PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Donald Cerrone (ranked 3049 p4p, 325 weight class) and Alexander Romanenko (ranked 4930 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Cerrone
vs
Romanenko

183 cm
25
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
23
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Donald Cerrone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexander Romanenko!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Romanenko changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Cerrone looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Romanenko controlling the position from side mount.
Cerrone is looking to regain half guard here but Romanenko keeps moving and retains side control.

Romanenko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cerrone, who protects the arm well.

Romanenko tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Romanenko has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cerrone is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanenko happy to just control the position for now.
Cerrone is trying to control Romanenko's posture but Romanenko avoids it.
Cerrone is looking for a sweep.
Cerrone is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Romanenko is controlling him well.
Romanenko working the body and head with strikes.
Romanenko tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Romanenko wants to stand but Cerrone has his arm trapped.
Cerrone tries to buck Romanenko off but Romanenko is having none of it.
Cerrone stops Romanenko from passing to mount.
The referee asks Romanenko politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Romanenko prefers to stall for the moment though.
Romanenko is putting a hurting on Cerrone here, landing some big shots from side control.
Romanenko controls the position from side control.
Romanenko scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Cerrone to see if he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanenko wants to stand but Cerrone has his arm trapped.
Romanenko 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 Cerrone's shoulder. That is not cool.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Romanenko scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Romanenko working away.
Cerrone manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone taking some punishment here, with Romanenko in his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romanenko keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Cerrone actively working from the bottom here.
Cerrone has hold of Romanenko's hands but Romanenko slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Romanenko perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Romanenko scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Romanenko seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Cerrone is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and Romanenko has latched onto it... Big trouble! Romanenko pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it Cerrone is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from Romanenko!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Alexander Romanenko!