PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Curtis Rome (ranked 2988 p4p, 2828 weight class) and Jello Belly (ranked 329 p4p, 319 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Rome
vs
Belly

170 cm
25
155
8 - 11 - 1

186 cm
25
162
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Dangerous knees
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 8 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Curtis Rome!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jello Belly!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rome scores with a takedown into Belly's guard.
Rome controls from within his opponent's guard.
Belly looking for a sweep. Not yet Belly, not yet.
Rome is pushing down on Belly's leg trying to pass to half guard. Belly is fighting to maintain full guard but Rome has managed to sneak the leg through.
Rome wants to lay and pray for a moment but Belly keeps working.
Rome stalling away here and it's allowed Belly to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rome sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rome passes Belly's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Belly has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belly has his hands clasped together around Rome's back. He's all about the action.

Rome wants to work for an arm triangle but Belly is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Belly won't allow Rome to pass to mount.
Rome is just content to waste time from the top position. Belly takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Rome might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Rome trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rome trying to move into half guard but instead Belly has managed to sweep!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Belly won't allow Rome to sweep him here.
Rome seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

Rome is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Belly defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belly looking to pass the guard.
Belly stopping the sweep attempt from Rome.

Rome is looking for a triangle but Belly pushes his legs off easily.
Rome is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Belly pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rome is keeping the position for now.

Rome looking for a guillotine here but Belly defends easily.
Rome manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Belly manages to get himself to full guard.

Belly is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belly's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Rome looking to pass the guard.
Belly controls Rome momentarily but Rome frees himself.
Rome wants to pass the guard but Belly is keeping the position.
Belly looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rome is one step ahead there.

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.
Rome trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Belly is trying to hold Rome in close to prevent damage but Rome has managed to pass into half guard.
Rome wants to pass the guard but Belly is defending well.
Rome stalling away here and it's allowed Belly to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Rome stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Belly swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Rome passes Belly's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rome trying to advance position but Belly counters by regaining guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Curtis Rome dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Belly misses with a looping right.
Belly looks to land a right hand but Rome moved out of range.

Belly shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rome's guard.
Rome keeping full guard, as Belly tries to pass.
Belly keeps trying to improve his position.
Curtis Rome overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rome looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Rome is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Belly is aware though and is defending well.
Rome tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belly tries to free his leg and advance position but Rome is retaining full guard.
Rome tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belly advances position into side control!
Belly wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rome keeps working.
Rome tries to improve position but can't.

Belly stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Belly falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Rome to counter with a crisp jab.
Belly swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Rome counters with a nice uppercut.
Jab by Belly.
Rome lands a head kick. Belly smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Rome fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Belly to the ground. Rome is now in Belly's guard.
Rome is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Belly can do to turn this around?

Belly is looking for a triangle but Rome pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rome slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rome is trying to get an arm triangle but Belly is defending well.

Rome is trying to get an arm triangle but Belly is defending well.
Belly gets back to half guard.
Rome is looking to take a break and control but Belly is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Rome is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Belly is just riding it out for now. Rome eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rome seems to be working for a kimura but Belly defends the submission attempt.
Belly is controlling Rome's trapped leg to prevent Rome from advancing to side control.
Rome tries to pass the half guard into mount. Belly knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rome stalling away here and it's allowed Belly to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Belly is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rome has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rome is looking to stand up but Belly won't let him.
Rome stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Belly swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Belly keeping moving, preventing Rome from controlling successfully.
Belly not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Belly is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rome slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Rome keeping full guard, as Belly tries to pass.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jello Belly will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Belly misses with an uppercut.
Belly scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Belly is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rome.
Belly tries to clinch
and Rome makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Belly scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Belly is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Belly is looking to advance position but Rome won't allow it.
Belly performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rome is looking to improve his position.
Rome is trying to control but can't.

Belly is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rome defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belly is keen to just control but Rome is a slippery customer.
Belly wants to pass to mount but Rome is defending the position.
Belly thows a huge punch but Rome dodges it nicely.
Rome wants to improve his position but Belly is controlling well.
Belly uses his free foot to push down on Rome's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rome.
Rome keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Belly is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Belly misses with a hook. Rome ducked under it nicely.

Rome shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Belly is trying to defend but Rome finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Belly is positioning himself well to prevent Rome advancing to mount.
Belly is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rome's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rome's back!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Belly is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Rome has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Belly is hanging on to Rome's back as he tries to escape.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rome tries to break free.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Belly. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

Belly looking to break Rome's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Rome remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Belly will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
You can see the frustration on Rome's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Belly looking to hold on to the position here but Rome rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Belly scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rome bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Belly's guard.

Rome wants to control from the top but Belly keeps moving.
Rome forces his way into half guard.
Belly is in trouble now - Rome has advanced to mount!
Belly gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rome tries to pass the half guard into mount. Belly knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Belly keeping hold of Rome's head, controlling as best he can.
Rome wants to lay and pray for a moment but Belly keeps working.
Belly wants to improve his position but Rome is controlling well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jello Belly comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Belly has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!