PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nunzio Romano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Allan Pia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Romano
vs
Pia

174 cm
22
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

176 cm
20
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nunzio Romano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Allan Pia!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Dean Styles and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Pia scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Pia is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Romano's shoulder. That is not cool.
An elbow from Pia crashes against the mat.

Pia goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Romano rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Pia's guard! Nice work there by Romano!
Romano wants to pass the guard but Pia is keeping the position.
Pia preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Pia pulls Romano in to control the position.

Pia escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Romano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Pia 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Romano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Romano trying to control the position from guard on top but Pia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pia wants to sweep but no luck.
Pia throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Romano is breathing heavily.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Pia darts in and clinches Romano up against the cage.
Romano tries to pull guard but Pia holds him up against the cage and eventually Romano drops back down to his feet.
Pia is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Romano gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Romano wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pia drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Romano gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Romano has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Pia clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Pia covering up well under a series of strikes from Romano.
You can see the frustration on Pia's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano doesn't have the hooks in and Pia manages to turn into his guard.

Pia has gone for a leg lock! Romano slips out almost immediately though and dives into Pia's guard.
Romano looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Pia has his hands on Romano's head, controlling the position.
Romano won't allow Pia to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Romano sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pia's guard.
Pia is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Pia looking for submissions off his back.
Pia is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romano is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Pia is staying active underneath Romano, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nunzio Romano will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pia fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Pia shoots in looking for a takedown. Romano tries to sprawl out of it but Pia keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Romano manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Romano shoots in and drives through. Pia sprawls well.
Pia misses with a takedown attempt

and Romano counters with a single leg into guard. Pia didn't expect that.
Nunzio Romano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Allan Pia.
Romano stopping the sweep attempt from Pia.
Pia seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Romano wants to control from the top but Pia keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pia manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Romano manages to get himself to full guard.
Pia trying to control but Romano is working from the bottom.
Pia stays in close to Romano's body and controls the position.
Pia trying to control the position from guard on top but Romano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pia advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Romano is trying to improve his position.
Pia in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Pia tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pia has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Romano has control of an arm but Pia manages to advance to Pia's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano trying to control the position but Pia manages to sink in the hooks.
Pia landing with strikes.
Pia struggling to keep hold of the position.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Pia.
Pia not allowing Romano to control his hands.
Will Pia go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Romano wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Pia controlling from the back.
Romano trying to control but not successfully.
Romano is keeping busy.
Pia doesn't have the hooks in and Romano manages to turn into his guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Romano avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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

Romano changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Pia looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nunzio Romano 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!

Pia bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Pia throws an elbow but Romano slips to the side and avoids it well.
Romano avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Pia.
Pia lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Romano down.

Pia has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Romano tries to clinch but Pia moves away

and Pia counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Pia 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.

Pia is looking for a kimura here.
Pia trying to control from half guard but Romano is working away.
Allan Pia has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pia slows the pace down in half guard.
Romano trying to control but Pia postures up.
Pia trying to control from half guard but Romano is working away.
Romano is trying is best to control the position here.

Romano kicks Pia off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Pia darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Pia wants to control but Romano is keeping him busy.
Romano wants to improve his position but Pia is controlling well.
Pia 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.
Romano wants to control but Pia is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Pia performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Romano trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano is looking to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Romano misses with a takedown attempt - Pia sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Romano misses with a double jab.

Romano drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Romano decides to stand back up. Romano steps back and let's Pia get back to his feet.
Pia gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Romano counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Pia utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Pia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pia working a defensive guard here.
Pia avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Pia has his hands on Romano's head, controlling the position.
Pia is trying to keep Romano in close.
Allan Pia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Pia pushes a forearm under Romano's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Romano is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Allan Pia!