PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nicodemo Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafal Koks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romero's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Lords Of Salem . Koks has chosen DMX - We right here as his entrance music. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Rafal Koks was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Romero
vs
Koks

177 cm
34
160 lbs
25 - 17 - 1

172 cm
27
155 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Voodoo Nutrition

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 25 - 17 - 1, fighting out of London, Nicodemo Romero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rafal Koks!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koks uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Romero.
Romero throws a right hand that Koks ducks under and follows up with a left that Koks also avoids with ease.
Romero misses with a body shot.
Nicodemo Romero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Romero jabs Koks right on the nose. Koks blinks but takes it well.
Romero jabs Koks to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Romero throws a body punch but Koks moves out of range.
Koks is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Romero with a body shot.
Koks moves out of range of the strikes.
It seemed like Koks was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Romero takes the fight into the clinch.
Romero throws an elbow but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Koks takes an elbow to the forehead.
Romero blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Koks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Romero blocks a head kick by Koks.
It looked like Romero wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Romero cracks a nice hook into Koks's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Romero lands with a shot to the body.
Romero looks to throw the jab but Koks is out of range.
Romero slips a jab from Koks.
Romero is looking to wear down Koks with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Koks connects with an inside leg kick.
Koks throws a push kick but Romero slaps the foot to one side.
Koks lands a jab.
Koks throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Romero sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Romero is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Romero rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Koks counters with a good low kick that Romero was not able to check.
Romero stuns Koks with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero avoids the body shot from Koks.
An attempted straight right counter from Romero misses the target.
Romero looks to score with a jab to the body but Koks is just out of range.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Good leg kick by Koks there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Romero throws a series of punches but Koks moves out of range.
Romero thows a left - swing and a miss!
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch up but Koks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Koks scores with a crisp jab that stopped Romero in his tracks.
Koks motions for Romero to come forward. Koks throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A nice combination there by Romero.
Romero misses with a straight left.
Romero slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Koks's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Romero connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Koks scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Koks.
Koks throws a big counter head kick but Romero avoids it with no problem.
Romero misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Koks.
Koks is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Koks connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Romero momentarily.

It looks like Nicodemo Romero has been cut.
Romero tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Koks was well out of range. Poor timing from Romero.
Romero ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Koks moves away.
Romero misses the body punch
and Koks counters with a one-two to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Romero misses the target.
Koks now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Romero is looking to clinch but Koks is avoiding it.
Romero is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Koks scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Romero tries to clinch but Koks is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero throws a jab but it's blocked by Koks.
Romero pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Koks throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice body kick there by Koks.
The fighters circling - Koks throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Koks connects with a jab.
Koks moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

Romero takes the fight into the clinch.
Koks lands a right hand.
Koks lands with a light punch inside.
Koks blocks an elbow strike.

Koks's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Romero is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicodemo Romero dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nicodemo Romero's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Koks swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Koks takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Romero misses with a body shot.
Koks walks into a left hand.
Romero walks into a straight right hand from Koks.
Koks scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Koks avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Koks is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Koks swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Koks throws a body punch but Romero moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero slips a jab and a cross from Koks.
Romero tries to clinch there but Koks circles away.
Koks swats away the attempt to clinch by Romero.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero scores with a body shot.
Nicodemo Romero is winning the standup battle so far.
Romero throws a hook but Koks blocks it.
Nice uppercut there from Koks.

Romero moves into the clinch.
Romero misses with a punch on the inside.
Koks throws a head punch that misses.
Romero throws a head punch that misses.
Romero throws a head punch that misses.
Koks lands a body shot in the clinch.
Koks avoiding damage.

Koks breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Koks fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Romero has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koks throws a chopping leg kick but Romero manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Romero tries to clinch but Koks is having none of it.
Koks takes one to the side of the head.
Koks looks to score with a jab to the body but Romero is just out of range.
Romero throwing a counter right hand but Koks manages to avoid it.
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch up but Koks swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Koks throws a head kick that misses
and Romero connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
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!

Romero gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Romero doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Koks scores with a shoulder strike.
Romero has a couple of punches blocked by Koks.
Romero pushes off an throws an elbow but Koks leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Romero swings wildly with an uppercut but Koks uses good head movement to avoid it.
Still in the clinch, Koks scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Koks's elbow.
Koks misses with a punch to the body.
Koks working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Good body shot from Koks.
Romero softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Koks.

Koks breaks from the clinch.
Romero looks to land a combination but Koks avoids it well.
Romero moves away from the strike by Koks.
Romero is looking to counter the offense by Koks and move into the clinch.
A shot to the liver by Romero. Beautiful body shot.
Koks bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Koks moves out of range as Romero strikes.
Romero swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Koks counters with a straight right hand.
Koks misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero scores with a jab to the jaw.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Romero throws a nice looking combination but Koks bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A nice side step and Koks releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

Romero darts in and clinches Koks up against the cage.
Koks misses with a punch on the inside.
Nicodemo Romero has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Koks misses with some punches.
Koks throws an elbow but it's blocked.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Romero.
Koks tries to circle away but Romero has him pinned against the cage.
Koks swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Romero creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Romero lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Romero lands an elbow just above Koks 's eye.

It looks like Rafal Koks has been cut.
Romero misses with an elbow over the top.

Koks breaks the clinch.
Romero pulls out of a head kick attempt.
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 Nicodemo Romero will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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!

Romero's jab looks to have found its range, popping Koks under the eye.
Koks lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Romero lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Koks throws a hook but Romero avoids it easily.
Koks takes a swing at Romero's ribcage but misses.
Koks needs to keep his hands up - Romero had a free shot at his head there.
Romero checks the leg kick.
Koks takes a body punch but keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Romero misses its intended target.
Koks has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Romero tries to clinch there but Koks circles away.
Koks looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Koks.
Koks uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Romero.
As Romero backs off Koks throws a huge counter combo but Romero manages to avoid it all.
Romero connects with a high kick.
Koks throws a nice inside leg kick.
Romero misses with a lunging right hand
and Koks counters with a stiff right hand.
Koks throws a lazy right hand but Romero sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Romero bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Romero misses with a hook
letting Koks counter with a right hand.
Romero sizes up Koks with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

Romero moves into the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Koks.
Rafal Koks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Romero misses with the head strike.
Koks softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Romero blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Romero throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Romero scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A head punch on the inside from Romero fails to land.
Koks lands an uppercut.
Romero lands a hook to the side of the head.
Romero lands an elbow just above Koks 's eye.
Koks throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Koks fails to land.
Romero creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Romero softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Romero throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Good body shot from Koks.
Romero swings wildly with an uppercut but Koks uses good head movement to avoid it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Romero just misses with a elbow thrown towards Koks's brow.
Romero lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Koks breaks the clinch.
Nice body punch from Koks.
A good leg kick by Koks.
Koks looks to land a body kick but Romero moved away.
A cross from Romero lands.
Romero uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Koks.
Romero tries to clinch but Koks moves out of range.
Romero throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Koks stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Romero swinging wildly here.
A slapping body kick lands there for Koks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Koks was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Koks slips a straight right by Romero.
Koks misses with a straight right.
Romero moves out of range of the body kick from Koks.
Romero swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Romero connects with the punch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Koks takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Romero looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Koks avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Despite the aggression on Koks's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicodemo 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicodemo Romero!
An out of breath Nicodemo Romero thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.