PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Madik MBaku (ranked 1087 p4p, 138 weight class) and Jose Romero (ranked 1044 p4p, 131 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

MBaku
vs
Romero

198 cm
22
246 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

190 cm
29
265 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Madik MBaku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jose Romero!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Glass and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
MBaku misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Romero.
Romero takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Romero doesn't manage to clinch there - MBaku circles away.
MBaku avoids the body shot from Romero.
Romero swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Romero throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around MBaku's waist but MBaku gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Romero off to one side.
Romero throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around MBaku's waist but MBaku gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Romero off to one side.
It looked like MBaku was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Romero looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

MBaku looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
MBaku wants to sweep here but Romero controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

MBaku is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Romero defends well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

MBaku is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Romero is aware though and is defending well.
Romero lands a couple of elbows.
MBaku is trying to control the position from the bottom.
My spies in MMA Academy inform me that Romero has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romero scoring with some ground and pound.
MBaku looking to hit a scissor sweep but Romero is one step ahead there.

MBaku is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Romero defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MBaku looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
MBaku looking to control.

MBaku working for a triangle but Romero defends it easily.
MBaku looking to control.
Romero scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Romero pushes down on MBaku's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Romero is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
MBaku is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Hare of the Dog Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.

Romero is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and MBaku defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. MBaku manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
MBaku 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.

MBaku has his foot on Romero's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Romero works his way back into a safe position though.
MBaku is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

MBaku working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Romero doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Romero manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
MBaku trying to keep a closed guard but Romero is proving a slippery customer.
Romero with a nice head shot there.

That's four 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.

MBaku looking for a guillotine here but Romero defends easily.
Romero trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
MBaku looking for a sweep. Not yet MBaku, not yet.
MBaku trying to control the position.
Romero preventing the sweep.

MBaku looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
MBaku lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

MBaku wants to control from the top but Romero keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jose Romero will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Romero throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around MBaku's waist but MBaku gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Romero off to one side.
A little feinted left hand from MBaku on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Romero connects with a good right hand that stumbles MBaku. MBaku circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
MBaku tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Romero swivels and escapes.
Romero misses with a straight right.
MBaku throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Romero slips a jab from MBaku.
Romero will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
An attempted straight right counter from MBaku misses the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero misses with a body shot.
A little feinted left hand from MBaku on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Romero misses with a takedown attempt - MBaku sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Madik MBaku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jose Romero.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from MBaku.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Romero! But no joy.
Romero moves in looking to clinch but MBaku pushes him off.
Romero scores with a hook to the body. MBaku takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
MBaku misses with a few strikes there.
Romero swings and misses with a hook to the body.
MBaku is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
MBaku keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It looked like MBaku wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Romero throws a predictable looking body shot
and MBaku counters with a stiff right hand.
Romero tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but MBaku defends well and Romero ends up having to push MBaku into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
MBaku seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero misses with a hook to the body
and MBaku counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
MBaku connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Romero slips a jab and a cross from MBaku.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Romero is defended easily by MBaku.
Romero looks for a takedown but MBaku sprawls well.
Romero shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has MBaku pinned against the cage. MBaku gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero dips to his left and cracks MBaku with an uppercut!
Romero cracks MBaku with a good jab.
MBaku misses with a looping left.
Romero lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Romero tries to clinch
and MBaku counters with a nice body shot.
Romero throws a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero wants to clinch up but MBaku keeps it at a distance.
MBaku is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Romero is looking to clinch but MBaku is avoiding it.
Romero throws a poor cross that misses
and MBaku counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Romero looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
MBaku is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
MBaku slips a straight right by Romero.
Jose Romero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romero misses with a takedown
and MBaku cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Romero misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Madik MBaku dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

MBaku tries to bum rush Romero with a series of wild strikes but Romero uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Romero looks for a takedown but MBaku sprawls well.
MBaku was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
MBaku shoots in and drives through. Romero sprawls well.
Nice uppercut lands for Romero. That snapped MBaku's head back.

Romero clinches.
MBaku tries for a takedown but Romero manages to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

MBaku escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Romero changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Romero gets cracked with a nice right hand there by MBaku.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MBaku moves away from the strike by Romero.
Romero throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck MBaku on the side of the head.
A big left from Romero misses.
Romero misses the shot to the body.
Romero throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent MBaku stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Romero misses with a jab to the body
and MBaku counters with a nice uppercut.
Romero fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. MBaku looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

MBaku shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Romero is trying to defend but MBaku finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Romero is looking to control MBaku's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Romero avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MBaku wants to take a breather but Romero is having none of it.

MBaku is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Romero slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Romero is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
MBaku trying to control but Romero is working from the bottom.
MBaku slips nicely into half guard.
MBaku trying to mount his opponent but Romero defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

MBaku is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Romero controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
MBaku is thwarting Romero's attempts to control the position.
Romero makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Romero.
MBaku wants to control from the top but Romero keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
MBaku stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Romero swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Romero controlling MBaku's posture.
MBaku trying to control but Romero is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Romero is controlling MBaku's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Romero shoots for a double leg takedown but MBaku sprawls well. He's pushed Romero's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
MBaku throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Romero is clearly trying to counter these attacks from MBaku with a body shot.
Romero throws a body shot but no joy.
As Romero looks to move away, MBaku throws a big counter combo but Romero just gets out of the way.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Madik MBaku.
I think MBaku has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Madik MBaku!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Madik MBaku waved his t-shirt featuring Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing's logo in front of the cameras.