PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Romulus Gerber (ranked 1712 p4p, 1590 weight class) and Marco Vera (ranked 239 p4p, 222 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Gerber
vs
Vera

179 cm
38
182
27 - 26 - 1

178 cm
23
181
6 - 1 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Sakura Style

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 27 - 26 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Romulus Gerber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marco Vera!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Robert Douchet and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vera scores with a decent looking hook.
Vera tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gerber counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Marco Vera has been cut.

Vera fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gerber, pushing him back against the cage.
Vera is trying to break the clinch but Gerber has him pressed against the cage.
Vera working aggressively here.
Gerber throws a punch but it's blocked by Vera.
Gerber fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gerber 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gerber makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Vera has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Vera lands with a short shot to the head.

Vera breaks the clinch.
The fighters circling - Vera throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera works the jab nicely.

Vera has Gerber up against the cage in a clinch.
Vera tries to circle away but Gerber has him pinned against the cage.
Vera misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vera lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Vera wants to break the clinch but can't.
Gerber working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gerber cracks Vera with a nice body shot.
Vera lands with a light punch inside.
Vera has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Vera lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerber lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Vera prevents the takedown attempt.

Vera breaks from the clinch.
Vera fails in his attempt to clinch.
It looked like Gerber was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Vera throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Gerber stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Vera moves into range and clinches up with Gerber.
Vera misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gerber works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Vera works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Gerber works on Vera's body with a couple of short punches.

Vera breaks from the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Vera. Those never looked like landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerber ducks under a wild hook from Vera.
Vera ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Vera fails to land with a series of punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vera looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Gerber lands a big head kick that sends Vera tumbling to the mat! Gerber takes a step backwards and waves Vera back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Gerber uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vera.
Vera throws a right hand that misses
and Gerber counters with a slapping leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gerber keeps the fight on the outside.
Gerber is looking for a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera throws a combination. Gerber tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Gerber takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Vera throws a series of strikes that have Gerber backpedaling.
Vera's corner calls for a 1-2. Vera obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Vera has managed to clinch.
Vera content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Gerber has Vera pressed against the cage, preventing Vera from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Vera tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Vera prevents a body shot from Gerber.

Gerber breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Vera dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marco Vera's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Good exchange - Vera coming out on top.
Vera doesn't manage to clinch there - Gerber circles away.
Vera throws a left and a right that both miss
and Gerber counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gerber throws out a powerful jab.
Vera tries to clinch
and Vera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Nice body punch from Vera.
Gerber throws a leg kick but Vera sees it coming and moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gerber bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Vera's head.
Marco Vera seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Vera looks to land a combination. Gerber sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vera misses with a double jab.
Vera just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromGerber.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gerber needs to keep his hands up - Vera had a free shot at his head there.
Sloppy strikes from Vera. Those never looked like landing.
Gerber was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gerber lands a nice hook to Vera's body. Vera takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Vera lands an overhand right.
Vera throws the left hand but Gerber avoids the punch easily.
Gerber swats away the attempt to clinch by Vera.
Gerber looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Vera fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gerber takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Vera swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
It looked like Gerber was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Vera.
Nice jab there from Vera.

Gerber clinches up with Vera and pushes him back against the cage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gerber throws an elbow but it misses.

Gerber breaks from the clinch.
Vera looks to land a right hand but Gerber moved out of range.
The crowd cheers as Vera lands an impressive looking overhand right. Gerber doesn't seem phased though.

Vera gets tackled into the cage by Gerber. Gerber maintains the clinch.
Gerber goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vera gets through Gerber's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerber avoiding damage.
Gerber prevents Vera from breaking the clinch.
Gerber blocking some punches.
Vera misses with a body punch.
Gerber blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Gerber tries a body shot but Vera blocks it.
Vera scores with a shot to the side of Gerber's head.
Gerber prevents Vera from breaking the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Gerber.
Vera wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Gerber breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Gerber struggles to land a body shot inside as Vera controls his hands.
Gerber lands a hook that snaps the head of Vera backwards.
Vera prevents a body shot from Gerber.
Gerber lands a hook to the side of the head.
Vera lands with a short shot to the head.
Vera goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Vera throws a head punch that misses.
A right hand to the body from Gerber.
Gerber manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marco Vera will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Marco Vera's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Vera throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gerber lands a head kick. Vera smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Vera scores with a sloppy right hand. Gerber should have avoided that one.
Vera tries to clinch up but Gerber circles away and keeps his distance.
Good exchange - Vera coming out on top.
Vera throws a poor cross that misses
and Gerber counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gerber changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vera walks into a stiff left hand from Gerber.
Gerber throws a jab but it's blocked by Vera.
Some wild striking there from Vera.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vera tries to clinch but Gerber moves away
and Gerber counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Gerber lands a nice shot that snaps Vera's head back.

Vera is rocked!
Gerber walks into a jab.
Vera is still on wobbly legs! Can Gerber finish him?
Vera misses with a straight right.
A little feinted left hand from Gerber on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Vera seems to have recovered his senses.

Vera moves into the clinch successfully.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gerber.
Vera wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vera swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vera swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Romulus Gerber has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera wants to get back to striking at distance but Gerber won't allow it.
Gerber prevents a body shot from Vera.
Good body shot from Gerber.

Vera breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vera throws a hook but Gerber avoids it easily.
Gerber is looking to counter with head kicks.
Vera fails to land with a series of punches.
Gerber thinks about countering with a head kick.
Marco Vera is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A slapping leg kick lands for Gerber.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gerber tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vera was well out of range. Poor timing from Gerber.
Vera avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vera pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Gerber back to the cage. Vera follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Vera tries to keep at a distance but Gerber has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gerber pushes Vera back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gerber misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vera wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Gerber pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vera lands a nice shot to the body.
Vera tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gerber manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gerber was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Vera throws a good cross that connects.
Vera has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Vera swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
It looked like Gerber wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Vera gets a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera tries a body shot but Gerber blocks it.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Gerber just misses with a elbow thrown towards Vera's brow.
Gerber scores with a nice hook to the head.

Gerber pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vera is looking to clinch but Gerber is avoiding it.
Vera with a hook.
Gerber scores with a jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gerber tries for a takedown but Vera sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Vera scores with a nice strike.
Vera might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Gerber connects with an inside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Romulus Gerber.
Well Vera 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Vera!