PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Andre Romano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jethro Rayner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Romano
vs
Rayner

180 cm
23
169 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

179 cm
24
165 lbs
7 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Hell's Balls Recovery

Red Light Clothing ► Amsterdam!
Blitzkrieg Formula 5000

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Andre Romano!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jethro Rayner!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romano lands a head kick!

It looks like Jethro Rayner has been cut.
Romano moves out of range of the body kick.
Romano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rayner throws a push kick but Romano slaps the foot to one side.
Romano rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rayner moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Rayner dives in and grabs Romano's left leg, looking for a takedown. Romano pushes down on Rayner's head and hops out.
Romano throws a nice looking combination but Rayner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rayner misses with a two punch combination.

Rayner bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Romano prevents Rayner from moving into mount.
Rayner fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Rayner tries to move into full mount but can't pass Romano's legs.
Romano sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rayner tries to pass to full mount but Romano defends it.

Rayner is working for a kimura but Romano is defending it quite comfortably.
Romano trying to control from the bottom.

Rayner is looking for a kimura but Romano is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rayner to get the leverage.
Rayner is trying to control. Romano wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rayner missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rayner passes the guard and advances to mount!
Rayner unloads with some shots from mount but Romano bucks and avoids them well.

That's two 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.

Rayner is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Romano has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Romano!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romano wants to stand but Rayner is controlling his posture from full guard.
Rayner 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rayner is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Rayner throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rayner manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Romano manages to get himself to full guard.
Rayner looking to pass the guard.
Romano is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Rayner is controlling him.
Rayner is looking to work some ground and pound but Romano has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rayner trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Romano manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Rayner is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Romano actively working from the bottom here.
Romano trying to control but Rayner postures up.

Rayner is working for a kimura here but Romano manages to reverse the position and he's now in Rayner's guard.
Romano preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Romano dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jethro Rayner's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Romano tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rayner is looking to chop away at Romano's legs.
Rayner throws a series of punches but Romano avoids them all with ease.
Rayner closes the distance and clinches up with Romano, looking for a takedown. Rayner pushes Romano against the cage but Romano circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rayner shoots in and drives through. Romano sprawls well.
Romano tries a head kick but it misses.
Romano tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rayner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rayner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rayner pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Romano avoids the body shot from Rayner.
Romano misses with a few strikes there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rayner looks to score with a jab to the body but Romano is just out of range.
Andre Romano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rayner shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Romano as he jumps to the side.
Andre Romano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jethro Rayner.
Rayner throws a body punch but Romano moves out of range.
A head kick from Romano lands but Rayner takes it in his stride.
No joy there for Rayner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Rayner swinging wilding here.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rayner lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Romano has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Romano and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Romano doesn't manage to clinch there - Rayner circles away.
Romano fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rayner looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Romano dodges the punch combination from Rayner.
Romano wants to clinch up but Rayner keeps it at a distance.
Romano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rayner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Romano throws a head kick that half lands.
Andre Romano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Romano throws a head kick but Rayner moves out of range.
Rayner scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Rayner throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rayner throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Romano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Rayner misses with a body shot.
Rayner misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Romano throws a nice head kick!
Romano moves in looking to clinch but Rayner pushes him off.
Rayner closes this distance looking for a takedown but Romano circles away.
Rayner thows a body shot but no joy.
An inside leg kick from Rayner misses.
Romano tries a head kick but it misses.
Rayner fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rayner changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Romano tries to avoid it but Rayner manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Romano to the ground. Romano escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Romano wants to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Romano. No joy for Rayner on that attempt.
Rayner showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Romano.
Romano throws a combination that misses

and Rayner counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Romano!

Rayner goes for an armbar but Romano turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Romano.
Romano stopping the sweep attempt from Rayner.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Romano dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Jethro Rayner's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Rayner will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Romano tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rayner counters with a nice double leg into side control. Romano won't be happy with that.
Rayner lands a decent elbow from side control.
Romano wants to control but Rayner postures up.
Romano is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Rayner's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Romano avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rayner.

Rayner is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Romano sees it coming and defends easily.
Rayner trying to control from Romano's half guard. Romano has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Rayner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rayner looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano is trying to keep Rayner in close.
Rayner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Rayner looking to sit in guard and control but Romano gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Romano wants to get up but he can't break Rayner's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Rayner working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Romano doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Romano manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Romano stopping the sweep attempt from Rayner.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rayner is looking for a triangle here but Romano uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Rayner tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Romano decides to stand back up.
Romano goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A head kick by Rayner misses
and Romano counters with a big head kick but Rayner shrugs it off.
Romano misses with a combination
and Rayner counters with a good low kick that Romano was not able to check.
Rayner blocks a head kick by Romano.

Rayner changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Romano looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Rayner tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Rayner has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Rayner is trying to move to mount but Romano reverses beautifully and ends up in Rayner's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Romano stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Romano misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rayner is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Romano rather than just go for the knockout.
Romano tries a head kick but it misses.
Romano throws a series of punches but Rayner avoids them all with ease.
Rayner lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Romano at a distance.
Rayner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Romano was well out of range. Poor timing from Rayner.
Rayner gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Romano counters with a series of strikes. Rayner will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Andre Romano did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Jethro Rayner's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Romano closes the distance looking to clinch

and Rayner decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Romano's guard.

Rayner is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Rayner pushing down on Romano's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Rayner wants to pass the guard but Romano is defending well.
Rayner is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Romano is looking to stand up but Rayner isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rayner is pushing down on Romano's leg trying to pass to half guard. Romano is fighting to maintain full guard but Rayner has managed to sneak the leg through.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

Rayner is looking for a kimura but Romano is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rayner to get the leverage.

Rayner is looking for a kimura but Romano is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Rayner to get the leverage.
Romano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Rayner is working away from the top position though.

Rayner is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Romano sees it coming and defends easily.
Romano wants to get back to his feet.

Rayner seems to be looking for submissions.

Rayner looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Romano keeping control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Romano misses with an uppercut. Rayner saw that one coming.
Rayner looks to score with a jab to the body but Romano is just out of range.
Romano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rayner.
Romano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rayner throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Romano's waist but Romano gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rayner off to one side.
Romano scores with a one two! Rayner had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Rayner tries for a takedown but Romano circles away easily
and Romano counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Rayner is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Rayner closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A head kick misses from Rayner.
Andre Romano is winning the standup battle so far.
Rayner scores with a hook.
Romano throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rayner misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Romano.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romano tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rayner tries for a takedown but Romano sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Andre Romano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jethro Rayner.
Romano moves out of range of the leg kick from Rayner.
Romano darts in trying to clinch

and Rayner counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Romano's guard now.
Rayner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Romano is keeping the position for now.

Rayner drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Romano manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Rayner has Romano in his guard.

Romano gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jethro Rayner dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Jethro Rayner's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Romano tries to clinch but Rayner moves away

and Rayner counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Romano keeping full guard, as Rayner tries to pass.
Romano wants to sweep here but Rayner controlling him for the moment.
Rayner pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Romano is keeping the position for now.
Rayner sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Romano's guard.
Rayner sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Romano defending well though.

Rayner is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rayner trying to control from Romano's half guard. Romano has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rayner trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Romano manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Rayner working for a triangle but Romano defends it easily.
Rayner trying to control the position.

Rayner looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Rayner is working an open guard so Romano takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Romano scores with a leg kick.
Rayner on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
A nice leg kick lands there from Romano.
Rayner is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Romano.
Romano connects with a high kick.
Rayner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Romano is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rayner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Romano throws a sloppy head kick and Rayner moves out of range easily.
Rayner avoids the head kick by Romano.
Some wild striking there from Romano.
Romano throws an overhand right that lands on Rayner's shoulder, as Rayner tries to avoid the shot.

Rayner closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rayner works his way into full mount!

Rayner jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Romano is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Romano and Rayner has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Andre Romano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rayner throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Jethro Rayner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Rayner is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Romano knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Romano manages to get back to half guard.
Rayner looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Romano wants to control but Rayner is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Rayner is looking for a kimura here.

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 Andre Romano.
I think Romano 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 49:46
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 49:47
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Andre Romano!
Andre Romano is the new lightweight champion!