PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marcel Romanow (ranked 3647 p4p, 24001 weight class) and Rodrigo Gonzaga (ranked 476 p4p, 759 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.

Romanow
vs
Gonzaga

175 cm
21
247
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
280
0 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marcel Romanow!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rodrigo Gonzaga!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romanow misses with a hook

and Gonzaga decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Romanow's guard.
Romanow controlling the position.

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

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

Gonzaga thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romanow wants to control from the top but Gonzaga keeps moving.
Gonzaga wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzaga has his hands on Romanow's head, controlling the position.
Gonzaga tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Romanow pushes down on Gonzaga's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Gonzaga trying to control here.
Romanow is looking to take a break and control but Gonzaga is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gonzaga wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gonzaga trying to control from the bottom.

Romanow wants to work for an arm triangle but Gonzaga is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Romanow stops Gonzaga from getting back to his feet.
Gonzaga wants to get back to full guard.
Gonzaga has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Romanow is working away from the top position though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Gonzaga will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Romanow seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Romanow lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Rodrigo Gonzaga has been cut.
Romanow lands with a cross.

Romanow throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Gonzaga tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Romanow is in Gonzaga's guard.
Gonzaga can't keep his opponent in guard - Romanow advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Gonzaga wants to control but Romanow is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanow is keen to just control but Gonzaga is a slippery customer.
Gonzaga tries to kick Romanow off but Romanow keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Romanow wants to pass the guard but Gonzaga is defending well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Gonzaga manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Gonzaga is pulling down on Romanow's head. It's preventing any offense from Romanow, at least for the moment.

Romanow drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gonzaga manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Romanow has Gonzaga in his guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Romanow looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Well, if Gonzaga is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Gonzaga passes to full mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romanow really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Gonzaga is trying to stand up but he's being controlled by his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Marcel Romanow will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Gonzaga's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Romanow pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gonzaga swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Gonzaga has Romanow up against the ropes in a clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Gonzaga breaks the clinch.
Romanow keeps the fight on the outside.
Romanow keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Gonzaga gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Romanow misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Romanow.
Gonzaga prevents a body shot from Romanow.
Gonzaga presses Romanow against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Gonzaga stops a takedown attempt from Romanow.
Gonzaga gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Romanow.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gonzaga pulls guard successfully.
Romanow trying to control the position from guard on top but Gonzaga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Romanow drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gonzaga dives on top into guard.

Gonzaga postures up.

Romanow working for a triangle but Gonzaga defends it easily.
Gonzaga looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzaga advances to half guard.
Gonzaga is trying to control the action in half guard but Romanow is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Gonzaga takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Gonzaga slows the pace down in half guard.
Gonzaga wants to pass the guard but Romanow is defending well.
Gonzaga trying to control the action but Romanow is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanow wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Gonzaga is trying to control the action in half guard but Romanow is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rodrigo Gonzaga has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gonzaga moves into full mount! Romanow won't be happy about that!
Gonzaga trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Gonzaga controlling from mount.
Romanow can't escape the position.
Romanow is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Gonzaga cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Romanow is working to get back to half guard.
Gonzaga scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Romanow bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Romanow looking to pass the guard.
Gonzaga lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gonzaga throwing strikes but missing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrigo Gonzaga showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rodrigo Gonzaga's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Romanow misses the shot to the body.
Romanow misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Gonzaga counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Romanow is trying to control but can't.
Romanow is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Gonzaga scores with a couple of nice shots.
Gonzaga working the head and body with strikes.
Romanow tries to get to full guard but Gonzaga has control of the leg.
Gonzaga is nestled in close to Romanow, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Romanow is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gonzaga pulls his head out easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romanow won't allow Gonzaga to pass to mount.
Romanow is staying active underneath Gonzaga, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanow is looking for a sweep. Gonzaga is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Romanow might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gonzaga wants to lay and pray for a moment but Romanow keeps working.

Romanow has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Gonzaga escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Gonzaga!
Gonzaga cracks Romanow with a big elbow.
Gonzaga in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Gonzaga in side control lands a decent elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzaga is looking to take a break and control but Romanow is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Gonzaga stands up and beckons Romanow to his feet.
Romanow throws out a loose jab but Gonzaga uses good head movement to avoid it.
Romanow bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gonzaga's head.
Nice body kick there by Gonzaga.
Gonzaga misses the shot to the body.

Gonzaga closes the distance and clinches.
Good body shot from Romanow.
Gonzaga tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gonzaga has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Gonzaga.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzaga blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Gonzaga tightens his grip and picks Romanow up, before dumping him to the ground. Romanow manages to land in guard.
Gonzaga distracts Romanow with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Romanow has his foot on Gonzaga's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gonzaga works his way back into a safe position though.
Gonzaga wants to get up but he can't break Romanow's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Gonzaga wants to control from the top but Romanow keeps moving.
Romanow trying to keep a closed guard but Gonzaga is proving a slippery customer.
Gonzaga looking to pass the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Gonzaga accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romanow has a closed guard, preventing Gonzaga from standing up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Romanow wants to sweep here but Gonzaga controlling him for the moment.
Gonzaga scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gonzaga looking to pass the guard.

Romanow has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gonzaga can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gonzaga trying to control the position from guard on top but Romanow is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gonzaga is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rodrigo Gonzaga comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gonzaga 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29

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