PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Salwa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luivel Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Romero's choice of entrance music: Don Omar - Danza Kuduro ft. Lucenzo. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Salwa
vs
Romero

184 cm
30
198 lbs
23 - 7 - 0

190 cm
31
197 lbs
31 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

GREEN!160
Hellbent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gabriel Salwa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 14 - 1, fighting out of London, Luivel Romero!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romero throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Romero pivots, looking for a leg kick but Salwa is out of range and Romero settles back down.
Romero misses with a kick to the body.
Salwa misses with a series of wild punches.
Romero checks the leg kick.
We've been told by Salwa's head coaches at Datsik's Dojo that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Romero avoids a kick to the body.
Romero uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Salwa.
Salwa tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Salwa checks a leg kick.
Romero misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Romero slips a jab from Salwa.
Romero throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salwa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Salwa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Romero tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Salwa is able to avoid easily.
Romero has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
A chopping leg kick lands by Romero.
Gabriel Salwa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Salwa throws out a leg kick but Romero moves out of range and Salwa only half commits.
Romero ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Salwa moves away.
Romero swings for the body but Salwa moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Romero - just one landing.
Romero walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Romero misses with a wild combination.
Romero dodges the punch combination from Salwa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salwa misses with a low kick.
Salwa moves into range and connects with a jab.

It looks like Luivel Romero has been cut.
Romero uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Salwa.

Romero looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Salwa!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Salwa is trying to control Romero's posture but Romero avoids it.

Romero decides to stand up, so the ref orders Salwa to his feet.
Salwa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Romero feints and then cracks Salwa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Salwa down.
Romero pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Salwa keeps Romero at a distance using the push kick.
Romero ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Salwa moves away.
Salwa misses with a hook

and Romero counters by moving into the clinch.
Romero blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Salwa lands a left hand.
Romero keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Salwa's efforts to push away.
A short left from Salwa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salwa throws a head punch that misses.
The referee calls for Salwa to work.
Salwa misses with a punch to the body.
Salwa has Romero pushed against the cage.
Romero tries to work over Salwa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Salwa makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Salwa can't find room to land a body shot as Romero controls the action.
Salwa holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Salwa's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Romero digs a good body shot into Salwa's ribs.
Romero throws a low kick but Salwa moves out of range easily.
Salwa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Romero at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Luivel Romero will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Luivel Romero's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A head kick misses from Romero.
A punch combination from Salwa misses.
Romero is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Salwa rather than just go for the knockout.
Salwa throws a head kick but Romero moves out of range.
Romero tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Salwa takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Salwa checks the leg kick nicely there.
Salwa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Romero shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Salwa pinned against the cage. Salwa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salwa keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Romero.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salwa takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Romero blocks a leg kick.
Salwa misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Romero.
Salwa on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Romero lands with a shot to the body.
Luivel Romero seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick misses from Salwa.
Romero misses with a low kick.
Salwa throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Romero chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Salwa can pounce on him.
Salwa throws a head kick but Romero moves out of range.
Salwa has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salwa misses with a few strikes there.
Romero dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Romero uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Salwa.
Salwa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Decent striking displayed by Salwa there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Romero throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Salwa on the side of the head.
Romero looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Salwa tries to land a leg kick but Romero saw it coming and moves away.
A nice combination there by Romero.
A looping hook to the body misses from Salwa. Romero does a little dance to reset his feet.
Salwa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salwa blocks a head kick by Romero.
Salwa fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Romero scores with a nice right hand.
Salwa swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Salwa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Salwa scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Romero throws a leg kick
and Salwa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Romero scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Salwa throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Romero.
Salwa swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero lands with a thumping leg kick.
A leg kick checked by Salwa.
Salwa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Salwa misses with a hook to the body
and Romero counters with a stiff right hand.
Salwa swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Romero throws a leg kick but Salwa sees it coming and moves out of range.
Romero checks a leg kick.
Salwa on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Romero. Romero obviously looking to wear him down.
Romero lands a nice shot to the body.
Salwa tries to score with a low kick but Romero moves his leg out of the way.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Luivel Romero will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Luivel Romero's cut.
That's time! Salwa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Good work by Salwa as he checks the leg kick.
Donk. Salwa catches Romero right on the button with a cross.
Romero lands with a right hand.
Romero throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Salwa tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Romero was well out of range. Poor timing from Salwa.
Decent striking displayed by Salwa there.
Romero ducks under a wild hook from Salwa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Salwa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Romero.
Salwa checks a leg kick.
Romero misses with a low kick as Salwa jumps back.
Salwa misses with a leg kick

and Romero decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Salwa's guard.
Gabriel Salwa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero pushing down on Salwa's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Romero stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Salwa to get to his feet.
Romero buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Salwa looks to land a body kick but Romero moved away.
Romero moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Salwa chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Romero scoring well with a low kick there.
Salwa throws out a loose jab but Romero uses good head movement to avoid it.
A clash of legs there as Salwa blocks the low kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero misses with a leg kick.
Luivel Romero is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Salwa throws a leg kick

and Romero counters by moving into the clinch.
Salwa cracks Romero with a nice body shot.
Salwa is working Romero over against the cage.
Romero takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Romero swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A nice right hand lands inside from Romero.
Salwa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Romero blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Salwa stalling.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Salwa misses with a punch to the body.

Salwa breaks the clinch.
Salwa fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Romero looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Salwa misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Romero throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A decent looking cross lands there for Romero.
Romero throws a sloppy head kick and Salwa moves out of range easily.
Salwa misses with a low kick.
Romero cracks the inside of Salwa's front leg.
Romero pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Good standup being displayed there by Salwa as he connects with a hook.

Salwa lands a big right hand that sends Romero crashing to the mat! Salwa stays standing though and waves Romero back to his feet!

Romero is rocked!
Salwa is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romero loads up on a big right hand but Salwa slips the punch.
Romero is still on wobbly legs! Can Salwa finish him?
Salwa throws a leg kick but Romero checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salwa swings away with a body shot that misses
and Romero connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Salwa is stalking Romero. Romero circles to his left. Keeps circling left. Bam! Straight right from Salwa, and it's lights out! Romero really payed the price for that rookie mistake.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:09 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Gabriel Salwa!
An out of breath Gabriel Salwa thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.