PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ville Marakatti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacare Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marakatti's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Beyoncé - Halo. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Marakatti
vs
Romero

180 cm
26
195 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

182 cm
30
184 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System

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 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ville Marakatti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jacare Romero!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Lou da Vinci and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marakatti shoots in and drives through. Romero sprawls well.
Marakatti tries for a takedown but Romero sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Romero lands an overhand right.
Marakatti shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Romero defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ville Marakatti. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romero throws a nice looking combination but Marakatti bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Marakatti is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Romero.
Marakatti slips a straight right by Romero.
Marakatti is trying hard to land a takedown here. Romero sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Jacare Romero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marakatti tries to move into range but Romero moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Marakatti with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Romero to score with a decent uppercut.
Romero uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Marakatti has time to react.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Romero throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Romero jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Romero throws a lazy right hand but Marakatti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A combination from Romero does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A lazy left from Romero finds it's target.
Romero tries to bum rush Marakatti with a series of wild strikes but Marakatti uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Romero misses with a straight left.

Romero looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Marakatti!
Marakatti tries to bench press Romero off him but Romero keeps the position.

Romero is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Marakatti has escaped the position, nice work there.

Romero tries for a kimura but Marakatti is defending well.
Marakatti is looking to regain half guard here but Romero keeps moving and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marakatti is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Marakatti is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Elite Strikers, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Romero scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Marakatti looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Marakatti trying to control but Romero postures up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romero lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Marakatti has hold of Romero's hands but Romero slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Marakatti is looking for a sweep. Romero is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Romero lands strikes from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero winds up and cracks Marakatti with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Romero is thwarting Marakatti's attempts to control the position.
Romero working the head and body with strikes.
Romero wants to take a breather but Marakatti is having none of it.
Marakatti wants to get back to full guard.
Romero working over Marakatti with some ground and pound. Marakatti looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Marakatti looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Marakatti looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Romero wants to take a breather but Marakatti is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Romero lands a nice short elbow.
Marakatti is looking for a sweep. Romero is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Marakatti is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Romero scores with a couple of nice shots.
Romero scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Romero is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Romero connects with a nice short shot to Marakatti's temple.

Romero is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Marakatti has managed to free his arm - good work.

Marakatti looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romero drops an elbow to the side of Marakatti's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacare Romero dominated that round.
That's time! Marakatti's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Marakatti walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Romero loads up on a big right hand but Marakatti slips the punch.
Marakatti has his takedown stuffed
letting Romero counter with a right hand.
Romero throws a series of punches but Marakatti moves out of range.
Romero slaps away a takedown attempt from Marakatti, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Romero connects with a good right hand that stumbles Marakatti. Marakatti circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Romero looks to land a combination but Marakatti avoids it well.
Romero throws a series of punches but Marakatti moves out of range.
Marakatti throwing a counter right hand but Romero manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marakatti showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Romero.
Marakatti shoots in but Romero avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ville Marakatti. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Romero closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Romero lands in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marakatti looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Romero trying to control but Marakatti is working from the bottom.
Marakatti trying to keep a closed guard but Romero is proving a slippery customer.
Romero looking to pass the guard.
Romero wants to control from the top but Marakatti keeps moving.
Romero is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

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 working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Romero has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Romero with a nice head shot there.
Romero throws a big elbow that misses.
Romero not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Romero postures up in Marakatti's guard and throws a big left but Marakatti blocks it.
Marakatti has momentary wrist control but Romero slips an elbow through the middle.

Marakatti 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.

Marakatti throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero trying to control the position from guard on top but Marakatti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Romero avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Romero has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Marakatti keeping moving, preventing Romero from controlling successfully.

Marakatti has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Romero can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Marakatti looking for a guillotine here but Romero defends easily.
Romero content to stall in guard here.

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 throws an elbow that misses. Marakatti uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Romero's guard. Nice move by Marakatti!

Marakatti has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Romero has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Marakatti can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Romero has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Marakatti can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Romero keeping moving, preventing Marakatti from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Romero throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Marakatti escapes and throws Romero's legs to the side, diving into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacare Romero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Romero throws a hook but Marakatti blocks it.

Romero gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Romero has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Marakatti is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Romero.
Marakatti trying to control the position but Romero is working away.
Romero is looking to regain half guard here but Marakatti keeps moving and retains side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Marakatti.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero can't do much from the bottom here.

Marakatti is trying to get an arm triangle but Romero is defending well.
Romero felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Romero sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero wants to control but Marakatti is keeping busy.
Marakatti prevents Romero from improving his position.
Romero moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Romero throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Marakatti tries to free his leg and advance position but Romero is retaining full guard.
Marakatti wants to control from the top but Romero keeps moving.

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.
Romero seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Romero trying to keep a closed guard but Marakatti is proving a slippery customer.

Marakatti avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Marakatti avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Marakatti trying to control the position from guard on top but Romero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Romero tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Marakatti throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Romero works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero keeping full guard, as Marakatti tries to pass.
Marakatti wants to control from the top but Romero keeps moving.

Romero throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Marakatti tries to free his leg and advance position but Romero is retaining full guard.

Romero is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Marakatti content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Romero has locked up a guillotine! Romero's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Marakatti is holding on here and Romero must be using up a lot of energy. Marakatti has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Romero gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Jacare Romero!
In his post fight interview, Jacare Romero started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.