PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rodniel Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nathan Hayway (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romero's entrance music is Kanye West - Amazing. A fine choice. Nathan Hayway acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Romero
vs
Hayway

176 cm
35
164 lbs
19 - 12 - 0

176 cm
23
168 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 19 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rodniel Romero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nathan Hayway!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hayway throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Romero.

It looks like Rodniel Romero has been cut.
Hayway misses the shot to the body.
Romero takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hayway.
Romero looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hayway looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Hayway moves into the clinch.
Hayway is pressed up against the cage. Romero has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hayway down to the mat. Hayway avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Romero forces Hayway back against the cage and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayway with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Hayway takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hayway unloads a knee to the mid-section. Romero lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Romero misses with a knee strike.
Romero is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hayway pushes Romero back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rodniel Romero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romero is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Romero has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Hayway clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Hayway manages to reverse the position and now he's in Romero's guard. Nice work there by Hayway.
Hayway trying to control but Romero is working from the bottom.

Hayway thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Romero has his foot on Hayway's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hayway works his way back into a safe position though.
Romero is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hayway trying to control the position from guard on top but Romero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayway won't allow Romero to sweep him here.
Hayway trying to control the position from guard on top but Romero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Romero being controlled here, momentarily.

Romero is looking for a triangle but Hayway pushes his legs off easily.
Hayway prevents Romero from getting back to his feet.
Romero keeping moving, preventing Hayway from controlling successfully.
Romero wants to stand up but Hayway is controlling him.
Romero keeping moving, preventing Hayway from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Romero is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Hayway trying to control the position from guard on top but Romero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Romero looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Romero keeping moving, preventing Hayway from controlling successfully.
Hayway is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Romero is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Hayway defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Hayway content to stall in guard here.
Hayway trying to control but Romero is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Hayway throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Romero thinks about countering with a head kick.
Hayway scores with a jab.
Romero throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Hayway.
Nathan Hayway seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hayway turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Hayway dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rodniel Romero's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Romero moves out of range as Hayway throws a body kick.
Romero is looking for a counter combo.
Hayway throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Romero's head.
Hayway missing with a left hand there. Romero was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Romero appears to be looking for a big counter.
Hayway has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Romero slips under a jab from Hayway.

Hayway has Romero up against the cage in a clinch.
Romero with an attempt at a knee that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayway throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hayway looking to stall.
Romero tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Hayway avoids it.
Romero throws a knee to the head but misses.
Romero tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hayway missing with knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hayway.
Romero tries a knee to the head but Hayway blocks it.
Hayway tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hayway lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hayway tries a knee to the head but Romero blocks it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Romero creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Romero lands a body shot in the clinch.
Hayway is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Romero lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Romero with an attempt at a knee that misses.
A nice left hand lands by Romero.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Romero just misses with a elbow thrown towards Hayway's brow.
Hayway is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Romero is defending well for now.
Romero trying to land knees to the body.
Hayway tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
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!
Hayway is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hayway throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Romero blocks it with crossed arms.
Romero is trying to pull guard but Hayway turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Romero gets through Hayway's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Hayway tries to land a knee to the head but Romero blocks with his arms.
Romero with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hayway misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Romero.
Hayway content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Hayway looking to slow down the pace here.
Romero misses with a knee strike.
Romero on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Romero tries to land a knee to the head but Hayway blocks with his arms.

Romero has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Hayway regains guard immediately.
Romero throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Hayway looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Hayway is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Romero is aware though and is defending well.
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.
Romero trying to control but Hayway is working from the bottom.
Hayway being controlled here, momentarily.
Romero throwing strikes but missing.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Romero trying to control the position from guard on top but Hayway is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Romero tries a head kick but it misses.
Hayway misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Romero seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
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.
A low kick from Hayway is predictable there

and Romero counters by clinching up.
Romero scores with a nice hook to the head.
Hayway is trying to stall.
Hayway misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Romero.
Romero tries to land a knee to the head but Hayway blocks with his arms.
Hayway tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Romero lands an uppercut.
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 Rodniel Romero will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rodniel Romero's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Hayway throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A right-left combo lands from Romero.
Hayway looks to land a left hand but Romero moved out of range nicely.
Romero seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Romero takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Hayway throws a hook but Romero avoids it easily.
Romero tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hayway counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Romero is lucky that one didn't land flush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hayway throws a predictable looking body shot

and Romero counters by clinching up.
Romero with a knee to the head.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Romero with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero works on Hayway's body with a couple of short punches.
Romero looking to throw knees to the head but Hayway is blocking nicely.
Hayway is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rodniel Romero has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Romero with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Romero lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Romero makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Hayway gets through Romero's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Romero is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Hayway tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hayway lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hayway tries to land knees in the clinch but Romero avoids the damage to the body.
Romero scores with a knee to the head.
Romero tries to land knees in the clinch but Hayway avoids the damage to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero misses with a knee strike.
Romero lands with a left to the head.
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!
Hayway using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Romero has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Hayway scores a nice knee to the body.
Romero tries to throw a body punch but Hayway avoids it by throwing Romero back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Hayway.
Romero softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Romero holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Romero lands a knee to the head.
Hayway is trying to stall.
Romero scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Romero tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Hayway connects with a knee to the head.
Hayway trying to control the position but instead, Romero has worked for underhooks and has pushed Hayway into the cage.
Hayway trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hayway tries a knee to the head but Romero blocks it.
Hayway is pushing Romero up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Romero looking to stall.
Romero tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Hayway blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Romero is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hayway is defending well for now.
Romero gets through Hayway's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Romero trying to control the position but instead, Hayway has worked for underhooks and has pushed Romero into the cage.
Hayway is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Romero is defending well for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hayway trying to stall but Romero improves his position.
Hayway tries to land a knee to the head but Romero blocks with his arms.
Hayway misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Romero.
Romero landing knees to the head.
Hayway misses with a knee strike.
Romero stalling in the clinch.
Hayway taking a breather.
Romero lands with a light punch inside.
Hayway misses with a knee strike.
Romero tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Romero missing with knees to the body.
Hayway digs a right hand into Romero's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Romero's gas tank.
Romero tries a knee to the head but Hayway blocks it.
Hayway blocks an elbow strike from Romero.
Romero wants to stall.
Hayway misses with a knee strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodniel Romero showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Yuuki Gou scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 29:28
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodniel Romero!
Rodniel Romero was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.