PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocco Roman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zoro Fortisimo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Roman
vs
Fortisimo

180 cm
23
205 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

199 cm
22
212 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rocco Roman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Zoro Fortisimo!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Daniel Blasius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Roman fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Fortisimo to the ground. Roman is now in Fortisimo's guard.
Roman is pushing down on Fortisimo's leg trying to pass to half guard. Fortisimo is fighting to maintain full guard but Roman has managed to sneak the leg through.
Fortisimo is looking for a sweep. Roman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Fortisimo is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Roman has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Roman looking to control but Fortisimo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Roman controlling his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roman can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fortisimo is looking to escape.
Roman throwing strikes here but Fortisimo is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Roman working for a submission but Fortisimo is keeping him at bay.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Roman working for a submission but Fortisimo is keeping him at bay.
Fortisimo is trying to escape the mount.
Roman looking to control but Fortisimo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Roman thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Roman has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Fortisimo's face.
Fortisimo is squirming around, avoiding Roman's attempts to control the action.
Fortisimo tries to hold on but Roman postures up.
Roman looking to control and managing it successfully.
Roman connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Roman is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Fortisimo has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Fortisimo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman working a defensive guard here.
Fortisimo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fortisimo wants to stand but Roman is controlling his posture from full guard.

Roman is looking for a triangle but Fortisimo pushes his legs off easily.
Fortisimo is looking to stand up but Roman won't let him.
Roman is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Roman has his foot on Fortisimo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Fortisimo works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Roman has a closed guard, preventing Fortisimo from standing up.
Fortisimo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Roman tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Roman working for a triangle but Fortisimo defends it easily.

Roman working for a triangle but Fortisimo defends it easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Roman trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocco Roman dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A good leg kick by Fortisimo.
Fortisimo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Roman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Fortisimo misses the shot to the body.
It looked like Roman wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Roman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Roman attempts a counter takedown but Fortisimo avoids it well and moves away.
Fortisimo thumps Roman with a low kick.
Fortisimo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Fortisimo with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A nice leg kick lands there from Fortisimo.
Roman chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Fortisimo can pounce on him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fortisimo pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Roman checks a leg kick.
Fortisimo stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Fortisimo wants it to stay on the feet.
Fortisimo tries to land a leg kick but Roman saw it coming and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Fortisimo.
Zoro Fortisimo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Fortisimo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Roman appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Roman takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Fortisimo misses with a body kick.
Fortisimo throws a leg kick

and Roman counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Roman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fortisimo is keeping the position for now.
Roman is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fortisimo can do to turn this around?
Roman is looking to work some ground and pound but Fortisimo has wrist control.
Fortisimo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Roman is one step ahead there.
Fortisimo keeping full guard, as Roman tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fortisimo keeping moving, preventing Roman from controlling successfully.
Roman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Roman stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fortisimo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Roman lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Fortisimo is trying to keep Roman in close.
Roman with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fortisimo controls Roman momentarily but Roman frees himself.
Fortisimo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Roman. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fortisimo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Fortisimo working a defensive guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Good leg kick by Fortisimo there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Roman checks a leg kick.
Roman misses the jab.
Fortisimo is looking to land body kicks.
Fortisimo thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Roman if he has to take too many more of those.
Fortisimo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Roman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Roman tries to counter with a takedown but Fortisimo is quick to defend against it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fortisimo wants to clinch.
Roman was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Fortisimo throws a body punch but Roman moves out of range.
Fortisimo doesn't manage to clinch there - Roman circles away.
Good exchange - Fortisimo coming out on top.
Roman takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
A shot to the body from Fortisimo misses
and Roman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Roman changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Zoro Fortisimo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Fortisimo slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Roman is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Roman checks a leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Fortisimo.
Roman sets himself, and Fortisimo steps forward looking for the clinch! Roman avoids it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zoro Fortisimo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Fortisimo dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Roman. That did some damage!
Fortisimo bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Roman staying out of range there.
Fortisimo misses with a head kick.
Fortisimo slips under a jab from Roman.
Roman misses the jab.
Fortisimo uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Roman has time to react.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Fortisimo. Roman shrugs it off though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roman throws a looping overhand right but Fortisimo ducks down to avoid it.
Fortisimo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Roman connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fortisimo clinches.
Fortisimo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Come on Roman - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Fortisimo swings wildly with an uppercut but Roman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fortisimo struggles to land a body shot inside as Roman controls his hands.
Roman fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Roman jumps guard and drags Fortisimo to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Fortisimo trying to control but Roman is working from the bottom.
Fortisimo stopping the sweep attempt from Roman.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman trying to keep a closed guard but Fortisimo is proving a slippery customer.

Fortisimo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Roman has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Fortisimo has managed to get both his arms back between Roman's legs - danger averted.
We've been hearing good reports from Roman's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Fortisimo looking to pass the guard.
Fortisimo not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Fortisimo stands up and waves to Roman to follow him.
Roman on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fortisimo looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
A little feinted left hand from Roman on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Fortisimo throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Fortisimo throws a nice outside leg kick.
Fortisimo tries to work over Roman's front leg with a kick but Roman checks it.
Fortisimo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Fortisimo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Fortisimo connects with an inside leg kick.
Roman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Fortisimo.
Fortisimo stuns Roman with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Fortisimo tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Roman manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roman keeps the fight on the outside.
Roman is looking to counter the offense by Fortisimo and move into the clinch.
Fortisimo fakes the leg kick and cracks Roman in the body.
Roman keeps the fight on the outside.
Roman chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Fortisimo can pounce on him.
Fortisimo lands a high kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fortisimo throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Roman.
Fortisimo is looking to clinch.
Roman tries to counter by clinching up but Fortisimo breaks away and moves out of range.
Fortisimo wants to clinch up but Roman keeps it at a distance.
Roman is looking to counter the offense by Fortisimo and move into the clinch.
Fortisimo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Roman has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Fortisimo.
Fortisimo swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Roman feinted with a counter takedown.
A combination from Fortisimo does no damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zoro Fortisimo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fortisimo has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zoro Fortisimo!