PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Muenster Romano (ranked 993 p4p, 933 weight class) and Stephen Steve (ranked 129 p4p, 122 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.

Romano
vs
Steve

178 cm
25
174
12 - 6 - 0

180 cm
29
177
14 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel
Conviction

Shadow Realm Apparel
Champion Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Muenster Romano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 11 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stephen Steve!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romano bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Romano steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Steve.
It looked like Romano was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Steve.
The fight stays on the outside here - Romano looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Steve moves away from the strike by Romano.
Steve looks to score with a jab to the body but Romano is just out of range.
Romano misses with a body punch
and Steve counters with a straight right hand.
Steve lands a lovely overhand right.
Steve connects with a single shot there.
Romano misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Steve makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Stephen Steve seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steve throws a hook but Romano blocks it.
Romano appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Donk. Steve catches Romano right on the button with a cross.
Romano ducks under a wild hook from Steve.

Romano drives through and clinches with Steve against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Romano blocking some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve cracks Romano with a nice body shot.
I was talking to Romano's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Steve wants to get back to striking at distance but Romano won't allow it.
A short uppercut from Romano.
A hook to the body from Steve.
Steve tries to work over Romano's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Romano lands with a short shot to the head.
Steve lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Steve with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Romano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Romano.
Steve blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steve misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Steve tries a body shot but Romano blocks it.
Steve with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Steve misses with a hook from the clinch.
Steve blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Steve scores with a nice short uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Steve is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Romano is defending well for now.
Steve tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A head punch on the inside from Romano fails to land.
Romano working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A short body shot lands from Romano as the two fighters clinch.
Steve blocking some punches.
Romano lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Steve is leaning against Romano and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Steve trying to land knees to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Romano fails to land.
Nice body punch from Romano.
Romano avoiding damage as Steve throws knees to the body.
Romano scores with a shoulder strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Romano.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Romano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano throws a punch but it's blocked by Steve.
A head punch on the inside from Romano fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from Steve fails to land.
Steve lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Romano tries a body shot but Steve blocks it.
Romano misses with a short punch on the inside.
Steve blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Steve tries to throw a body punch but Romano avoids it by throwing Steve back against the cage.
Steve working aggressively here.
Romano misses with a punch to the body.
Steve with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Romano blocks a body shot from Steve.
Romano tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Romano cracks Steve with a nice body shot.
Steve blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve has a couple of punches blocked by Romano.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Romano.
Romano tries a body shot but Steve blocks it.
Romano lands a left hand that snaps the head of Steve backwards.
Steve is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Romano is defending well for now.
Romano throws a head punch that misses.
Steve's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A frustrated look appears on Steve's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Steve blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Steve.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Romano misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Romano fails to land.
Romano lands with a right to the head.
Romano misses with a short punch on the inside.
Steve with a knee to the head.
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 Muenster Romano will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Steve throws a leg kick but Romano checks it.

It looks like Muenster Romano has been cut.
Romano tries to clinch there but Steve circles away.
Steve cracks Romano with a right hand to the side of the head.
Steve lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A punch lands to the side of Steve 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Romano misses with a wild body shot.
Romano tries to clinch up.
Stephen Steve seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Steve staying out of range there.
Steve moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romano misses with a right hand
and Steve counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Steve connects with a body shot that sends Romano's belly button to the back.
Romano throws a hook to the side of Steve's head but Steve sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Steve with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Romano has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Steve.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano looks to land a right hand but Steve moved out of range.
Steve uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Steve bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Steve looks to score with a jab to the body but Romano is just out of range.
Romano tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Steve manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Steve scores with a jab. Romano acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Steve misses with a lunging right hand
and Romano counters with a left to the body.
Romano avoids the body shot from Steve.
Steve cracks Romano with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nice defenses there by Romano.
Romano looks to throw the jab but Steve is out of range.
Romano misses with a body shot.
Romano misses with an uppercut. Steve saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Steve's coach down at New York Public Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Steve's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Romano missing with a left hand there. Steve was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Steve ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Romano moves away.
Steve throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Romano missing with a left hand there. Steve was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Romano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Romano was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Romano misses with a left hand
letting Steve counter with a right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Steve. Romano does a little dance to reset his feet.
Romano looks to land a left hand but Steve moved out of range nicely.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Romano, as that shot connected.
Steve lands a jab.
Steve misses with a looping left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano misses with a wild body shot.
Romano looks to score with a jab to the body but Steve is just out of range.
Steve tries to counter with a clinch but Romano shakes him off and moves away.
Steve swinging wildly here.
Steve misses with a few strikes there.
Romano misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Steve counters with a nice uppercut.

Romano has managed to clinch.
Steve missing with knees to the body.
Steve blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Steve creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Steve throws a head punch that misses.
Romano tries to throw a body punch but Steve avoids it by throwing Romano back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Romano.
Romano misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romano misses with some punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Romano.
Romano doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Steve lands a left hand that snaps the head of Romano backwards.
Muenster Romano has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Romano lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Steve lands a body punch.
Romano blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Steve prevents a body shot from Romano.
Steve blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steve tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Steve pushes off an throws an elbow but Romano leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Romano lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Romano.
Romano misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stephen Steve showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Muenster Romano's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Steve stuns Romano with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Good exchange - Romano coming out on top.

Romano rushes Steve and presses him up against the cage.
Romano cracks Steve with a nice body shot.
Romano's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Steve blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Steve working hard to break the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Romano.
Romano lands a nice uppercut.
Romano lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Steve's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Romano takes the fight into the clinch.
Romano misses with a punch on the inside.
Romano misses with some punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steve blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Romano has a couple of punches blocked by Steve.

Steve escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Romano looks to score with a jab to the body but Steve is just out of range.
Romano takes a swing at Steve's ribcage but misses.
Steve looks to throw the jab but Romano is out of range.
Steve slips under a jab.
Romano swings for the body but Steve moves out of range.
Steve scores with a crisp jab that stopped Romano in his tracks.
Steve throws a poor cross that misses
and Romano cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Romano clobbers Steve with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A punch lands to the side of Romano 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Steve attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
An attempted straight right counter from Romano misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Steve misses with a leg kick
and Romano counters with a lovely straight right hand!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Romano moves in looking to clinch but Steve pushes him off.
Steve throws an overhand right that lands on Romano's shoulder, as Romano tries to avoid the shot.
Romano avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Romano was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Romano scores with a body shot.
Steve throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Romano swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Steve misses with a kick to the body.
Steve slips a straight right by Romano.
Steve connects with a solid leg kick.
Romano misses with a hook. Steve ducked under it nicely.
Steve is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Steve moves out of range as Romano strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano tries to clinch up.
Steve swings for the body but Romano moves out of range.
Steve looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Romano throws a poor cross that misses
and Steve counters with a right hand to the body.
A nice inside leg kick there by Steve. That's going to slow Romano down.
Steve throws out a leg kick but Romano moves out of range and Steve only half commits.
Steve slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Steve uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Steve waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Romano.
Decent striking displayed by Steve there.
Romano fails in his attempt to clinch.
Romano slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romano throws a shot from downtown. Steve moves away and avoids it.
Steve misses with a hook. Romano ducked under it nicely.
Steve with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A bone on bone clash there as Romano blocks the leg kick.
A counter left hand to the body from Romano misses its target.
Romano takes one on the button.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Steve misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Romano ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Steve swings for the body but Romano moves out of range.
Steve throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Romano was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Steve looks to score with a jab to the body but Romano is just out of range.
Steve throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Steve misses with an attempted mid kick.
Romano thuds his right hand into Steve's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stephen Steve comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Steve 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stephen Steve!
During a confident post fight interview, Stephen Steve thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.