PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rodger Stark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Romo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romo is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stark
vs
Romo

209 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
24
195 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rodger Stark!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Romo!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Columbo Gatti and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Romo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Romo lands in his opponent's guard.
Stark being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romo throws a big right hand that misses.
Romo controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Romo closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Romo lands in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Stark working for submissions but it's allowed Romo to get to half guard.
Romo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Stark does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Stark keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Stark punching from the bottom.
Romo trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Romo is working for a kimura here but Stark manages to reverse the position and he's now in Romo's guard.
Stark throws a big elbow that misses.
Stark chips away with some ground and pound.
Stark postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Romo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Romo wants to sweep but no luck.
Romo seems keen to control Stark's posture.
Stark will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Romo has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Stark is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Stark tries to pull guard but Romo holds him up against the cage and eventually Stark drops back down to his feet.
Romo misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Stark.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stark is trying to stall.

Romo pulls Stark into guard.
Stark is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Romo has his hands on Stark's head, controlling the position.
Romo looking for a sweep. Not yet Romo, not yet.
Stark throws a strike but Romo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Romo working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Stark is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Romo is aware though and is defending well.
Romo sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Romo shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Romo was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Romo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Romo is looking to take a break and control but Stark is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Romo is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romo in side control, throwing shots but Stark defends.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stark looking for a sweep but Romo has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Romo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Stark is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romo content just to control the position here.
Poor strikes thrown by Romo there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

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

Romo stands up from mount. Strange move.

Romo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Stark, pushing him back against the cage.

Romo ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Romo no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Stark cracks Romo with a solid left hand.
Stark in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stark is looking to work some ground and pound but Romo has wrist control.
Romo seems keen to control Stark's posture.
Romo lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Romo stands up from Stark's guard - Romo perhaps looking for a knockout.

Romo is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Stark's half guard.
Stark tries to kick Romo off in order to stand up. Romo Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romo controls the position.
Romo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Stark keeps working.

Romo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Stark has escaped the position, nice work there.
Stark really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Romo tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Romo has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Romo 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 Stark's shoulder. That is not cool.
Romo is continuing to stall.
The ground and pound from Romo seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Romo decides to take the fight back to the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tony Romo 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!

Romo throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Stark tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Romo is in Stark's guard.

Stark is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Romo presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Romo works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Romo tries to free his leg and advance position but Stark is retaining full guard.
Romo wants to control from the top but Stark keeps moving.

Romo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Stark is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Romo defends well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romo sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Romo gets to his feet - Stark follows without any prompting.
Romo lands with a big left! Stark is wobbled badly! Romo comes in with a flurry of punches and drops Stark to the floor. The ref jumps in to save him from unneccessary punishment.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Tony Romo!
After the fight, Tony Romo was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.