PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nicodemo Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthew Connor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Romero might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Lords Of Salem . Nicodemo Romero has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Romero
vs
Connor

177 cm
23
160 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

183 cm
23
168 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

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 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nicodemo Romero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matthew Connor!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Ian Loll and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romero lands with a shot to the body.
Connor has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Romero is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Romero tries to clinch up.
Romero wants to clinch.
Romero fails with an attempt to clinch.
Romero jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Connor throws a jab but it's blocked by Romero.
Romero fails in his attempt to clinch.
Romero moves in looking to clinch but Connor pushes him off.

Romero closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Connor to the mat! Connor manages to get full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Romero sitting in guard here, content to control.
Romero is in close to Connor's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Romero trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
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!
Romero wants to control from the top but Connor keeps moving.
Romero tries to free his leg and advance position but Connor is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero trying to control but Connor is working from the bottom.
Connor wants to get back to his feet but Romero is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Romero slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Connor is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nicodemo Romero just wasn't active enough.
Romero tries to clinch up but Connor circles away and keeps his distance.
Romero has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Gentlemanly Scholars Fight Club Gym(4 Sprbt 4*+)(1 in the buildup to the fight.
Romero throws a leg kick but Connor checks it.

Romero clinches with his opponent.

Romero pulls guard successfully.
Connor postures up.
Romero looking for a sweep. Not yet Romero, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero trying to control the position.
Connor trying to stand up but can't free himself from Romero's guard.
Connor won't allow Romero to sweep him here.
Romero is working hard here to advance position.
Connor slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Matthew Connor has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Romero doesn't manage to clinch there - Connor circles away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Connor throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connor moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

It looks like Nicodemo Romero has been cut.
Romero fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Romero blocks a jab.
Nicodemo Romero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Connor throws a jab when Romero was well out of range.
Romero misses with a body kick.
Romero shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Connor pinned against the cage. Connor gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A combination from Connor does no damage.
Connor takes one to the side of the head.
Connor just misses with a punch to the body.
Matthew Connor is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Romero fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Connor cracks Romero with an open hand slap.
Connor connects with a solid leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Connor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Romero manages to avoid it.
Connor swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Romero fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicodemo Romero. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connor moves out of range as Romero strikes.
Romero fails to land with a series of punches.
Romero throws a low kick but Connor moves out of range easily.
A jab from Connor does it's job there.
Connor with a jab.
Connor misses with a body shot.
Romero keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Connor.
Romero tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Connor connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Romero has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Connor.
Romero fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Romero tries to clinch but Connor moves away
and Connor counters with a nice uppercut.
Connor has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Romero.
Romero tries to clinch up but Connor circles away and keeps his distance.
Connor misses with a straight left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicodemo Romero dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nicodemo Romero's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Romero delivers a nice body kick.
Connor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Romero getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Connor throws a lazy right hand but Romero sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Matthew Connor seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Connor throws a big shot that misses.
Romero fails with an attempt to clinch.
Connor keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Romero.
Romero misses with the combination.
Romero tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Romero throws a one two combo.

It looks like Matthew Connor has been cut.
Connor throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Romero stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch up but Connor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Romero looks to clinch
and Connor counters with a series of strikes. Romero will be more careful next time no doubt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Connor. Romero shrugs it off though.
Romero shoots in looking for a takedown but Connor manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Romero's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Romero changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Connor tries to avoid it but Romero manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Connor to the ground. Connor escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Romero throws the left hand but Connor avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connor scores with the left hand. Romero knows he should have avoided that one.
Nicodemo Romero is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Romero closes the distance and clinches up with Connor, looking for a takedown. Romero pushes Connor against the cage but Connor circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicodemo Romero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Connor steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Romero.
Connor stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Connor bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Romero's head.

Romero moves into the clinch.
Connor blocks a body shot from Romero.
Romero changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Connor fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Romero tries to clinch but Connor moves out of range.
A clash of legs there as Connor blocks the low kick.
Connor scores with a jab. Romero acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Romero doesn't manage to clinch there - Connor circles away.
Romero tries to clinch but Connor moves out of range.
Romero on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Romero takes a swing at Connor's ribcage but misses.
Connor lands a right hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A big right from Connor misses.
Romero misses with an uppercut.
A jab lands there for Connor.
Romero tries to clinch but Connor moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Romero looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Connor swings for the body but Romero moves out of range.
The crowd cheers as Connor lands an impressive looking overhand right. Romero doesn't seem phased though.
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch up but Connor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Connor clobbers Romero with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Connor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Romero tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Romero feints and as Connor raises his hands in defense, Romero changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Romero prevents Connor from getting back to his feet.
Connor is trying to control the position but Romero postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero wants to control from the top but Connor keeps moving.
Romero is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Connor is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Connor is trying to control the position but Romero postures up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The fighters circling - Connor throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Connor throws a leg kick but Romero moved away.
Romero throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Connor.
Connor looks to land a combination but Romero avoids it well.
Connor swats away the attempt to clinch by Romero.

Romero takes the fight into the clinch.
Connor wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Romero has him pressed against the cage.

Connor breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero throws a leg kick but Connor moved away.
Connor misses with an uppercut. Romero saw that one coming.
Connor moves out of range of the body kick.
Romero throws a series of strikes that have Connor backpedaling.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A bone on bone clash there as Romero blocks the leg kick.
Connor keeps the fight on the outside.
Connor stalks Romero and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Romero's face. Romero staggers backwards, shaken.
Romero tries to clinch up.

Romero has taken the fight to the clinch.
Romero lands a shot to the body.
Connor looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Romero jumps guard and drags Connor to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Connor postures up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Romero wants to improve his position but instead Connor has moved into half guard.
Romero makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Romero.
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 Nicodemo Romero will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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!

Romero wants to clinch up but Connor keeps it at a distance.
Connor with a jab.
Connor lands a body shot.
Romero tries to clinch up.
Romero on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Romero finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Connor lands an overhand right.
Romero scores with a hook.
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Connor paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Romero clinches with his opponent.

Connor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Connor ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Romero tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Romero takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Romero misses with a hook to the body
letting Connor counter with a right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romero walks into a stiff left hand from Connor.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romero moves into range and clinches up with Connor.

Connor manages to break the clinch.
Connor with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Romero lands a nice looking kick to the body. Connor takes a step back to recover.
Romero misses with a series of wild punches.
Connor fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Romero manages to avoid it.
Romero scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Romero swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Connor smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Connor misses with a body shot.
Romero slips a jab from Connor.
Connor keeps the fight on the outside.
Romero walks into a jab.
Romero throws a right and a left that Connor avoids nicely.
Connor swats away the attempt to clinch by Romero.
Matthew Connor has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connor throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch up but Connor swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Romero tries for a takedown but Connor sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch but Connor swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Connor fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Romero has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Connor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Romero tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Connor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Romero tries to clinch but Connor moves away
and Connor counters with a nice uppercut.
Romero slips under a jab from Connor.
Connor swats away the attempt to clinch by Romero.
Romero wants to clinch up but Connor keeps it at a distance.
Romero slips a jab from Connor.
Connor throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Romero on the side of the head.
Connor moves out of range as Romero throws a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connor throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Romero.
Romero fails with an attempt to clinch.
Romero takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Romero is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Connor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Romero wants to clinch up but Connor keeps it at a distance.
Connor digs a good hook to Romero's body.
Romero is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Connor thuds a left hand into Romero's body.
Romero steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Connor.
Nice cross by Connor.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Romero tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Connor manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Connor scores with a body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Romero shoots in looking for a takedown but Connor manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Romero's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Connor looks to land a left hand but Romero moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Connor bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Connor swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Romero scores with a three punch combo!
Romero wants to clinch up but Connor keeps it at a distance.
Connor throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Romero instigates a clinch.
Connor wants to get back to striking at distance but Romero won't allow it.
Romero tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Connor avoids it.
Romero tries to pull guard but Connor forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicodemo Romero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romero tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Connor just stands there and leans against the cage.
Romero is working for takedown but Connor is calmly controlling the position for now.
Romero is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Connor breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Romero is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Romero keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Connor.
Romero avoids the body shot from Connor.
Romero swings and misses with a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthew Connor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Romero has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 28:29

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