PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Swartz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Justin Rome (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Swartz
vs
Rome

195 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

209 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes comics

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Joe Swartz!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Justin Rome!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, William Gold and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Swartz.
Rome fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Swartz wants to clinch.
Swartz dives in and grabs Rome's left leg, looking for a takedown. Rome pushes down on Swartz's head and hops out.
Rome tries for a takedown but Swartz sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Rome connects with the punch.
Rome shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Swartz pinned against the cage. Swartz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Joe Swartz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Rome.
Swartz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rome sprawls well. Rome wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Swartz gets slowly back to his feet.
Rome is looking to land body kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rome moves into range and clinches up with Swartz.
Swartz jumps guard but Rome turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Swartz is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rome is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Rome breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Rome drives through and clinches with Swartz against the cage.
Swartz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Rome avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Rome breaks the clinch.
Rome tries to clinch but Swartz is having none of it.
Rome throws a head kick but Swartz moves out of range.

Swartz rushes Rome and presses him up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swartz tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Rome avoids it.
Rome has Swartz pressed against the cage, preventing Swartz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rome is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

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

Swartz darts in and clinches Rome up against the cage.

Swartz has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rome uses from the top position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Swartz is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rome is controlling him.
Rome trying to control the position from guard on top but Swartz is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rome controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rome has gone for a leg lock! Swartz slips out almost immediately though and dives into Rome's guard.
Swartz might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rome not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Swartz passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Swartz wants to control but Rome is keeping him busy.
Rome manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Rome is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Swartz wants to stand but Rome has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rome is controlling Swartz's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Swartz thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rome's head.
Rome wants to get back to full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rome wants to control but Swartz is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Justin Rome dominated that round.
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.

Rome moves out of range of the body kick from Swartz.
Rome tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Swartz swivels and escapes.
Swartz looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rome shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Swartz pinned against the cage. Swartz gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Swartz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rome.
Joe Swartz has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Justin Rome.
Swartz keeps the fight on the outside.
Swartz thuds a left hand into Rome's body.
Swartz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Swartz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rome is fending him off so far but Swartz persists. Nope, Rome circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swartz fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rome takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Swartz closes the distance and clinches up with Rome, looking for a takedown. Swartz pushes Rome against the cage but Rome circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Swartz displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rome.
Rome shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Swartz defends it nicely.

Rome takes the fight into the clinch.
Swartz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rome smiles and moves away.
Rome fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rome fails with a takedown attempt.
A head kick misses from Swartz.
Rome slaps away a takedown attempt from Swartz, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Rome closes the distance and clinches up with Swartz, looking for a takedown. Rome pushes Swartz against the cage but Swartz circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Swartz. No joy for Rome on that attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rome is looking to clinch but Swartz is avoiding it.
Swartz keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rome changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Swartz tries to avoid it but Rome manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Swartz to the ground. Swartz escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Swartz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Swartz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Justin Rome seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Swartz fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rome misses with a takedown attempt - Swartz sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Swartz thuds a left hand into Rome's body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Swartz looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swartz fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rome avoids it really well and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Rome escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Swartz tries to land a front kick but Rome steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Joe Swartz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rome swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rome staying out of range there.
Swartz circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joe Swartz will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Rome clinches up with Swartz and pushes him back against the cage.
Rome tries to break the clinch but Swartz is controlling the position.

Rome breaks the clinch.
Swartz shoots in but Rome avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Swartz avoids the body shot from Rome.
Rome defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Swartz.
Swartz shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Swartz. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rome fails to land the takedown.
A bone on bone clash there as Swartz blocks the leg kick.
Rome pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rome keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
No luck for Rome with that takedown attempt.
Rome looks for a takedown but Swartz sprawls well.
Swartz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Swartz wants it to stay on the feet.
Swartz closes the distance and clinches up with Rome, looking for a takedown. Swartz pushes Rome against the cage but Rome circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rome shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Swartz as he jumps to the side.
Swartz is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Swartz shoots in for a takedown but Rome shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rome shoots in but no luck this time.
Rome tries to clinch there but Swartz circles away.
Swartz throws a series of punches but Rome moves out of range.
Swartz tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rome sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Swartz somewhat.
Rome shoots for a takedown but Swartz saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Swartz swats away the attempt to clinch by Rome.
Swartz stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Swartz wants it to stay on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Swartz clinches up against the cage.
Rome prevents the takedown attempt.

Swartz manages to break the clinch.
Rome moves in looking to clinch but Swartz pushes him off.
Swartz shoots for a takedown but Rome saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rome shoots for a double leg takedown but Swartz sprawls well. He's pushed Rome's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Swartz gets tackled into the cage by Rome. Rome maintains the clinch.
Rome tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Swartz smiles and moves away.
Rome stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rome wants it to stay on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rome moves into the clinch.
Swartz is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rome gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Rome decides to pull guard.
Rome bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Swartz's guard.

Swartz is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rome is aware though and is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Rome stands up from Swartz's guard - Rome perhaps looking for a knockout.
Swartz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rome sprawls well. Rome wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Swartz gets slowly back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Justin Rome comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rome 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Justin Rome!