PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Petter Anier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodniel Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romero has chosen Kanye West - Amazing as his entrance music. Rodniel Romero has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Anier
vs
Romero

177 cm
36
160 lbs
20 - 27 - 1

176 cm
36
164 lbs
20 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Good low kicks
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 20 - 27 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Petter Anier!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rodniel Romero!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Shirou Masuda and Kenichi Hosakawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romero misses with a two punch combination.
Romero circles away from the clinch attempt
and Romero counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Romero misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Anier goes for a double leg but Romero avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Romero continues to drive forward.
Romero is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
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.
Anier misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Romero.

Anier closes the distance and clinches.
Anier pushes off an throws an elbow but Romero leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero tries to land a knee to the head but Anier blocks with his arms.
Romero takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Rodniel Romero has been cut.
Romero using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Anier has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Nice elbow from Anier.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anier lands a damaging elbow.
Anier blocks an elbow strike.
Romero has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero looking to throw knees to the head but Anier is blocking nicely.

Anier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Anier scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Anier misses with the combination.
Romero misses with the combination.
Anier tries to counter by clinching up but Romero breaks away and moves out of range.

Anier closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Romero's guard.
Romero is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Anier tries to roll over but Romero keeps him under control.
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!
Anier keeping hold of Romero's head, controlling as best he can.
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.
Romero trying to control the action but Anier is working from the bottom.
Anier tries to roll over but Romero keeps him under control.
Anier is trying to stand back up but Romero is controlling him
Romero wants to take a breather but Anier is having none of it.
Anier is looking to get back to full guard here but Romero has managed to pass to side control instead.
Anier is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anier is working hard here to advance position.
Anier managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Romero.
Anier is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Anier wants to control but Romero postures up.
Anier is looking for a sweep.
Romero controlling the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Romero looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Anier is avoiding damage well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Anier is looking to reverse the position.
Romero has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Anier tries to hold on but Romero pushes him away.
Anier gets back to half guard.
Romero slows the pace down in half guard.
Anier slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Anier is trying to hold Romero in close to prevent damage but Romero has managed to pass into half guard.
Anier wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Petter Anier will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rodniel Romero's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Anier swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Anier tries to clinch
and Romero counters with a stiff right hand.
Anier tries to clinch
and Romero counters with a left and a right that stings Anier.
Anier tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Romero swivels and escapes.
Romero lets loose with a powerful body kick. Anier will feel that in the morning.
Anier goes for a double leg but Romero avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Romero continues to drive forward.
Anier looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Petter Anier. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Anier, right into the meat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A combination from Romero does no damage.
Anier tries to counter with a takedown but Romero is quick to defend against it.
Anier shoots in but no luck this time.
Romero avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Anier gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Romero.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anier fails with the takedown.
Rodniel Romero is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Anier is looking to clinch.

Romero takes the fight into the clinch.
Anier wants a takedown.
I was talking to Anier's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Romero tries to land a knee to the head but Anier blocks with his arms.
Anier on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Anier tries to stall but Romero uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Anier gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Romero kicks off Anier and gets to his feet.
Anier throws a right hand that Romero ducks under and follows up with a left that Romero also avoids with ease.
Anier throws a combination that misses
and Romero counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Rodniel Romero seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Anier wants to clinch up but Romero keeps it at a distance.
Romero lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Romero fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anier fails with the takedown.
Petter Anier is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Anier tries to clinch up but Romero circles away and keeps his distance.
Anier throws a wild body kick that Romero sees coming a mile off.
Anier shoots in but no luck this time.
Romero changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Anier moves in looking to clinch but Romero pushes him off.
Romero circles away from the clinch attempt
and Romero counters with a three punch combo that has Anier backing up. Anier nods at Romero to acknowledge the strikes.
Romero misses with a double jab.
Anier tries to close the distance and clinch but Romero swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Anier gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Anier pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero missing with knees to the body.

Anier escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Petter Anier seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Romero lands with a hook. Anier tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Romero stalks Anier and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Anier's face. Anier staggers backwards, shaken.

Anier instigates a clinch.
Romero tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Romero misses with a hook from the clinch.
Anier creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Romero's defenses.
Romero is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Anier is defending well for now.
Anier landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Anier is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Romero to keep the fight standing.
Anier can't find room to land a body shot as Romero controls the action.
Anier lands an elbow just above Romero 's eye.
Romero being controlled against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Romero wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Romero breaks the clinch.
Anier is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Romero has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Anier doesn't manage to clinch there - Romero circles away.
Anier ducks under a wild hook from Romero.

Romero forces Anier back against the cage and clinches.
Romero taking a breather.
Romero with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Romero has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A body shot lands from Romero.
Romero throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Romero is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Anier is keeping busy.
Romero is trying to push Anier away but Anier has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Romero working hard to break the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Anier.

Anier breaks from the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodniel Romero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rodniel Romero'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. This is the final round!

Anier shoots in for a takedown but Romero shows good takedown defense.
Anier on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Anier doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Romero counters with a right hand to the body.
Anier tries a low kick but Romero avoids it.
Anier throws a low kick but Romero avoids it.
Romero throws a counter combo.
Anier throws a head kick but Romero moves out of range.
Anier tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Romero counters with a three punch combo that has Anier backing up. Anier nods at Romero to acknowledge the strikes.

Anier pushes Romero up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero working hard to break the clinch.
Romero letting Anier take a breather here.
Anier gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Anier wants to stall.

Anier ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Anier no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anier is trying to control the position but Romero postures up.
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 Anier is working from the bottom.
Anier has momentary wrist control but Romero slips an elbow through the middle.

Romero avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Romero looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Anier is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Romero is aware though and is defending well.

Anier escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Romero gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Anier working a defensive guard but Romero passes into half guard.
Anier is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero throwing shots but Anier is blocking nicely.
Anier is staying active underneath Romero, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Anier wants to control but Romero is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Anier is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Romero pulls his head out easily.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Anier fails in his attempt to clinch.
Anier tries to clinch but Romero is having none of it.
Romero changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Anier tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Romero manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Anier is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Romero! But no joy.
Romero swats away the attempt to clinch by Anier.
Anier is trying hard to land a takedown here. Romero sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Petter Anier. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anier tries to clinch up but Romero circles away and keeps his distance.
Romero stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Romero wants it to stay on the feet.
Romero is trying to counter with his kicks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Anier tries to clinch but Romero is having none of it.
Anier tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Romero paws at him with a jab and circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Romero breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Anier shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Romero defends it nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Romero stuffs the takedown.
Anier tries to clinch but Romero moves away
and Romero counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Anier is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Romero throws a counter combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodniel Romero comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:30
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rodniel Romero!
A less than humble Rodniel Romero misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.