PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Duane Rowe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romero has chosen Wolly Bully as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Rowe
vs
Romero

176 cm
19
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

155 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Duane Rowe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Diego Romero!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, William Gold and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rowe is trying hard to land a takedown here. Romero sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rowe closes the distance and clinches up with Romero, looking for a takedown. Rowe pushes Romero against the cage but Romero circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rowe fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Duane Rowe. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rowe will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Romero misses with a two punch combination.
Romero tries to clinch there but Rowe circles away.
A punch combination from Romero misses.
Rowe tries to clinch up
and Romero counters with a nice uppercut.
Rowe throws a sloppy head kick and Romero moves out of range easily.
Romero misses with a two punch combination.
Rowe shoots and misses
enabling Romero to counter with a crisp jab.
Romero throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Romero should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Rowe tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Romero swivels and escapes.
Romero fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Romero lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero shoots in but Rowe avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Romero lands a head kick!

It looks like Duane Rowe has been cut.
Romero blocks a head kick by Rowe.
Romero lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rowe circles away quickly and effectively.
Romero misses with a combination
and Rowe counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
No joy there for Romero, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Romero looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rowe is fending him off so far but Romero persists. Nope, Rowe circles away and we're back to standing.
Rowe tries to clinch up but Romero circles away and keeps his distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Romero scores with a shot to the side of Rowe's head.

Romero pulls guard successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Romero looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rowe is one step ahead there.
Romero looks winded!
Romero is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rowe is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rowe sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rowe's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Duane Rowe wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Romero misses with a combination

and Rowe moves into the clinch.
Rowe wants to get back to striking at distance but Romero won't allow it.
Romero tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Rowe pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Romero keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Romero shoots in looking for a takedown but Rowe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Romero's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Romero misses with a double jab
and Rowe counters with a nice uppercut.
Rowe circles away from the clinch attempt.
Rowe dives in and grabs Romero's left leg, looking for a takedown. Romero pushes down on Rowe's head and hops out.
Sloppy strikes from Rowe. Those never looked like landing.
Romero throws a nice looking combination but Rowe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rowe tries to close the distance and clinch but Romero swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Romero, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Rowe gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Romero has Rowe pressed against the cage, preventing Rowe from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Romero tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Romero tries to circle away but Rowe has him pinned against the cage.

Rowe successfully pulls guard.
Romero trying to control the position from guard on top but Rowe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rowe wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rowe wants to sweep here but Romero controlling him for the moment.
Rowe trying to keep a closed guard but Romero is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Diego Romero will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Duane Rowe's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rowe shoots in looking for a takedown. Romero tries to sprawl out of it but Rowe keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Romero manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Romero misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Romero dives in for a single leg takedown but Rowe sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Rowe manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Romero breaks from the clinch.
Romero wants to clinch up but Rowe keeps it at a distance.
Romero misses with a double jab
and Rowe counters with a left and a right that stings Romero.
Romero misses with a wild combination.
Romero tries to clinch up but Rowe circles away and keeps his distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero tries to clinch but Rowe moves away

and Rowe counters by moving into the clinch.
Rowe is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Romero working hard to break the clinch.
Romero wants to get back to striking at distance but Rowe won't allow it.
Romero can't break the clinch.
Romero jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rowe walks away with a smile on his face. Romero gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Romero is breathing heavily.
Romero goes for a double leg but Rowe avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Rowe continues to drive forward.
Duane Rowe has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Diego Romero.
Romero working hard to break the clinch.

Rowe jumps guard and drags Romero to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Rowe throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rowe is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rowe is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Romero blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rowe.
Rowe sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Duane Rowe wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Romero cracks Rowe with a good jab.
Rowe tries to close the distance and clinch up but Romero swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rowe throws a sloppy head kick and Romero moves out of range easily.
Romero's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Romero duly obliges.
Romero shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Rowe sprawls well. Rowe wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Romero gets slowly back to his feet.
Romero misses with a few strikes there.
Romero circles away from the clinch attempt.

Rowe drives through and clinches with Romero against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Romero's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rowe lands a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Romero's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rowe tries to break the clinch but Romero is controlling the position.
Romero is looking to break free of the clinch but Rowe has double underhooks.
Romero jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rowe walks away with a smile on his face. Romero gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Romero tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Rowe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Diego Romero seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rowe will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Romero displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rowe.
Romero tries a head kick but it misses.
Romero misses with a few strikes there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Romero looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rowe shoots in but Romero avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duane Rowe dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Duane Rowe's cut.
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!

Rowe will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Romero scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Romero gets a takedown into half guard.
Ground and pound from Romero.
Rowe tries to get to full guard but Romero has control of the leg.
Romero is trying to control. Rowe wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rowe gets back to full guard.
Romero throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Romero takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero being controlled here momentarily.
Rowe keeping moving, preventing Romero from controlling successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rowe is trying to keep Romero in close.
Rowe keeping moving, preventing Romero from controlling successfully.

Rowe working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Romero doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Romero manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Rowe is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Rowe tries to pass the half guard into mount. Romero knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Romero is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Rowe jumps into side control!
Rowe controls the position from side control.

Rowe stands up and beckons Romero to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rowe changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Romero tries to avoid it but Rowe manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Romero to the ground. Romero escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Romero misses with a two punch combination.

Rowe moves into the clinch successfully.
Rowe tries for a takedown but Romero manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Duane Rowe. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Romero breaks from the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Romero.
Romero doesn't manage to clinch there - Rowe circles away.
Diego Romero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rowe wants to clinch up but Romero keeps it at a distance.
Rowe closes the distance but Romero moves to the side
and Romero counters with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Duane Rowe is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rowe shoots for a double leg takedown but Romero sprawls well. He's pushed Rowe's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Romero comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Romero misses with a series of wild punches.
Rowe throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Romero shoots in and drives through. Rowe sprawls well.
Romero checks a leg kick.
Rowe throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Romero's waist but Romero gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rowe off to one side.
Rowe tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Romero moves into range and clinches up with Rowe.

Romero manages to break the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rowe dodges the punch combination from Romero.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Diego Romero.
I think Romero 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Diego Romero!
Diego Romero thanked the fans post fight for their support.