PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Omas (ranked 3530 p4p, 184 weight class) and Raphael Firenzi (ranked 6910 p4p, 267 weight class). Antonio Omas had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 136.1lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Omas
vs
Firenzi

158 cm
27
145 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

200 cm
28
134 lbs
5 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antonio Omas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raphael Firenzi!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Patrick Alders and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Omas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Omas looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Firenzi taking some punishment here, with Omas in his half guard.
Firenzi pushes Omas off looking to stand but Omas dives back in and keeps control.
Firenzi is looking for a sweep. Omas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Firenzi is trying to control but can't.
Omas drops an elbow to the side of Firenzi's head.
Well, if Omas is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Omas is looking to stall here but Firenzi recovers full guard.
Omas working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Omas scoring with punches to the head and body.
Firenzi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Firenzi is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Omas controlling from the top position.
Omas postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Firenzi uses the cage to get back to his feet.

Omas shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Omas was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Omas trying to control the action but Firenzi is working from the bottom.
Firenzi manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Firenzi connects with a nice short shot to Omas's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ground and pound from Firenzi.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Firenzi is stalling here. Omas is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Firenzi seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Omas has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Firenzi tries to buck Omas off but Omas is having none of it.
You can see the frustration on Firenzi's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Firenzi wants to get back to his feet.
Omas lands an elbow.
Omas lands a nice forearm strike.
Firenzi tries to improve position but can't.
Omas scoring with punches and elbows.
Omas cracks Firenzi with a big elbow.
Omas working the ground and pound.
Firenzi is trying to get back to his feet.
Omas is putting a hurting on Firenzi here, landing some big shots from side control.
Firenzi is looking to reverse the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Omas dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Firenzi with a poor takedown

and Omas counters by clinching up.
Omas tries for a takedown. No joy.
Firenzi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Omas's elbow.
Omas is trying to push Firenzi away but Firenzi has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Firenzi is stalling here.
Omas is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Firenzi is defending well.
Firenzi avoiding damage as Omas throws knees to the body.

Omas lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Omas has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Firenzi is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Omas scores with a couple of nice shots.
Firenzi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Firenzi is trying to stand up here but Omas is controlling him well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Omas working the head and body with strikes.
Omas could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Omas looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Antonio Omas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Omas lands a nice short elbow.
Omas moves nicely into side control.
Firenzi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Firenzi manages to get back to half guard.
Omas is nestled in close to Firenzi, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Firenzi wants to improve his position but Omas is controlling well.
Omas sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Omas trying to control from half guard but Firenzi is working away.
Firenzi taking some punishment here, with Omas in his half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Omas lands a nice short elbow.
Omas wants to pass the guard but Firenzi is defending well.
Firenzi is trying to stand back up but Omas is controlling him
Firenzi has hold of Omas's hands but Omas slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Omas connects with a nice short shot to Firenzi's temple.
Firenzi is looking for a sweep. Omas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Omas is trying to control the action in half guard but Firenzi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Firenzi has hold of Omas's hands but Omas slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Omas trying to control from half guard but Firenzi is working away.

Firenzi has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Omas is on him like a limpet, forcing Firenzi back against the cage.
Firenzi gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Omas.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antonio Omas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Omas has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Firenzi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Omas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Omas has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Firenzi avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Firenzi lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Omas or not.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Firenzi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Omas closes the distance and clinches up with Firenzi, looking for a takedown. Omas pushes Firenzi against the cage but Firenzi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonio Omas dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Omas dodges the punch combination from Firenzi.
Firenzi throws a right and a left that Omas avoids nicely.
Firenzi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Omas avoids a punch combination nicely.
Firenzi misses with a combination

and Omas counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Omas trying to control from half guard but Firenzi is working away.
Omas seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Omas's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Omas slips a nice elbow through Firenzi's hands, connecting with Firenzi's forehead.
Omas is trying to control the action in half guard but Firenzi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Omas looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Firenzi with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Omas seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Omas seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Firenzi looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Omas winds up and cracks Firenzi with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Omas scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Omas in particular looking to stall.
Omas wants to control but Firenzi is keeping him busy.
Firenzi is trying to stand.
Firenzi works his way to full guard. Good work.
Omas distracts Firenzi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Omas scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Omas prevents Firenzi from getting back to his feet.
Omas is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Omas makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Firenzi has momentary wrist control but Omas slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Omas postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Omas postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Omas wants to control from the top but Firenzi keeps moving.
Firenzi wants to stand but Omas is controlling the position.
Firenzi trying to control the position.
Omas preventing the sweep.
Firenzi wants to stand and escape but Omas is having none of it.
Omas landing some decent shots from guard.
Omas stays in close to Firenzi's body and controls the position.
Raphael Firenzi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Firenzi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Omas manages to get himself to full guard.

Antonio Omas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Omas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonio Omas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Omas, 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonio Omas!
Raphael Firenzi was interviewed post fight and said 'I'll Be Back!'.