PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eladio Vasquez (ranked 3581 p4p, 412 weight class) and Luigi Romano (ranked 3689 p4p, 428 weight class). Eladio Vasquez could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Luigi Romano's chin.

Vasquez
vs
Romano

181 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
191 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
KO power

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 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 Montreal, Eladio Vasquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Luigi Romano!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Eddie Farnsworth and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasquez tries to close the distance and clinch but Romano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Romano steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Vasquez.
Romano slips a jab and a cross from Vasquez.

Romano has Vasquez up against the cage in a clinch.
Nice body punch from Romano.
Romano is stalling here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Romano.
Romano lands a body punch.
Vasquez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Vasquez tries to pull guard but Romano won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez is trying to break the clinch but Romano has him pressed against the cage.
Romano lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Romano will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Vasquez up against the cage.
Vasquez prevents Romano from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vasquez's elbow.
Romano tries to break free but Vasquez pushes him back against the cage.
Vasquez wants to break free but Romano has control.
Romano misses with a punch to the body.
Romano is working Vasquez over against the cage.
Romano wants to get back to striking at distance but Vasquez won't allow it.

Vasquez breaks from the clinch.
Romano swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Romano closes the distance and clinches.
Vasquez tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eladio Vasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vasquez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Romano to keep the fight standing.
Vasquez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Romano to keep the fight standing.
Romano dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Romano tries to break free but Vasquez pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez tries to break free but Romano pushes him back against the cage.
Romano tries to circle away but Vasquez has him pinned against the cage.
Vasquez tries to pull guard but Romano forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Romano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Romano blocks the elbow strike.
Vasquez is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Vasquez jumps guard but Romano turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Romano tries to work over Vasquez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Romano wants to break the clinch but can't.
Romano can't break the clinch.
Romano keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Vasquez's efforts to push away.
Romano misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano tries to break the clinch but Vasquez is controlling the position.
Vasquez misses with a body punch.
Vasquez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Romano just stands there and leans against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Romano takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Romano wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vasquez jumps guard but Romano stands there with Vasquez around his waist. Vasquez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Vasquez wants to break the clinch but can't.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Vasquez is looking to control Romano's arms but Romano gets an underhook and turns him. Now Vasquez has his back to the cage.
Romano has had enough of the clinch but Vasquez keeps him there for the moment.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Vasquez taking a breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Vasquez blocks an elbow strike from Romano.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Romano.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Romano throws a head punch that misses.
Romano can't find room to land a body shot as Vasquez controls the action.
Vasquez throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Romano looks winded!
Romano has Vasquez pushed against the cage.
Vasquez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Romano.
Vasquez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Romano just stands there and leans against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vasquez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Romano pulls his leg out and moves away.
Vasquez throws a nice inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luigi Romano dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Vasquez ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Romano moves away.
Romano keeps the fight on the outside.
Luigi Romano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Romano moves into the clinch.
Vasquez is trying to pull guard but Romano turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Romano misses with a hook from the clinch.
Vasquez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Romano is trying to break the clinch but Vasquez is controlling him.
A frustrated look appears on Romano's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Vasquez is looking to take this one to the mat.

Vasquez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Vasquez misses.
Eladio Vasquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Romano has taken the fight to the clinch.
Romano prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eladio Vasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romano lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Vasquez or not.
A nice left hand lands by Romano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano lands a right hand that snaps the head of Vasquez backwards.
Romano displaying some good clinch control by pressing Vasquez up against the cage.
Vasquez is looking for a takedown.
Romano tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Vasquez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vasquez tries to move into range but Romano moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Romano misses with a low kick.

Oooooh!!! Vasquez has knocked Romano down with a huge combo! Vasquez steps away and waves a wobbly Romano back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like Luigi Romano has been cut.
Vasquez has his takedown stuffed

and Romano moves into the clinch.
We've been informed that Romano has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Vasquez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Romano to keep the fight standing.
Vasquez blocks a body shot from Romano.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vasquez manages to break the clinch.
Vasquez wants to clinch.
Vasquez fails with the takedown.

Romano closes the distance and clinches.
Vasquez tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Romano's elbow.
Vasquez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Romano is defending well.
Vasquez trying to stall but Romano improves his position.
Vasquez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Romano has him pressed against the cage.
Romano prevents a takedown attempt there.
Vasquez fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vasquez.
Romano goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Vasquez breaks from the clinch.
Vasquez throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Romano.
Luigi Romano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Romano clinches.
Vasquez has Romano pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Romano manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Vasquez letting Romano take a breather here.
Vasquez wants to break free but Romano has control.
Romano has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Romano works on Vasquez's body with a couple of short punches.
Vasquez jumps guard but Romano stands there with Vasquez around his waist. Vasquez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Vasquez pulls Romano into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Romano manages to get himself to full guard.

Romano is adopting a defensive guard.
Vasquez advances to half guard.
Romano wants to control but Vasquez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Vasquez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Romano keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Eladio Vasquez will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Luigi Romano's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Romano takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

Romano is rocked!
Eladio Vasquez is winning the standup battle so far.

Vasquez tries to keep at a distance but Romano has taken the fight into the clinch.

Vasquez manages to pull guard.

Vasquez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vasquez is trying to keep Romano in close.
Vasquez thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romano throwing strikes but missing.
Vasquez wants to sweep here but Romano controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romano loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vasquez keeping moving, preventing Romano from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Romano drives through and clinches with Vasquez against the cage.
Vasquez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Vasquez tries to circle away but Romano has him pinned against the cage.
Romano prevents the takedown attempt.
Vasquez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Romano's efforts to push away.
A nice right hand lands inside from Romano.
Romano lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez has Romano pressed against the cage, preventing Romano from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Romano is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Romano wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Vasquez has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Romano blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Vasquez letting Romano take a breather here.
Romano avoiding damage.

Vasquez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've been told by Vasquez's head coaches at whitey's gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Vasquez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Romano closes the distance and pushes Vasquez back into the cage.
Romano wants to get back to striking at distance but Vasquez won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eladio Vasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vasquez is trying to drag Romano to the mat but Romano just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Vasquez jumps guard but Romano turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Vasquez wants a takedown but no success here.
Romano leaning his opponent against the cage.
Vasquez is looking to take this one to the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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.
Vasquez jumps guard but Romano stands there with Vasquez around his waist. Vasquez gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Vasquez tries to pull guard but Romano won't allow it.
Romano is trying to push Vasquez away but Vasquez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Romano tries to circle away but Vasquez has him pinned against the cage.
Vasquez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Romano just stands there and leans against the cage.
Romano lands a right hand that snaps the head of Vasquez backwards.
Romano is looking to break free of the clinch but Vasquez has double underhooks.
A right handed body shot lands from Romano.
Vasquez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Romano is defending well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vasquez is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Vasquez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Romano avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luigi Romano really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Luigi Romano's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Romano has taken the fight to the clinch.

Vasquez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Romano clinches up with Vasquez and pushes him back against the cage.
Romano tries to break free but Vasquez pushes him back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Romano.
Romano prevents the takedown attempt.
Vasquez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vasquez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Romano avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Romano wants to break free but Vasquez has control.
Luigi Romano seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez tries for a takedown but Romano manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eladio Vasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romano pushes Vasquez back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Romano holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Romano gets underhooks to prevent Vasquez's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano is trying to force a seperation but Vasquez has the dominant position.
Romano misses with a punch to the body.
Romano is trying to force a seperation but Vasquez has the dominant position.
Romano keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Vasquez's efforts to push away.
Romano displaying some good clinch control by pressing Vasquez up against the cage.
Vasquez is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Romano is defending well for now.
A right hook to the body lands for Romano.
Romano stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Vasquez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Romano closes the distance and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez is working for takedown but Romano is calmly controlling the position for now.
Romano is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Romano works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Romano scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Romano slows down the pace here.
Romano slows down the pace here.
A right handed body shot lands from Romano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano wants to break free but Vasquez has control.
Vasquez tries to break free but Romano pushes him back against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vasquez.
Romano presses Vasquez against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Romano tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vasquez's elbow.
Romano can't break the clinch.
Vasquez jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Romano walks away with a smile on his face. Vasquez gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Vasquez misses with a double jab.
Romano avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Vasquez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Vasquez throws a series of strikes that have Romano backpedaling.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Romano moves into the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Romano.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez wants a takedown but no success here.
Vasquez letting Romano take a breather here.
Romano misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Romano lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Romano holding his opponent close, against the cage.
A short uppercut from Romano.
Vasquez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Romano's efforts to push away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Vasquez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Vasquez swings for the body but Romano moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Luigi Romano dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Luigi Romano's cut.
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!

Romano misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Vasquez.
Romano misses with a body shot.
Vasquez lands a nice leg kick that just misses Romano's sensitive parts.
Vasquez throws a sloppy head kick and Romano moves out of range easily.
Romano is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Romano moves into the clinch.
Vasquez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Romano keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Vasquez's efforts to push away.
Vasquez is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Romano to keep the fight standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasquez blocks an elbow strike from Romano.

Romano's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Romano pushes Vasquez up against the cage in a clinch.
Romano stalls.
Romano wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasquez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Vasquez wants to stall.

Vasquez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Romano throws a nice looking combination but Vasquez bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Romano is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Vasquez tries to clinch but Romano is having none of it.
Vasquez lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Vasquez misses with a body shot.

Romano pushes Vasquez up against the cage in a clinch.
Romano digs a right hand underneath Vasquez's ribcage. Vasquez let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Vasquez wants to break the clinch but can't.

Vasquez manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez tries to clinch there but Romano circles away.
Vasquez throws a right and a left that Romano avoids nicely.
Romano throws a left and a right that both miss
and Vasquez counters with a three punch combo that has Romano backing up. Romano nods at Vasquez to acknowledge the strikes.

Romano clinches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Vasquez.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romano lands a right hand that snaps the head of Vasquez backwards.
Romano leaning against his opponent.
Vasquez tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Romano just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eladio Vasquez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vasquez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Vasquez is trying to pull guard but Romano has him pressed against the cage.
Vasquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Romano scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasquez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nice body punch from Romano - that landed with a thud.

Vasquez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vasquez misses the shot to the body.
Romano swats away the attempt to clinch by Vasquez.

Romano gets tackled into the cage by Vasquez. Vasquez maintains the clinch.
Romano working hard to break the clinch.
Vasquez wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vasquez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Romano tries to throw a body punch but Vasquez avoids it by throwing Romano back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Romano scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romano slows down the pace here.
Romano working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Vasquez tries to break the clinch but Romano is controlling the position.
Vasquez wants to break free but Romano has control.
Romano stalls.
Romano managing to block the knees to the body from Vasquez.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romano is leaning against Vasquez and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Vasquez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Romano avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Eladio Vasquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Luigi Romano is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Vasquez is trying to pull guard but Romano turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luigi Romano comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Romano 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 46:49
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 46:49
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luigi Romano!