PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bobby Butcher (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nicodemo Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romero has chosen Lords Of Salem as his entrance music. Nicodemo Romero has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Bobby Butcher's chin.

Butcher
vs
Romero

174 cm
32
167 lbs
24 - 21 - 0

177 cm
30
160 lbs
15 - 15 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Fast

GREEN!160

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 24 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bobby Butcher!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Nicodemo Romero!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Butcher is defended easily by Romero.
Romero blocks a head kick by Butcher.
Romero thinks about the counter body kick.
Butcher throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Romero cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Butcher gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Romero lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Romero misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Butcher.

Romero breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Butcher doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Romero counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've been informed that Romero has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Butcher misses with a double jab.
Romero drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Butcher defends it well.
Butcher with a lazy takedown attempt
and Romero counters with a big head kick but Butcher shrugs it off.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobby Butcher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Butcher doesn't manage to clinch there - Romero circles away.
Romero is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero blocks a head kick by Butcher.
Butcher tries to close the distance and clinch but Romero swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Romero appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Butcher fails with an attempt to clinch.
Romero raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Butcher scores with a body shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Butcher.
Butcher shoots in for a takedown but Romero shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Butcher tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Butcher looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Romero was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Decent striking displayed by Butcher there.
Nice sprawl there from Romero as Butcher shoots in.
Butcher moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromRomero.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butcher pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Butcher lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Butcher throws a sloppy head kick and Romero moves out of range easily.
Butcher misses with a double jab
and Romero cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Butcher plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Nicodemo Romero has been cut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Butcher pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Butcher misses with a body shot.
Bobby Butcher seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Butcher takes a swing at Romero's ribcage but misses.
Romero with the counter takedown but Butcher avoids it easily.
Butcher throws a right hand that misses
enabling Romero to counter with a crisp jab.
Butcher throws a predictable looking body shot
and Romero counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Romero swats away the attempt to clinch by Butcher.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Romero gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Butcher.

Romero drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Butcher controlling the position.
Romero chips away with some ground and pound.
Romero stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Butcher swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Romero works over Butcher with some ground and pound from guard.
Butcher utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Butcher avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Butcher working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Romero.
Butcher wants to stand up but Romero is controlling him.

Butcher kicks Romero off and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Butcher motions for Romero to come forward. Butcher throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Butcher looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Romero!

Butcher wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Romero, who protects the arm well.
Romero is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Romero is not content to let Butcher control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Butcher working the body and head with strikes.
Butcher trying to control the position but Romero is working away.
We've been hearing that Butcher has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
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 Bobby Butcher will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Nicodemo Romero's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Butcher is trying hard to land a takedown here. Romero sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Romero feints the counter takedown.
Romero stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Romero wants it to stay on the feet.
Romero scores with a head kick.
Butcher displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Romero throws out the jab.
Butcher 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.
Romero chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Butcher shoots in for a takedown but Romero shows good takedown defense.
Romero appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bobby Butcher. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romero swats away the attempt to clinch by Butcher.
Romero flicks out a counter leg kick but Butcher steps away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero circles away from the clinch attempt.

Butcher gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Romero working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Romero breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Butcher shoots in looking for a takedown but Romero manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Butcher's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Romero is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Romero turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Bobby Butcher is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Butcher tries to clinch there but Romero circles away.
Butcher is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Butcher looks to throw the jab but Romero is out of range.
Romero tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Butcher gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Butcher lands a shoulder strike.

Romero escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Butcher shoots in but no luck this time.
Butcher digs a good body shot into Romero's ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butcher tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Romero paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Romero changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Romero shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Butcher pushes Romero off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Butcher cracks Romero with a right hand to the side of the head.
Romero leaves Butcher with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Romero with the counter takedown but Butcher avoids it easily.
Butcher dives in for a single leg takedown but Romero sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Romero flicks out a counter leg kick but Butcher steps away.
Butcher looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Romero is fending him off so far but Butcher persists. Nope, Romero circles away and we're back to standing.
Butcher connects with a looping right hand.
Butcher swings widly with a right hand
and Romero counters with a low kick, right behind Butcher 's knee.
Butcher throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Romero counters with a nice body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butcher doesn't manage to clinch there - Romero circles away.
Butcher has his takedown stuffed
and Romero counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Butcher misses with a takedown
and Romero counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Romero keeps the fight on the outside.
Romero keeps the fight on the outside.
Romero feints the counter takedown.

Romero tries to sprawl but Butcher drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Romero moves into full guard.
Romero looking to hit a scissor sweep but Butcher is one step ahead there.
Butcher wants to control from the top but Romero keeps moving.
Butcher has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butcher passes into half guard.
Romero wants to improve his position but Butcher is controlling well.
Romero gets back to full guard.
Romero wants to sweep but no luck.
Butcher trying to control the position from guard on top but Romero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Butcher stopping the sweep attempt from Romero.
Butcher wants to control from the top but Romero keeps moving.
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.

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

Nicodemo Romero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Nicodemo Romero's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Romero throws a head kick that misses.
Butcher shoots in but no luck this time.
Butcher throws an off balance right hand
and Romero counters with a good, hard body kick but Butcher shrugs it off.
Butcher shoots in for a double leg but Romero sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Romero looks like he wants to counter punch here.

Butcher pushes Romero up against the cage in a clinch.
Butcher is trying to maintain a safe position but Romero gets an underhook and turns Butcher into the cage.
Romero missing with knees to the body.
Butcher on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Romero tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Butcher pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Butcher throws a looping overhand right but Romero ducks down to avoid it.
Romero looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Butcher jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Romero appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

Romero closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romero is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Butcher has managed to free his arm - good work.
Romero not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Butcher tries to roll over but Romero keeps him under control.
Romero not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Romero trying to mount his opponent but Butcher defends it.

Romero is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Butcher is just riding it out for now. Romero eventually gives up the hold.

Romero is looking for a kimura here.

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.
Butcher is trying to stand.
Romero wants to free his trapped foot but Butcher is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bobby Butcher overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Butcher is looking for a sweep. Romero is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Butcher is defending against the submission attempts here by Romero.
Romero sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Butcher defending well though.
Butcher is trying to maintain the position but Romero is very close to passing his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butcher keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Romero is looking for a kimura here.

Romero seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Butcher is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:32 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Nicodemo Romero!
Nicodemo Romero managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, CBK Fury Nutrition Inc., into his post fight interview.