PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ernesto Romero (ranked 2676 p4p, 3516 weight class) and Maksim Taranin (ranked 265 p4p, 152 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Romero
vs
Taranin

165 cm
25
150
4 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
155
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Fantasy Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ernesto Romero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maksim Taranin!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Romero moves into the clinch.
Taranin is trying to push Romero away but Romero has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Romero misses with the head strike.
Taranin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Taranin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Romero stops a takedown attempt from Taranin.
Taranin tries for a takedown but Romero manages to get underhooks.
Taranin blocking some punches.
Romero swings wildly with an uppercut but Taranin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Romero working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taranin.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Romero.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short uppercut from Romero.
Taranin blocks an uppercut.
Romero working aggressively here.
Taranin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Romero fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ernesto Romero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maksim Taranin.

Romero has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Romero.
Romero misses with the head strike.
Taranin trying to control the position but instead, Romero has worked for underhooks and has pushed Taranin into the cage.
I was talking to Romero's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Romero lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Romero has a couple of punches blocked by Taranin.
Romero lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Taranin backwards.
Taranin has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Taranin wants to take the fight to the mat but Romero manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Romero.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Taranin.

Taranin has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Romero uses from the top position.

Taranin is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Romero rolls with it to try and escape but Taranin cranks on the arm and Romero is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Maksim Taranin!
After winning the bout, Maksim Taranin thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.