PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ben Strasser (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gines Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romero has chosen Deftones -Rocket Skates as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Strasser
vs
Romero

170 cm
21
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Untouchable Fight Gear

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ben Strasser!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gines Romero!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Wagner Zegers and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Strasser shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Romero manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Strasser thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Romero keeping moving, preventing Strasser from controlling successfully.
Strasser is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Romero is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Romero looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Strasser postures up.
Strasser postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romero working for a triangle but Strasser defends it easily.
Romero keeping full guard, as Strasser tries to pass.
Strasser controls from within his opponent's guard.
Romero keeping full guard, as Strasser tries to pass.
Romero keeping moving, preventing Strasser from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Ben Strasser wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Romero clinches.

Romero has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Strasser is trying to keep an underhook but Romero manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Strasser is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Strasser is defending against the submission attempts here by Romero.
Romero thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Strasser's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero prevents Strasser from improving his position.
Romero looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Romero is looking to take a break and control but Strasser is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Strasser keeping hold of Romero's head, controlling as best he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romero not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Strasser kicks Romero off and gets back to his feet.
Romero shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Strasser sprawls well. Strasser wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Romero gets slowly back to his feet.
Romero shoots in looking for a takedown but Strasser manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Romero's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Strasser drives through and clinches with Romero against the cage.
Romero tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ben Strasser has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gines Romero.
Strasser stops a takedown attempt from Romero.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Strasser has picked Romero up - he's going for a ride! Strasser dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Romero is trying to maintain the position but Strasser is very close to passing his half guard.
Strasser is looking to take a break and control but Romero is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Strasser dominated that round.
That's time! Strasser's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Romero fails with an attempt to clinch.
Strasser on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Romero is looking to clinch.
Strasser is trying hard to land a takedown here. Romero sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Romero fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Strasser sprawls well initially but Romero persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Strasser looking for submissions off his back.
Strasser flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Romero missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Romero is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero wants to take a breather but Strasser is having none of it.
Romero wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Strasser uses the opportunity to regain full guard.

Strasser pushes Romero off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Strasser looking to score a takedown here. Romero is defending well but Strasser drives through and ends up in Romero's guard.
Romero is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Romero had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Strasser defends it easily.
Romero is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strasser is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Strasser trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Strasser seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Ben Strasser wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Romero shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Strasser shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Strasser avoids the attempt from Romero to control.
Strasser controlling the pace for now.
Romero tries to lock up and control but Strasser gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Strasser tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Romero taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Strasser tries to control but Romero wriggling away.
Romero is in all sorts of trouble here.
Ben Strasser overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Strasser controlling his opponent.
Strasser punishing his opponent with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Romero tries to reverse the position but Strasser maintains control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Strasser swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Romero is now in Strasser's guard. A big mistake from Strasser there, giving up the dominant position!
Strasser wants to stand and escape but Romero is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Strasser dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

A decent looking body kick lands there for Romero.

Strasser closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Romero to the mat! Romero manages to get full guard.
Strasser slips nicely into half guard.
Romero wants to stand back up but Strasser manages to pass into side control.
Romero tries to buck Strasser off but Strasser is having none of it.
Strasser lands a nice forearm strike.
Strasser trying to control the action but Romero is working from the bottom.
Romero wants to control but Strasser postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Strasser taking a breather here.
Romero on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Romero is looking to reverse the position.
Strasser looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Romero is avoiding damage well.
Strasser wants to control but Romero is keeping him busy.
Romero tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Strasser wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Romero takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Strasser stands up and beckons Romero to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Strasser shoots in and drives through. Romero sprawls well.

Strasser shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Romero manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Strasser trying to control but Romero is working from the bottom.
Romero is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Strasser is controlling him.
Strasser is looking to work some ground and pound but Romero has wrist control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Strasser slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Romero controls Strasser momentarily but Strasser frees himself.
Strasser passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Romero wants to control but Strasser postures up.
Strasser in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Romero tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Strasser has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Strasser closes this distance looking for a takedown but Romero circles away.

Romero gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Romero has momentary wrist control but Strasser slips an elbow through the middle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Strasser stands and throws Romero's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Strasser trying to control the action but Romero is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Strasser showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Strasser, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Strasser!