PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joey James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lars Romanow (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.

James
vs
Romanow

176 cm
30
158 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

186 cm
24
168 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joey James!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lars Romanow!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Ren Mimura and Yuuki Gou.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
James misses with an uppercut.
James walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
James throws a series of punches but Romanow moves out of range.
Romanow looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
James misses with a body shot.
James misses with a jab, cross combination.
James on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Romanow paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Lars Romanow seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James misses with a few strikes there.
Romanow slips a jab from James.
Romanow keeps James at a distance using the push kick.
James is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Romanow.
James 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.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romanow scores with the left hand. James knows he should have avoided that one.
Romanow lunges at James with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by James's hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from James. Romanow does a little dance to reset his feet.
Romanow changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Some wild striking there from James.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanow slips under a jab.
Romanow has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Romanow misses with a hook.
Romanow takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
James is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Romanow cracks the inside of James's front leg.
A looping hook to the body misses from Romanow. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
James blocks a jab.
Romanow connects with a high kick.
James has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Romanow finds it's way round the side to connect with James's head.
No joy there for James, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Romanow takes a swing at James's ribcage but misses.
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Romanow circles away quickly and effectively.
James steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Romanow. That one must have hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
James misses with a jab, cross combination.
James misses with the combination.
James throws the left hand but Romanow avoids the punch easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Romanow as James shoots in.
Romanow moves into range and connects with a jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from James. Romanow does a little dance to reset his feet.
Romanow lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Romanow.
Romanow jabs at James's body.
James stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Romanow.
Romanow misses with a looping left.
Romanow tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
James misses with a wild combination.
James is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Romanow's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Romanow.
Romanow throws a right hand that James ducks under and follows up with a left that James also avoids with ease.
James takes a jab right on the kisser.
A looping hook to the body misses from James. Romanow does a little dance to reset his feet.
A jab from Romanow misses.
Romanow connects with a looping right hand.
Romanow thuds his right hand into James's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Romanow misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanow misses the shot to the body.
James swings for the body but Romanow moves out of range.
Romanow thuds his right hand into James's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
A looping hook to the body misses from Romanow. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
Romanow tries a head kick but it misses.
Romanow scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. James doesn't seem bothered though.
James scores with a jab. Romanow acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Romanow throws a quick head kick that skims the top of James's head.

Romanow moves into the clinch.
James is trying to force a seperation but Romanow has the dominant position.
James looking to stall.
Romanow lands an elbow inside.
Romanow has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Romanow lands a body punch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

James manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James misses with a combination
and James takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
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!
James avoids the body shot from Romanow.
Romanow connects with a body shot that sends James's belly button to the back.
James misses with a body shot.
Romanow uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by James.
James throws a series of punches but Romanow avoids them all with ease.
Romanow moves into range and connects with a jab.
Romanow 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.
Romanow throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

James shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Romanow's guard.
Romanow bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in James's guard.

The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

James throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

James escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Romanow gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Romanow dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Romanow bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps James's head backwards.
Romanow misses with a double jab.
James changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Romanow walks into a stiff left hand from James.
Romanow misses with a wild combination.
Romanow avoids the body shot from James.
James ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Romanow moves away.
Romanow scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Lars Romanow seems to be getting the better of the standup.
James moves out of range of the strikes.
James closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Romanow.
A jab from Romanow does it's job there.
Romanow throws a looping overhand right but James ducks down to avoid it.
James cracks a nice hook into Romanow's ribs.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd cheers as James lands an impressive looking overhand right. Romanow doesn't seem phased though.
Romanow fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Romanow connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! James scrambles back to his feet.
Romanow throws a jab but it's blocked by James.
Romanow lands with a right hand.
The fight stays on the outside here - Romanow looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Romanow pushes James away with a front kick.
James swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Romanow counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
James scores with a jab. Romanow acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Joey James is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
James moves away from the strike by Romanow.
Romanow scores with a jab to the head.
Lars Romanow is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
James connects with a nice looking jab.
James is looking to wear down Romanow with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
A nice leg kick lands there from Romanow.
James scores with a jab to the jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A looping hook to the body misses from Romanow. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
James swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romanow punishes James's body with a nice straight punch.
Romanow throws a looping overhand right but James ducks down to avoid it.
James half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
James looks to score with a jab to the body but Romanow is just out of range.
Romanow misses with a right hand
and James counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Romanow thinking.
Romanow tries to work over James's front leg with a kick but James checks it.
Romanow has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
James throws a nice looking combination but Romanow bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Romanow goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Romanow moves out of range of the strikes.
No joy there for James, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Romanow feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Jamess jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Romanow throws a lazy right hand but James sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
James lands a nice shot to the body.
Romanow misses the jab.
Romanow throws a looping overhand right but James ducks down to avoid it.
Romanow avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Romanow looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Romanow moves into range and connects with a jab.
James looks to land a combination but Romanow avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
James looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
A big left from Romanow misses.
Romanow uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by James.
Romanow throws out a counter right but James avoids it with no problem.
James listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
James lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Romanow circles away quickly and effectively.
Romanow throws out a counter right but James avoids it with no problem.
Romanow throws an overhand right that lands on James's shoulder, as James tries to avoid the shot.
James misses with a jab, cross combination.
The fighters circling - Romanow throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Romanow tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but James was well out of range. Poor timing from Romanow.
James throwing a counter right hand but Romanow manages to avoid it.
James tries to bum rush Romanow with a series of wild strikes but Romanow uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Romanow lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
James misses with the combination.
James fails to land with a series of punches.
Romanow scores with a jab to the body.
Romanow avoids a punch combination nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romanow lands a jab to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Romanow ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
James blocks a head kick by Romanow.
Romanow fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt James.
James misses the jab.
Romanow throws a hook but James avoids it easily.
James throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Romanow.
Romanow dips to his left and cracks James with an uppercut!
James throws a body shot but no joy.
Romanow lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Romanow looks to land a right hand but James moved out of range.
James throws a jab but it's blocked by Romanow.
Romanow throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Romanow lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Romanow moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lars Romanow showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Romanow misses with a looping right.
James misses the jab.
James tries to bum rush Romanow with a series of wild strikes but Romanow uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
That kick from Romanow tenderised James's leg. James is trying to keep his angry face on.
Nice shot lands for Romanow.
James throws a right and a left that Romanow avoids nicely.
James shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Romanow cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
James shoots in looking for a takedown but Romanow manages to keep the fight standing, pushing James's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Romanow dodges the punch combination from James.

Romanow moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romanow digs a right hand into James's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on James's gas tank.
Romanow struggles to land a body shot inside as James controls his hands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Romanow lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A right hand to the body from Romanow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanow comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
James takes an elbow to the forehead.
I was talking to James's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
James takes an elbow to the temple.
Romanow lands a nice elbow.
Romanow lands an elbow inside that James shrugs off.

Romanow manages to break the clinch.
Romanow misses with an uppercut.
Romanow moves into range and connects with a jab.
James misses with a wild body shot.
James ducks right into an uppercut from Romanow.

James is rocked!
James blocks a jab.
James throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
James falls off balance throwing a combination
and Romanow counters with a straight right hand.
Oh James is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Romanow is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
James seems to have got his legs back now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Romanow lands a big head kick that sends James tumbling to the mat! Romanow takes a step backwards and waves James back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Romanow rushes James and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A right hand to the body from Romanow.
Romanow scores with a nice hook to the head.
Romanow gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Romanow throws an elbow but it misses.
Romanow misses with a hook to the ribs.

James tightens his grip and picks Romanow up, before dumping him to the ground. Romanow manages to land in guard.
James won't allow Romanow to get back to his feet.
Romanow keeping moving, preventing James from controlling successfully.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Romanow can do anything to dispel that myth.
James throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Romanow works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lars Romanow is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanow bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in James's guard.

James has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Romanow can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Romanow is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Romanow wants to pass the guard but James is keeping the position.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
James controls Romanow momentarily but Romanow frees himself.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Romanow sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Joey James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Romanow comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lars Romanow comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Romanow winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yuuki Gou scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lars Romanow!
Lars Romanow seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.