punch on the inside.

Romanov has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but CrO regains guard immediately.

CrO looking for a guillotine here but Romanov defends easily.
Romanov working some strikes from top position.
CrO looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
CrO is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanov lands a couple of elbows.
Romanov stopping the sweep attempt from CrO.
Romanov landing some decent shots from guard.
Romanov advances position into side control!
CrO is looking to regain half guard here but Romanov keeps moving and retains side control.
CrO taking punishment in the form of punches.
You can see the frustration on CrO's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Romanov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romanov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
CrO striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
CrO tries to buck Romanov off but Romanov is having none of it.
CrO takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
CrO wants to control but Romanov postures up.
Romanov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
CrO can't do much from the bottom here.

Romanov goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, CrO rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Romanov's guard! Nice work there by CrO!
CrO missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
CrO wants to pass the guard but Romanov is keeping the position.
CrO trying to control but Romanov is working from the bottom.
CrO is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Romanov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Romanov tries to get out of the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
CrO missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romanov wants to get back to his feet but CrO is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
CrO trying to control but Romanov is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. FrAn CrO was stalling too much, according to the referee.
CrO shoots for a takedown but Romanov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
CrO misses with a body kick.

Romanov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
CrO is in trouble now - Romanov has advanced to mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Romanov looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maksim Romanov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on FrAn CrO's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

CrO misses with a two punch combination.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from CrO lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Romanov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Romanov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Romanov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in CrO's half guard.
CrO wants to get back to full guard.
Romanov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Romanov throwing shots but CrO is blocking nicely.
CrO taking some punishment here, with Romanov in his half guard.
CrO moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

CrO looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
CrO looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Romanov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanov landing a few strikes.
Romanov cracks CrO with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Romanov moves into full mount!
Romanov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish CrO?
Romanov landing strikes, looking to finish!
Maksim Romanov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Romanov lands a heavy elbow.
Romanov unloading with bombs!
Romanov is in the full mount, landing strikes.
CrO tries to lock up and control but Romanov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Romanov cracks CrO with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Romanov is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. CrO can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
CrO taking shots to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
CrO keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
CrO is bucking up trying to escape but Romanov cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
CrO tries to lock up and control but Romanov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Romanov scores with a couple of good head shots there.
CrO is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The referee warns CrO that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
CrO is wriggling around trying to escape.
Romanov lands a big shot there that rocks CrO but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Romanov with a couple of short strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
CrO keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Romanov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
CrO sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
CrO is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Romanov jumps into side control!
CrO tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Romanov presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Romanov raining down shots from the mount!
FrAn CrO has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Romanov avoids the attempt from CrO to control.
CrO is trying desperately to improve position.
Romanov is landing with some decent strikes but CrO is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romanov prevents CrO from getting the reversal.
BOOM! Romanov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Romanov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can CrO hang on?
CrO is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Romanov is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! CrO is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Maksim Romanov!
Maksim Romanov very nearly forgot to thank Hellbent, Inc.™ amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.