PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between ZB Penduko (ranked 7884 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Romero (ranked 5839 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Penduko
vs
Romero

176 cm
26
200 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

178 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, ZB Penduko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Romero!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Penduko rushes Romero and presses him up against the cage.
Romero is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Penduko is defending well.
Penduko with a knee to the head.
Romero has Penduko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Penduko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Penduko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Penduko closes the distance and clinches.
Penduko stalling in the clinch.
Romero goes for a takedown attempt but Penduko pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
ZB Penduko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Romero.
Romero tries for a takedown but Penduko circles away easily
and Penduko connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Penduko looking to score a takedown here. Romero is defending well but Penduko drives through and ends up in Romero's guard.
Penduko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Penduko engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Romero escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Penduko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Romero looking for subs off his back but Penduko has passed one foot through into half guard.

Penduko decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Romero is defended easily by Penduko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero dives in for a single leg takedown but Penduko sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Penduko gets a clinch.

Penduko drags the fight down to the ground.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Penduko is on top in guard.

Romero looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Penduko controls from within his opponent's guard.
Penduko wants to stand but Romero has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Romero working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Penduko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Penduko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Romero looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Romero escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Penduko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Penduko stands up and waves to Romero to follow him.

Penduko darts in and clinches Romero up against the cage.

Penduko is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Romero can't fight it off and eventually Penduko manages to take the fight to the floor. Romero looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

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

Penduko seems keen to control Romero's posture.

Romero is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Penduko is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Penduko has escaped and now he's on top!

Romero has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Penduko 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.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Penduko misses with the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ZB Penduko dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Romero shoots in for a double leg but Penduko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Penduko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Romero to the mat! Romero manages to get full guard.

Romero is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Romero can't keep his opponent in guard - Penduko advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Penduko is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Romero has managed to free his arm - good work.
Penduko passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Romero!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero is in all sorts of trouble here.
Romero keeps trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penduko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Romero on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romero regains half guard.
Penduko could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Penduko stands up from half guard.

Penduko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Romero's guard.
Romero looking to control.

Romero working for a triangle but Penduko defends it easily.

Romero looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Romero isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Penduko stacks Romero on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Penduko!
Romero is looking for a sweep.
Romero wants to control but Penduko postures up.
Romero might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Penduko haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Penduko decides to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Penduko moves into the clinch.
Romero has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Penduko after a bit of a struggle.
Romero drops down looking for an ankle pick but Penduko pulls his leg out and moves away.
ZB Penduko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Romero.

Penduko gets a clinch.

Penduko has picked Romero up - he's going for a ride! Penduko dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Romero looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Romero looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Penduko performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Romero with the active half guard here but Penduko passes nicely into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Penduko misses with the ground and pound.
Romero takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Romero is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romero seems a little lost for a moment, as Penduko dominates the positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ZB Penduko dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Romero with a lazy takedown attempt
and Penduko counters with a left to the body.

Penduko darts in and clinches Romero up against the cage.
Romero is working for takedown but Penduko is calmly controlling the position for now.
Romero has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Penduko is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
ZB Penduko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Romero.

Penduko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Penduko looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Penduko is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Penduko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Romero can do to turn this around?
Penduko wants to pass the guard but Romero is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Penduko engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penduko has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Penduko stands up from Romero's guard - Penduko perhaps looking for a knockout.

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

Romero looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Romero is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Penduko is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Penduko stands up and waves to Romero to follow him.

Penduko shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Romero is trying to defend but Penduko finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Penduko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Romero's head.
Romero won't allow Penduko to pass to mount.
Romero is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Romero moves into full guard.
ZB Penduko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Romero throws his legs up looking for a submission but Penduko uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero is looking to regain half guard here but Penduko keeps moving and retains side control.
Romero gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Penduko seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Romero moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Penduko gets to his feet - Romero follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Penduko dives in and scores a takedown into Romero's guard.

Romero is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Romero takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Romero not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Romero had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Penduko defends it easily.
Penduko sitting in guard here, content to control.
James Romero has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romero tries to land a sweep but no joy.

And that's the end of the fight!
ZB Penduko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Penduko 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... ZB Penduko!