PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Josiah Romo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Kistner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kistner has chosen as his entrance music. Josh Kistner is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Romo
vs
Kistner

185 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
23
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josiah Romo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Kistner!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Robert Twigg and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kistner shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Romo as he avoids it easily.

Kistner drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Romo keeping moving, preventing Kistner from controlling successfully.
Romo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kistner controls the pace.
Romo is looking to sweep but instead, Kistner has passed into half guard.
Kistner throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Romo wants to get back to full guard.
Kistner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Romo is looking to control Kistner's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Romo avoid being mounted?

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Kistner has Romo up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romo looking to stall.
Kistner wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Romo has him pressed against the cage.
Romo prevents the takedown attempt.
Romo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kistner just stands there and leans against the cage.

Kistner turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Kistner manages to end up in side control.
Romo can't do much from the bottom here.
Romo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kistner is trying to control. Romo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kistner looks gassed!
Romo is trying to stand up here but Kistner is controlling him well.
Kistner stalling.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romo taking some punishment here, with Kistner in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kistner missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Romo looking for submissions off his back.
Kistner looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Romo is pressing down on Kistner's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Romo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Romo trying to keep a closed guard but Kistner is proving a slippery customer.
Romo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kistner is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romo preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kistner shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Romo as he jumps to the side.
Josiah Romo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Kistner.
Romo fails with the takedown

and Kistner decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Romo's guard.
Romo working a defensive guard here.
Kistner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Romo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kistner stopping the sweep attempt from Romo.
Romo is looking to stand up but Kistner isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romo keeping moving, preventing Kistner from controlling successfully.
Romo wants to sweep here but Kistner controlling him for the moment.

Romo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Romo throws a front kick that sends Kistner stumbling back into the cage.
Romo lands with a kick to the temple. Kistner shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Romo wants to clinch.
Romo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Romo wants it to stay on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Kistner dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kistner keeps the fight on the outside.

Kistner drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kistner thows a big elbow that misses.
Kistner trying to control but Romo is working from the bottom.
Kistner throwing strikes but missing.
Kistner slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Romo.
Romo moves into full guard.
Romo keeping moving, preventing Kistner from controlling successfully.
Kistner is breathing heavily.
Kistner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kistner is one step ahead there.
Romo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kistner thows a big elbow that misses.
Romo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Romo is looking to stand up but Kistner isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Romo has a takedown stuffed.
Romo misses with a takedown

and Kistner counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Romo!
Romo wants to control but Kistner is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romo wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Kistner.
Kistner misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Romo wants to control but Kistner is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kistner throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Kistner misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Romo tries to lock up and control but Kistner gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Romo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kistner postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Romo looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kistner prevents Romo from getting the reversal.
Kistner thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Kistner throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Romo avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kistner.
Kistner throwing strikes but Romo recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Kistner seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Romo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kistner pulls his head out easily.
Romo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kistner is working away from the top position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kistner shoots in for a double leg but Romo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Romo tries to clinch there but Kistner circles away.
Romo shoots in but Kistner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josiah Romo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romo slips a jab from Kistner.
Romo shoots for a double leg takedown but Kistner sprawls well. He's pushed Romo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kistner changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Romo tries to avoid it but Kistner manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Romo to the ground. Romo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Romo fails with a takedown attempt.
Kistner looks for a takedown but Romo sprawls well.
Romo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kistner pinned against the cage. Kistner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Kistner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kistner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kistner tries for a takedown but Romo sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kistner throws a half hearted mid kick.
Kistner will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Romo keeps Kistner at a distance using the push kick.
Romo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kistner sprawls well. Kistner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Romo gets slowly back to his feet.
Kistner has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Romo.
Romo tries to clinch but Kistner moves away

and Kistner counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Romo manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Romo looking to control but Kistner is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kistner reaches up to try and control the position but Romo seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Kistner rolls and tries to escape and now Romo has his back!
Kistner is keeping busy.
Kistner looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Romo trying to control momentarily.
Kistner rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Romo wants to stand up but Kistner has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Romo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kistner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kistner fails with the takedown.
Josiah Romo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Kistner.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kistner leaves Romo with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Romo tries to clinch up.
Romo lands with a nice combination. Kistner backs away looking to recover.
Romo shoots in but Kistner avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Romo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kistner pinned against the cage. Kistner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kistner misses with a combination
and Romo connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Romo is looking to clinch but Kistner is avoiding it.

Kistner has managed to clinch.
Romo prevents a takedown attempt there.
Romo looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kistner is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Romo goes for a takedown attempt but Kistner pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Kistner shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Josh Kistner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kistner controlling from the full mount.
Kistner looking to control but Romo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Romo wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Kistner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kistner winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Kistner!