PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pekka Routalempi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Romita (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romita has chosen Rollin' Like A Boss as his entrance music. Pekka Routalempi could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Frank Romita's chin.

Routalempi
vs
Romita

176 cm
36
161 lbs
13 - 14 - 0

165 cm
25
150 lbs
7 - 6 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Sex Panther Supplements

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 13 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Routalempi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Frank Romita!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Routalempi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A big right from Routalempi misses.
Routalempi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Romita shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Romita slows the pace down in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Routalempi tries to roll over but Romita keeps him under control.

Romita escapes and gets back to his feet.

Romita fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Routalempi, pushing him back against the cage.

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

Routalempi looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romita looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Romita is looking to stand up but Routalempi won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romita is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Frank Romita.

Romita dives in and scores a takedown into Routalempi's guard.

Routalempi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Romita is aware though and is defending well.
Routalempi will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Romita controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Romita is pushing down on Routalempi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Routalempi is fighting to maintain full guard but Romita has managed to sneak the leg through.
Romita controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romita uses his free foot to push down on Routalempi's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Routalempi.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Routalempi is trying desperately to improve position.
Romita tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Romita stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Romita dives in and scores a takedown into Routalempi's guard.
Romita not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Routalempi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Romita defends it easily.
Romita controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Routalempi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Romita gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Romita controls from within his opponent's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Frank Romita.

Romita drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Romita is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Routalempi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Routalempi gets back to half guard.
Romita controlling the action here.
Romita prevents Routalempi from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romita controlling the action here.
Let's hope that Romita has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
It looks like Romita might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Frank Romita was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Routalempi fails with the takedown.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Romita missing with a left hand there. Routalempi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

Romita throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Routalempi was covering up waiting for the punch and Romita finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Romita sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Romita dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Routalempi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Routalempi misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fighters circling - Routalempi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Romita closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Routalempi is looking to reverse the position.
Romita remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Romita is trying to get an arm triangle but Routalempi is defending well.
Routalempi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Romita remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Romita wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Routalempi, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Routalempi tries to improve position but can't.
Routalempi is pushing Romita's head away, looking to escape. Romita manages to hold on to the position though.
A lull in the action here.
Routalempi wants to control but Romita postures up.
Routalempi is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Romita is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Routalempi throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.

Romita thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Romita is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Routalempi will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Routalempi manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Romita is not content to let Routalempi control the position.

Routalempi is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Routalempi wants to advance to full mount but Romita doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Romita managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Romita is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Routalempi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Romita trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
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.
Routalempi throws a strike but Romita rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Frank Romita has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Routalempi can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Romita controls the pace.

Routalempi had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Romita defends it easily.
Romita sitting in guard here, content to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Frank Romita hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Romita shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Routalempi napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Routalempi is looking to reverse the position.
Routalempi wants to get back to his feet but Romita drags him back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Romita showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. This is the final round!

Routalempi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Romita.
Routalempi scores with a one two! Romita had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Romita closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Romita lands in his opponent's guard.
Romita controls from within his opponent's guard.
Routalempi keeping full guard, as Romita tries to pass.
Romita wants to control from the top but Routalempi keeps moving.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Routalempi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Romita doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Romita manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Routalempi working for submissions but it's allowed Romita to get to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Routalempi trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romita seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Romita gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Routalempi throws a right and a left that Romita avoids nicely.
Romita will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Routalempi misses with a combination

and Romita counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Romita is working for a submission of some sort.
Romita throwing shots but Routalempi is blocking nicely.
Romita thows a huge punch but Routalempi dodges it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Routalempi actively working from the bottom here.

Romita is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Routalempi doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Romita.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romita sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Romita is working for a submission of some sort.
Routalempi is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Frank Romita was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Routalempi stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Routalempi wants it to stay on the feet.

Romita clinches with his opponent.
Routalempi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Romita is looking for a takedown.
Pekka Routalempi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Romita.
Routalempi wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Romita has him pressed against the cage.
Romita has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Routalempi is trying to break free.
Routalempi has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Romita on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Romita lands a takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Romita stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Romita closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Routalempi quickly recovers to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Routalempi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Romita is stalling in the full guard.
Routalempi is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Routalempi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Romita is aware though and is defending well.
Romita slips nicely into half guard.
Routalempi wants to get back to full guard.
Pekka Routalempi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Romita is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Frank Romita is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Romita is taking a breather. Routalempi says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Romita comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Romita winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Romita!