PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Imperio Romano (ranked 2097 p4p, 246 weight class) and Esko Marttinen (ranked 2059 p4p, 242 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Romano
vs
Marttinen

173 cm
37
160 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

182 cm
36
162 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Imperio Romano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Esko Marttinen!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Donald Grub and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romano scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Marttinen chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Romano can pounce on him.
Romano pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Romano has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Romano throws a looping overhand right but Marttinen ducks down to avoid it.
Marttinen looks for a takedown but Romano sprawls well.
Romano misses with a hook. Marttinen ducked under it nicely.
Marttinen misses with a low kick as Romano jumps back.
Marttinen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Marttinen on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Romano cracks Marttinen with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Marttinen takes a swing at Romano's ribcage but misses.
A jab lands there for Marttinen.
Marttinen misses with a wild body shot.
Romano swings widly with a right hand
and Marttinen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Romano moves into range and connects with a jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Romano scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Romano misses with a body shot.
Romano fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Marttinen has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Marttinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Romano.
Marttinen now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Marttinen throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Romano misses with an uppercut. Marttinen saw that one coming.
A big left from Romano misses.
It seemed like Marttinen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Marttinen scores with a jab.
Imperio Romano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marttinen misses with a low kick.
Romano leaves Marttinen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Imperio Romano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Romano moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Marttinen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Romano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Romano half committed to a counter leg kick.
Romano looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Marttinen now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Marttinen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Romano moves into range and connects with a jab.
Marttinen staying out of range there.
Marttinen thows a left - swing and a miss!
A solid leg kick lands there for Romano.
Romano connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Romano looks to score with a jab to the body but Marttinen is just out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Romano darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Romano throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Marttinen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Romano staying out of range there.
Marttinen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Romano.
Marttinen slips a jab from Romano.
Marttinen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Romano misses with an uppercut. Marttinen saw that one coming.
Good shot there by Romano.
Romano is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Marttinen.
Marttinen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Marttinen throws a sloppy body shot
and Romano counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Romano wants to land a leg kick but Marttinen is out of range.
A big right from Marttinen misses.
Romano swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Romano is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Marttinen misses with a body shot.
Marttinen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Romano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Marttinen walks into a jab.
Romano throws a leg kick but Marttinen sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen misses with a lunging right hand
enabling Romano to counter with a crisp jab.
Marttinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marttinen moves out of range of the body kick from Romano.
Marttinen looks for the body kick but Romano saw that one coming.
Romano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marttinen manages to avoid it.
Romano tests Marttinen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Marttinen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Romano sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Imperio Romano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Esko Marttinen.
Nice shot by Romano.
Marttinen slips under a jab.
The fighters circling - Romano throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Marttinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Romano moves away.
Romano is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Romano ducks right into an uppercut from Marttinen.
A right-left combo lands from Romano.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marttinen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Romano throws a hook but Marttinen avoids it easily.
Romano lands a head shot.
Romano throws a shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marttinen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Marttinen blocks a low kick nicely.
Romano slips under a jab from Marttinen.
Romano buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Romano misses the target.
Romano waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Marttinen.
Marttinen misses the shot to the body.
A solid body kick from Romano.
Marttinen takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Marttinen misses with a hook. Romano ducked under it nicely.
Nice jab there from Romano.
Marttinen looks to score with a jab to the body but Romano is just out of range.
Marttinen throws out a loose jab but Romano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Romano misses with a body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marttinen avoids a kick to the body.
Marttinen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Romano.
Romano throws a solid leg kick but Marttinen takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Romano.
Marttinen misses with a right hand
and Romano counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Imperio Romano dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Marttinen misses with an attempted mid kick.
Marttinen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Marttinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Good exchange - Romano coming out on top.
Romano throws a lazy right hand but Marttinen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Marttinen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Romano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Marttinen.
Marttinen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Romano takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Marttinen slips under a jab from Romano.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Romano, right into the meat.
Romano looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Marttinen fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Romano checks it well.
Romano avoids the body shot from Marttinen.
Romano moves out of range of the strikes.
Romano is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Marttinen can do to turn this around?
Romano scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marttinen lands a slapping body shot.
Marttinen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Marttinen is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marttinen lands a body shot.
Marttinen lands a jab to Romano's midsection.
Romano misses with the body kick
and Marttinen counters with a left to the body.
Marttinen takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Romano checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Romano connects with a nice looking jab.
A clash of legs there as Romano blocks the low kick.
Romano fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Marttinen checks it well.
Romano thows a body kick. Marttinen tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Marttinen scoring well with a low kick there.
Marttinen's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Marttinen lands a nice hook to Romano's body. Romano takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Marttinen lands a right hook to the body.
Marttinen misses with a body shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Romano moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Marttinen cracks Romano with a good jab.
Marttinen throws a hook but Romano blocks it.
Imperio Romano is winning the standup battle so far.
Marttinen slips a jab from Romano.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romano lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A shot to the liver by Marttinen. Beautiful body shot.
Romano throws a shot from downtown. Marttinen moves away and avoids it.
Marttinen only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Romano connects with a crisp jab.
Romano slips a straight right by Marttinen.
Marttinen misses with a looping right.
Marttinen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Romano jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Romano delivers a nice body kick.
Marttinen ducks under a wild hook from Romano.
Romano misses with a straight left.
Marttinen cracks the inside of Romano's front leg.
Romano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marttinen only half commits to the counter leg kick.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Marttinen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Marttinen moves out of range of the body kick from Romano.
Romano throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Marttinen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Marttinen misses the jab.
Marttinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Romano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid body kick from Romano.
Marttinen avoids the body shot from Romano.
Romano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Marttinen.
Romano throws out a loose jab but Marttinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Romano connects with a leg kick. Marttinen looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Marttinen throws out a powerful jab.
Marttinen swings for the body but Romano moves out of range.
Romano staying out of range there.
Romano throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Marttinen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Marttinen swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Marttinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Romano.
Romano looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Romano moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Romano misses with a low kick.
Romano misses with a straight right.
Marttinen moves out of range as Romano throws a body kick.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Marttinen, as that shot connected.
A shot to the liver by Romano. Beautiful body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marttinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Romano.
Marttinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice uppercut lands for Romano. That snapped Marttinen's head back.
A jab from Romano misses.
Romano explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Romano moves out of range of the strikes.
Marttinen misses with a hook to the body
and Romano counters with a slapping leg kick.
Marttinen has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Romano.
Marttinen swings for the body but Romano moves out of range.
Romano misses the jab.
Marttinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Romano moves away.
Marttinen throws a leg kick
and Romano counters with a nice kick to the body.
Marttinen just misses with a punch to the body.
Marttinen checks the leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Romano throws a wild body kick that Marttinen sees coming a mile off.
Nice body punch from Romano.
Romano bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Marttinen scores with a hook.
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 Imperio Romano will probably get the nod.
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!

Romano pivots, looking for a leg kick but Marttinen is out of range and Romano settles back down.
Marttinen throws out a counter right but Romano avoids it with no problem.
Romano scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Romano waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Marttinen.
Romano thows a body kick. Marttinen tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Marttinen takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Romano takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Marttinen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Romano manages to avoid it.
Romano throws a big counter combination but Marttinen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Romano checks the leg kick.
Romano throws an off balance right hand
and Marttinen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Romano thumps Marttinen with a low kick.
A head kick misses from Marttinen.
Romano avoids the body shot from Marttinen.
Marttinen misses with a hook. Romano ducked under it nicely.
Romano was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Marttinen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Romano.
Romano misses with a hook
letting Marttinen counter with a right hand.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Marttinen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Marttinen misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A jab from Romano misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Marttinen! But no joy.
Romano moves out of range of the strikes.
Romano looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Marttinen throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Romano counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Marttinen throws out a loose jab but Romano uses good head movement to avoid it.
Romano misses with a body shot.
Romano connects with an inside leg kick.
Romano misses with a wild body shot.
Marttinen checks a low kick from Romano.
Marttinen throws out a counter right but Romano avoids it with no problem.
Marttinen staying out of range there.
Romano throws a hook to the side of Marttinen's head but Marttinen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Romano connects with a looping right hand.
Romano scores with a nice head shot.
Marttinen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Marttinen slips under a jab.
Romano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Marttinen manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romano swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Romano with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Romano fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Romano bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Marttinen's head.
Marttinen shoots in but Romano avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Romano misses with a wild body shot.
Romano lands a right hook to the body.
Romano lands a right hook to the body.
Marttinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Marttinen blocks a jab.
Marttinen feints the counter takedown.
Romano throws a push kick but Marttinen slaps the foot to one side.
Marttinen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Romano uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Marttinen has time to react.
Romano ducks under a wild hook from Marttinen.
Romano takes a swing at Marttinen's ribcage but misses.
Marttinen throws out a counter right but Romano avoids it with no problem.
Marttinen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Romano was well out of range. Poor timing from Marttinen.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but Marttinen might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Romano has got the better of the exchanges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano lands a nice shot to the body.
A bone on bone clash there as Romano blocks the leg kick.
Marttinen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Romano was well out of range. Poor timing from Marttinen.
Romano walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Marttinen throws a lazy uppercut
and Romano counters with a nice uppercut.
Romano throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Romano ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Romano appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Romano.
Romano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Esko Marttinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marttinen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Romano is out of range and Marttinen settles back down.
Marttinen takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Marttinen misses with a hook to the body
and Romano makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Marttinen blocks a leg kick.
Romano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Romano scores with a crisp jab that stopped Marttinen in his tracks.
Marttinen throws a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot to the liver by Romano. Beautiful body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Romano throws a nice outside leg kick.
Marttinen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Romano fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Marttinen is out of range.
Romano scores with a kick to the midsection.
Romano cracks a nice hook into Marttinen's ribs.
Marttinen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Romano finds it's way round the side to connect with Marttinen's head.
Romano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Romano misses with an uppercut.
A swing and a miss from Marttinen.
Romano connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Marttinen's hands.
Romano misses with a looping right.
Marttinen throws a nice inside leg kick.
Marttinen throws an overhand right that lands on Romano's shoulder, as Romano tries to avoid the shot.
Romano is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Marttinen misses the shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A lazy left from Romano finds it's target.
Marttinen misses the shot to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Imperio Romano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Romano 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Imperio Romano!
Imperio Romano was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.