PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mamoru Date (ranked 628 p4p, 68 weight class) and Lars Romanow (ranked 1240 p4p, 128 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Date
vs
Romanow

178 cm
24
160 lbs
12 - 4 - 1

186 cm
26
168 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

RAGS of a RONIN

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 12 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Mamoru Date!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lars Romanow!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Ren Mimura and Hirohito Nitta.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Date moves away from the strike by Romanow.
Romanow staying out of range there.
Romanow looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Date has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Hellfire Antechamber in the buildup to the fight.
Good standup being displayed there by Romanow as he connects with a hook.
Romanow ducks under a wild hook from Date.
Romanow has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Date is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Date throws out a loose jab but Romanow uses good head movement to avoid it.
Romanow throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Date stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Romanow misses with a hook
enabling Date to counter with a crisp jab.
Romanow ducks right into an uppercut from Date.
Romanow misses the jab.
Date went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Romanow misses with a low kick.
Romanow doesn't manage to clinch there - Date circles away.
A counter left hand to the body from Date misses its target.
Romanow throws a lazy right hand but Date sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jab from Romanow.
Romanow walks into a left hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romanow ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Romanow throws the kick towards the body but Date avoids it.
Date throws a poor cross that misses
and Romanow counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Romanow uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Date.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanow keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Date.
Romanow throws a hook but Date avoids it easily.
Romanow throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Romanow throws a right hand that misses
and Date counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Romanow connects with a jab.
Romanow connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Romanow dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Date moves out of range of the strikes.
Romanow dodges the punch combination from Date.
Romanow defending well as Date loads up on a big left hand.
Date gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Romanow.
Romanow slips under a jab from Date.
Date tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Romanow manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Romanow feints a counter leg kick.
Date rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Romanow counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Date gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
A telegraphed right hand from Date misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Date throws a shot from downtown. Romanow moves away and avoids it.
Romanow ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Romanow misses with a wild body shot.
Romanow has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Date avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Date takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Romanow fails in his attempt to clinch.
Date slips a jab from Romanow.
Romanow is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Date had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Romanow connects with a looping right hand.
Romanow throws a hook but Date blocks it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Romanow.
Romanow throws a hook but Date blocks it.
Romanow throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Date looks to throw the jab but Romanow is out of range.
Romanow rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Date moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Date closes the distance and pushes Romanow back into the cage.
Date leaning against his opponent.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Date.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Romanow creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Date blocks an elbow strike from Romanow.
Date blocks an elbow strike.
Romanow blocks a body shot from Date.
Date taking a breather.
Date misses with a short punch on the inside.
Date lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Date misses with the head strike.
Date tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Romanow tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Date tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Date is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Romanow's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Date digs a right hand into Romanow's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Romanow's gas tank.
Date lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Romanow blocks an uppercut.
Date throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Romanows head.
Date misses with a hook to the ribs.
Date blocks a body shot from Romanow.
A left hand lands to the body for Date.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Date fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short left from Date.
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!
Date throws a punch but it's blocked by Romanow.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Date.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Date.
Date throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Romanows head.
Date lands a left hand.
A nice right hand lands inside from Date.
Romanow tries to work over Date's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Romanow creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Date tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Romanow throws a head punch that misses.
Date lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Romanow blocks an uppercut.
Romanow misses with a punch on the inside.
Romanow misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Date has a couple of punches blocked by Romanow.
Romanow misses with a body punch.
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 Mamoru Date will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Date misses with a hook.
It seemed like Romanow was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Date jabs at Romanow's body.
Date throws a big shot that misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Romanow misses.
Romanow throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Romanow keeps Date at a distance using the push kick.
Lars Romanow seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Date looks to throw the jab but Romanow is out of range.
Date missing with a left hand there. Romanow was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Date misses with a body shot.
Lars Romanow seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A swing and a miss from Romanow.
A swing and a miss from Date.
Date jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Date looks to land a right hand but Romanow moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romanow throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Date throws a right hand that misses
and Romanow counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Date tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Romanow was well out of range. Poor timing from Date.
Romanow wants to clinch up but Date keeps it at a distance.
Romanow misses with a hook. Date ducked under it nicely.
Date is looking to counter punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanow scores with a shot to the body.
Date swats away the attempt to clinch by Romanow.
A looping hook to the body misses from Romanow. Date does a little dance to reset his feet.
Romanow throws a hook to the side of Date's head but Date sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Date is looking to counter the offense by Romanow and move into the clinch.
Nice cross by Romanow.
Romanow swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Romanow swings for the body but Date moves out of range.
Date looks to score with a jab to the body but Romanow is just out of range.
Romanow feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Date's calf.
Romanow throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Date stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Date moves out of range as Romanow strikes.
Romanow tries a head kick but it misses.
A jab lands there for Romanow.
Romanow fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Date is out of range.
Date misses with a body shot.

Date pushes Romanow up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Date - that landed with a thud.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Romanow lands an elbow inside.
Mamoru Date has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Romanow tries a body shot but Date blocks it.
Date has a couple of punches blocked by Romanow.
Date scores with a nice hook to the head.
Romanow tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Good body shot from Romanow.
Date taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Date blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Date cracks Romanow with a nice body shot.
With the fighters up against the cage, Romanow throws an elbow but misses.
Romanow blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Romanow letting Date take a breather here.
Date dodges an elbow strike from Romanow.
Romanow tries a body shot but Date blocks it.
Romanow misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanow presses Date against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Romanow misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Date blocks a body shot from Romanow.
Date lands a nice shot to the body.
Date lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Romanow lands with a right to the head.
Date lands with a right to the head.
Date lands on the inside with an uppercut.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Date digs a right hand underneath Romanow's ribcage. Romanow let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Romanow lands a right hand that snaps the head of Date backwards.
Date letting Romanow take a breather here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Romanow.
Date prevents a body shot from Romanow.
Romanow swings wildly with an uppercut but Date uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Date misses with the head strike.
A short right from Romanow on the inside.
Romanow digs a right hand into Date's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Date's gas tank.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romanow misses with a hook to the ribs.
Date has a couple of punches blocked by Romanow.
Date misses with a punch on the inside.
Date lands a hook to the side of the head.
Date stalls.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Romanow.
Date pushes Romanow back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Romanow looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Date tries to stall but Romanow uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Romanow blocks an uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Date.
Date goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Romanow prevents a body shot from Date.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Lars Romanow will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Date steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Romanow.
Date was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Date bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Romanow's head backwards.
Date misses the shot to the body.
Date keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Date misses with a body shot.
Date misses the shot to the body.
Date lands a slapping body shot.
Date throws a jab but it's blocked by Romanow.
Romanow goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Date swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Date fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romanow fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Date manages to avoid it.
Date waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Romanow.
Date showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Romanow.
Date misses with a hook
and Romanow counters with a stiff right hand.
Romanow tests Date's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanow throws a hook to the side of Date's head but Date sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A combination from Date does no damage.
Romanow fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Date looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A big left from Date misses.
Date loads up on a big right hand but Romanow slips the punch.
Date takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Date looks to land a left hand but Romanow moved out of range nicely.
Romanow avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Date connects with a body shot that sends Romanow's belly button to the back.
Romanow throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Romanow takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Date looks to throw the jab but Romanow is out of range.
Date thows a left - swing and a miss!
Romanow blocks a jab.
Date lunges at Romanow with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Romanow's hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romanow tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Date was well out of range. Poor timing from Romanow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Romanow swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Romanow blocks a jab.
Romanow misses with a wild body shot.
Romanow tries to close the distance and clinch up but Date swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Romanow slips under a jab.
Date uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Romanow.
Date was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Date misses the jab.
Romanow misses with a hook. Date ducked under it nicely.
Romanow cracks Date with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Date throws an overhand right that lands on Romanow's shoulder, as Romanow tries to avoid the shot.
Romanow lands a nice hook to Date's body. Date takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Romanow misses with a looping left.
Romanow throws a low kick but it's checked well by Date.
Romanow misses with a looping right.
A swing and a miss from Date.
Romanow looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanow misses with a body shot.
Date throws a right hand that misses
and Romanow counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice defenses there by Date.
Romanow scores with a jab to the body.
Date misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Romanow.
Romanow misses with an uppercut.
Romanow uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Romanow bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Romanow swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Romanow tests Date's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A jab from Romanow misses.
Date is looking to counter punch.
Date throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Romanow sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Romanow misses its intended target.
Date's corner calls for a 1-2. Date obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Romanow waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Date.
Romanow paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Date looks to land a left hand but Romanow moved out of range nicely.
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!
Romanow throws a poor cross that misses
and Date cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Date misses with a hook. Romanow ducked under it nicely.
Romanow throws a looping overhand right but Date ducks down to avoid it.
Romanow throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Date misses with an uppercut
enabling Romanow to counter with a crisp jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Romanow. Date does a little dance to reset his feet.
Romanow misses with a left hand
and Date counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Date throws a big shot that misses.
Date avoids the body shot from Romanow.
A jab from Romanow misses.
Date swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Romanow misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Romanow with a hook.
Romanow is looking to chop away at Date's legs.
No joy there for Date, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lars Romanow.
I think Romanow has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Lars Romanow!
During a confident post fight interview, Lars Romanow thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.