PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hector Villaba (ranked 5876 p4p, 511 weight class) and Sasha Romaschenko (ranked 7190 p4p, 551 weight class). The key to victory for Hector Villaba has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Villaba
vs
Romaschenko

180 cm
26
192 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

183 cm
26
185 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Hector Villaba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sasha Romaschenko!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Villaba throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Villaba throws a body shot but no joy.
Villaba clobbers Romaschenko with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Villaba connects with a good right hand that stumbles Romaschenko. Romaschenko circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Romaschenko tries to keep at a distance but Villaba has taken the fight into the clinch.
Villaba is working Romaschenko over against the cage.
Villaba displaying some good clinch control by pressing Romaschenko up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Villaba goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Villaba working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Villaba will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Romaschenko up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villaba scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Villaba lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Villaba dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Villaba manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Villaba controlling the action here for a moment.
Villaba is leaning against Romaschenko and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villaba avoiding damage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Hector Villaba.
Villaba scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Romaschenko checks the leg kick.
Romaschenko goes for a double leg but Villaba avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Villaba continues to drive forward.
Villaba tries to clinch there but Romaschenko circles away.

Villaba has closed the distance and engaged Romaschenko in a clinch.
Villaba stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A short uppercut from Villaba.
Villaba content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Romaschenko is working for takedown but Villaba is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villaba misses with a punch to the body.
Villaba lands with a left to the head.
A short body shot lands from Villaba as the two fighters clinch.
Villaba makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Villaba stalling in the clinch.
Villaba gets underhooks to prevent Romaschenko's takedown attempt.
Hector Villaba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sasha Romaschenko.
Romaschenko is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Villaba is defending well.
We've been informed that Romaschenko has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Romaschenko lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Romaschenko prevents Villaba from improving his position.
Villaba trying to control here.
Villaba preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villaba keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Romaschenko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Villaba is doing well to control the position and prevent Romaschenko from advancing to side control.
Villaba is looking to control Romaschenko's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Villaba avoid being mounted?
Villaba controlling the position well.
Villaba is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Villaba keeps control of the position for the meantime.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Villaba dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Romaschenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Romaschenko needs to keep his hands up - Villaba had a free shot at his head there.
Villaba throws a right and a left that both miss.
Romaschenko tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Romaschenko avoids the head kick by Villaba.
Romaschenko tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Villaba moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romaschenko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Villaba sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Romaschenko somewhat.
Villaba scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romaschenko manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Villaba on his heels. He'll look to pass Villaba's guard now, I'm sure.
Romaschenko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Villaba knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Romaschenko on the ground.
Villaba looking to control.
Villaba has his hands on Romaschenko's head, controlling the position.
Romaschenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romaschenko trying to control but Villaba is working from the bottom.
Villaba wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romaschenko throwing strikes from guard but Villaba blocks nicely.
Romaschenko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Villaba swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Villaba is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Romaschenko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romaschenko distracts Villaba with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Villaba is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Romaschenko can do to turn this around?
Romaschenko lands a couple of elbows.
Villaba pulls Romaschenko in close to prevent any damage.
Romaschenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romaschenko distracts Villaba with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Romaschenko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Romaschenko working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Villaba keeping moving, preventing Romaschenko from controlling successfully.
Villaba is pulling down on Romaschenko's head. It's preventing any offense from Romaschenko, at least for the moment.
Romaschenko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Villaba controlling Romaschenko's posture.
Romaschenko cracks Villaba with a solid left hand.
Villaba is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Romaschenko postures up in Villaba's guard and throws a big left but Villaba blocks it.
Romaschenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Romaschenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Villaba avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Villaba trying to keep a closed guard but Romaschenko is proving a slippery customer.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Romaschenko tries for a takedown but Villaba sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hector Villaba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sasha Romaschenko.
Romaschenko fails with the takedown
and Villaba counters with a three punch combo that has Romaschenko backing up. Romaschenko nods at Villaba to acknowledge the strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romaschenko checks a leg kick.
Romaschenko is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Villaba scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Romaschenko doesn't seem bothered though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hector Villaba dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Romaschenko shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Villaba manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Romaschenko scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Romaschenko throws a big right hand that misses.
Romaschenko won't allow Villaba to get back to his feet.
Villaba has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Romaschenko won't allow Villaba to sweep him here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Villaba has momentary wrist control but Romaschenko slips an elbow through the middle.
Villaba is adopting a defensive guard.
Romaschenko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Villaba throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Villaba wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Romaschenko stopping the sweep attempt from Villaba.
Romaschenko postures up in Villaba's guard and throws a big left but Villaba blocks it.
Romaschenko scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Romaschenko cracks Villaba with a solid left hand.
Sasha Romaschenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Villaba trying to keep a closed guard but Romaschenko is proving a slippery customer.
Romaschenko with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Romaschenko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Villaba has control of Romaschenko's left arm, preventing Romaschenko from doing any damage.
Villaba wants to get back to his feet but Romaschenko is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Villaba is pulling down on Romaschenko's head to control his posture.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Romaschenko takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nice takedown defense from Villaba. No joy for Romaschenko on that attempt.
Villaba throws a big counter combination but Romaschenko scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Romaschenko fails with the takedown.
Romaschenko has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Villaba.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Villaba lands with a thumping leg kick.
A nice combination there by Villaba.
Villaba misses with a double jab.
Villaba tries to clinch there but Romaschenko circles away.
And Romaschenko tries to counter it with a takedown but Villaba pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Villaba scoring well with a low kick there.
Villaba thuds his right hand into Romaschenko's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Villaba throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Romaschenko's head.
A head kick misses from Villaba.
Romaschenko takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Villaba lands a jab to the nose.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Villaba leaves Romaschenko with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Hector Villaba is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hector Villaba has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sasha Romaschenko.
Romaschenko shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Villaba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice straight punches there by Villaba. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Villaba.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hector Villaba showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Villaba, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hector Villaba!