PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Devon Black (ranked 1342 p4p, 1252 weight class) and Vic Romano (ranked 164 p4p, 154 weight class). Romano is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by MXC Most Extreme Challenge . Devon Black has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Black
vs
Romano

179 cm
23
162
7 - 5 - 0

165 cm
21
168
5 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

Honest Apparel ($30 SPECIAL ALL T-Shirts!)

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Devon Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vic Romano!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Gregory Folan and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romano slips a jab from Black.
Romano connects with a body shot that sends Black's belly button to the back.
Romano throws an overhand right that lands on Black's shoulder, as Black tries to avoid the shot.
Black appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Black throws out a loose jab but Romano uses good head movement to avoid it.

Romano has managed to clinch.

Black turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Romano tries to bench press Black off him but Black keeps the position.
Black scores with punches from side control.
Black will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Romano is looking to regain half guard here but Black keeps moving and retains side control.
Romano gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Black in particular looking to stall.
Romano is pressing down on Black's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Black wants to pass the guard but Romano is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black pushes down on Romano's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Black is trying to control. Romano wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Romano moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Romano is controlling Black's posture.
Black passes Romano's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Black prevents Romano from improving his position.
Black controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Romano wants to get back to full guard.
Romano trying to hold on to Black's head to control him but Black postures up.
We've been hearing that Black has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Romano gets full guard.
Black postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Black is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Romano tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Romano keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black looking to pass the guard.
Black lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Black postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romano bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Black's guard.

Black controls Romano momentarily but Romano frees himself.

Black looking for a guillotine here but Romano defends easily.
Romano stopping the sweep attempt from Black.
Romano cracks Black with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Black looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Romano looking to sit in guard and control but Black gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Romano manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Black manages to get himself to full guard.

Black is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Romano defends well.
Romano must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Romano throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Romano throws an elbow that misses. Black uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Romano's guard. Nice move by Black!

Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Romano 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.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Romano wants to improve his position but instead Black has moved into half guard.
Black prevents Romano from improving his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Romano manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Romano looking for a sweep. Not yet Romano, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Black wants to control from the top but Romano keeps moving.
Black trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Romano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Romano lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Black looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Romano throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Black works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Romano distracts Black with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Black is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Romano postures up in Black's guard and throws a big left but Black blocks it.
Black wants to sweep here but Romano controlling him for the moment.
Romano postures up in Black's guard and throws a big left but Black blocks it.

Romano got a little sloppy there for a moment and Black has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Romano has managed to get both his arms back between Black's legs - danger averted.
Romano looking to pass the guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Black wants to sweep here but Romano controlling him for the moment.
Romano throwing strikes from guard but Black blocks nicely.
Black has momentary wrist control but Romano slips an elbow through the middle.
Romano with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Romano postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Romano trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.
Black is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Romano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Black is keeping the position for now.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Romano lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Romano content to stall in guard here.
Black wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Romano working some strikes from top position.
Black keeping moving, preventing Romano from controlling successfully.
Romano throws a big right hand that misses.
Black looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Romano looking to sit in guard and control but Black gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Black is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Romano bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Black's guard.

Black working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Romano doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Romano manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Romano loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Romano stopping the sweep attempt from Black.
Romano throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Black works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Romano throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Black works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romano postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Romano missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Black wants to sweep here but Romano controlling him for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vic Romano will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Romano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Black.

Black bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Romano is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Black wants to lay and pray for a moment but Romano keeps working.
Romano gets back to half guard.
Black seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Romano does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romano is looking to improve his position.
Romano taking some punishment here, with Black in his half guard.
Romano wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Black jumps into side control!
Romano is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Black connects with a nice short shot to Romano's temple.
Still in half guard, Black seems content to control.
Black takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Romano is looking to get back to full guard here but Black has managed to pass to side control instead.
Romano can't do much from the bottom here.
Black trying to control the action but Romano is working from the bottom.
Black looks up at the clock and then as Romano takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Black smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Devon Black overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romano struggling a bit here.
Romano is looking for a sweep.
Black landing a few strikes.
Black tries to move into full mount but can't pass Romano's legs.

Black looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Romano tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano prevents Black from moving into mount.
Romano is looking to regain half guard here but Black keeps moving and retains side control.
A lull in the action here as Black stalls from top position.
Black grinds an elbow into Romano's temple.
Black trying to control the position but Romano is working away.
Black is chipping away with strikes.
Black is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Romano can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romano tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Romano gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Black trying to control from half guard but Romano is working away.
Black perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Black is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Romano is just riding it out for now. Black eventually gives up the hold.
Romano is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Romano is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Black is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Black wants to lay and pray for a moment but Romano keeps working.
Romano tries to roll over but Black keeps him under control.
Black working over Romano with some ground and pound. Romano looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Romano manages to get to full guard.
Romano is trying to hold Black in close to prevent damage but Black has managed to pass into half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Romano is looking to improve his position.
Romano gets back to full guard.
Romano keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.
Romano is looking to sweep but instead, Black has passed into half guard.
Romano is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Romano works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Black advances position into side control!
Black trying to control the position but Romano is working away.
Black working the head with strikes.
Romano tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Romano gets back to half guard.
Black lands with a punch from half guard.
Romano moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Black with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Black trying to control but Romano is working from the bottom.
Romano looking to hit a scissor sweep but Black is one step ahead there.
Black slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Black stopping the sweep attempt from Romano.
Black postures up.
Black trying to control but Romano is working from the bottom.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Romano looking to hit a scissor sweep but Black is one step ahead there.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Romano not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Romano misses with a right hand
and Black connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Romano misses with a right hand
and Black counters with a straight right hand.
Romano just misses with a punch to the body.
Black fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Romano looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Romano tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Black manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Black was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Romano scores with a decent looking hook.
Black waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Romano.
Black swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Romano.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Devon Black dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Romano throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Black counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Black.
Romano wants to sweep here but Black controlling him for the moment.
Black is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Black wants to control from the top but Romano keeps moving.
Black pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Romano is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romano looking to hit a scissor sweep but Black is one step ahead there.
Romano has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Black has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black wants to lay and pray for a moment but Romano keeps working.
Black is really struggling to control Romano but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Romano is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Black's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Black lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Black takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Black lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Romano slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romano being controlled here, momentarily.
Romano wants to sweep but no luck.
Black looking to pass the guard.
Black preventing the sweep.
Black cracks Romano with a solid left hand.
Black trying to control the position from guard on top but Romano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Black advances position into side control!
Black trying to control the position but Romano is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Black working the ground and pound.
Black trying to control the action but Romano is working from the bottom.
Romano taking a bit of punishment here - Black scoring with strikes.
Romano is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Black's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Black is looking to take a break and control but Romano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Black blocks the strikes from Romano.
Romano wants to control but Black passes into side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Black tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Black controlling the position from side mount.
Romano gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Romano wants to improve his position but Black is controlling well.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Romano moves into full guard.
Romano bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Black's guard.

Romano postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Black trying to control the position here.
Romano trying to control but Black is working from the bottom.
Black keeping full guard, as Romano tries to pass.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Romano throwing strikes from guard but Black blocks nicely.
Romano throwing strikes but missing.
Black manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Romano manages to get himself to full guard.

Romano keeping moving, preventing Black from controlling successfully.
Black stopping the sweep attempt from Romano.
Black is working Romano over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Black content to stall in guard here.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Black stands up over Romano, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Black engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Romano wants to improve his position but instead Black has moved into half guard.
Black moves nicely into side control.
Black creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Romano gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Romano tries to get to full guard but Black has control of the leg.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Black is trying to control the action in half guard but Romano is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Romano wants to get back to full guard.
Romano slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Black stopping the sweep attempt from Romano.
Romano takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Black advances to half guard.
Romano wants to improve his position but Black is controlling well.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Black working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Romano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Black is working away from the top position though.
Black keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Black lands with a punch from half guard.
Romano is not content to let Black control the position.

Black wants to work for an arm triangle but Romano is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Romano tries to get to full guard but Black has control of the leg.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Black is looking to take a break and control but Romano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Devon Black showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Black has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Devon Black!
A very excited looking Devon Black made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.