PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ranger Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas O Malley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Romero
vs
O Malley

178 cm
18
170 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ranger Romero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas O Malley!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Chris Downing and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by O Malley.
A lull in the action here.
Romero tries to buck O Malley off but O Malley is having none of it.
Romero is trying to work for a sweep but O Malley has mounted him!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
O Malley controlling from mount.
Romero tries to hold on but O Malley pushes him away.
Romero is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Malley controlling the pace for now.
O Malley fails to advance to Romero's back.
O Malley controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Romero bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

O Malley is looking for a triangle but Romero pushes his legs off easily.

O Malley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
O Malley is pulling down on Romero's head. It's preventing any offense from Romero, at least for the moment.
Romero will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
O Malley looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Romero stands and steps away. O Malley gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Romero drives through with a takedown into guard.
Romero trying to control but O Malley is working from the bottom.
O Malley is pulling down on Romero's head to control his posture.
Romero trying to control but O Malley is working from the bottom.
Romero looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero forces his way into half guard.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - O Malley has eaten all the pies!
Romero is pressing down on O Malley's thigh, looking to free his foot. O Malley is holding on for now.
Romero is keen to just control but O Malley is a slippery customer.
Romero is really struggling to control O Malley but he's trying to hold on to the position.

O Malley kicks Romero off and gets back to his feet.

Romero clinches up with O Malley and pushes him back against the cage.
O Malley wants a takedown but no success here.
O Malley is working for takedown but Romero is calmly controlling the position for now.
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 Ranger Romero will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Romero shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
O Malley tries to lock up and control but Romero gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Romero unloads with some shots from mount but O Malley bucks and avoids them well.
O Malley is working to get back to half guard.
O Malley manages to regain half guard. Good work.
O Malley controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
O Malley is not content to let Romero control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Malley controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
O Malley is looking to control Romero's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can O Malley avoid being mounted?
Romero prevents O Malley from improving his position.
O Malley keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's two 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 throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Romero trying to control from O Malley's half guard. O Malley has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

O Malley looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
O Malley trying to keep a closed guard but Romero is proving a slippery customer.
O Malley controlling Romero's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero stands and throws O Malley's legs to the side, diving into side control.
O Malley is trying to work for a sweep but Romero has mounted him!
Romero working O Malley over with strikes here.
Romero controlling his opponent.
Romero trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Romero has control of O Malley's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and O Malley regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Romero looking for a guillotine from mount but O Malley is having none of it.
O Malley working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ranger Romero dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Romero is looking to clinch but O Malley is avoiding it.

Romero has taken the fight to the clinch.

Romero jumps into guard, dragging O Malley to the mat.
O Malley must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
O Malley works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Romero is looking to improve his position.
Romero is working hard here to advance position.
Romero is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of O Malley's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take O Malley's back!
O Malley takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
O Malley just trying to survive but Romero is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Romero. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
O Malley wants to control his opponent's hands but Romero gets his hands free.
Romero is working the ground and pound. Can O Malley escape?

Romero is persistently looking for the submission but O Malley is defending it well.

O Malley is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
O Malley manages to reverse the position and now he's in Romero's guard. Nice work there by O Malley.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero trying to control the position.
Romero looking for a sweep. Not yet Romero, not yet.
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.

Romero stands up and beckons O Malley to join him on the feet.
Romero doesn't succeed with the takedown

and O Malley counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by O Malley.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Malley just leaning against Romero, taking a breather.
Romero has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. O Malley avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Romero is working for takedown but O Malley is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ranger Romero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romero tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. O Malley smiles and moves away.
O Malley with a lazy takedown attempt

and Romero counters with a shoot takedown. O Malley fights it but they end up in guard.
O Malley trying to control the position here.

O Malley working for a triangle but Romero defends it easily.
O Malley is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero won't allow O Malley to sweep him here.
O Malley looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Romero puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
O Malley tries to roll over but Romero keeps him under control.
O Malley is positioning himself well to prevent Romero advancing to mount.
Romero tries to stand but his hand is stuck under O Malley.
Thomas O Malley has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
O Malley wants to get back to full guard.
O Malley wants to control but Romero is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ranger Romero showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Romero has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ranger Romero!