PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dan McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Romano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). McManus comes into the arena with Disturbed-Prayer blaring out of the sound system. Romano has chosen Almost Easy -- Avenged Sevenfold as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

McManus
vs
Romano

186 cm
26
205 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

190 cm
25
205 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

啓発 Shaolin Clothing

KING NUTRITION

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dan McManus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Romano!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Tiny Johnson and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McManus blocks a head kick by Romano.
McManus defending well as Romano loads up on a big left hand.
McManus slips under a jab from Romano.
McManus staying out of range there.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Romano.
No luck with that takedown attempt from McManus.
Matt Romano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Romano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McManus manages to avoid it.

McManus bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Romano is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Romano is trying to get back to half guard.
McManus prevents Romano from escaping the position.

McManus thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano pushes McManus away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, McManus gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

McManus thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Romano's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Romano is looking to regain half guard here but McManus keeps moving and retains side control.
Romano is trying to buck McManus off.
Romano is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Romano tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Romano connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Romano misses with a straight left.
Romano stuffs the takedown.
Romano misses with the combination.
Romano misses with a few strikes there.
Romano waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McManus.
Romano throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Romano lands a nice hook to McManus's body. McManus takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Romano is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McManus.
A punch combination from Romano misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus moves into range and connects with a jab.
McManus fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan McManus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McManus tries a head kick but it misses.

Romano feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
McManus not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
McManus 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.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Romano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Romano trying to stand up but can't free himself from McManus's guard.
Romano with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McManus keeping moving, preventing Romano from controlling successfully.
Romano postures up in McManus's guard and throws a big left but McManus blocks it.
Romano showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
McManus avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Romano ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

McManus looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Romano is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
McManus is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Romano scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Romano dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Romano throws a hook to the side of McManus's head but McManus sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Romano connects with a right hand. McManus shakes it off.
McManus gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Romano counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. McManus is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Romano misses with a wild body shot.
McManus misses with a takedown
and Romano counters with a good low kick that McManus was not able to check.
A swing and a miss from Romano.
McManus moves out of range of the leg kick from Romano.
A big right from McManus misses.
Romano throws a jab but it's blocked by McManus.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from McManus does it's job there.
McManus moves out of range as Romano strikes.
McManus blocks a jab.
Romano connects with a right hand. McManus shakes it off.
McManus fails with the takedown
and Romano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan McManus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romano misses with a low kick.
Romano throws a nice inside leg kick.
Romano lands a body shot.
Romano tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Romano tries to clinch there but McManus circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus dodges the punch combination from Romano.
Good leg kick by McManus there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
McManus blocks a low kick nicely.
Matt Romano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Romano lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Romano gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and McManus counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Romano's guard now.
Romano looking to control.
McManus prevents Romano from getting back to his feet.
McManus working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Romano's head.

McManus got a little sloppy there for a moment and Romano has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, McManus has managed to get both his arms back between Romano's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McManus 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.
Romano is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

McManus looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Romano not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Romano wants to free his trapped foot but McManus is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Romano missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Romano tries to pass to full mount but McManus defends it.
McManus is not content to let Romano control the position.
Romano not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Romano lands with a punch from half guard.
Romano has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McManus keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
McManus moves away from the strike by Romano.
Romano misses with a telegraphed body shot

and McManus counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Romano has one foot on McManus's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Matt Romano will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A swing and a miss from Romano.
Romano throws a head kick that misses.
A jab lands there for Romano.
Romano is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McManus.
Romano looks to throw the jab but McManus is out of range.
Romano throws a body punch but McManus moves out of range.
McManus avoids the body shot from Romano.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romano tries to score with a low kick but McManus moves his leg out of the way.
McManus has a takedown stuffed.
McManus blocks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano with a lazy takedown attempt

and McManus counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by McManus.
Romano wants to stand up but McManus is controlling him.
McManus trying to control but Romano is working from the bottom.
Romano wants to stand but McManus is controlling the position.
McManus throwing strikes but missing.

McManus thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Romano looking to control.
Romano looking to hit a scissor sweep but McManus is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Romano tries a head kick but it misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romano missing with a left hand there. McManus was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Romano tries to clinch but McManus is having none of it.
McManus checks a low kick from Romano.
McManus doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Romano counters with a nice body kick.
Romano throws a body punch but McManus moves out of range.
Romano tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Romano throws a head kick that misses
and McManus counters with a nice leg kick.
McManus doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Romano to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan McManus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romano tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A low kick from Romano misses

and McManus counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Romano!
McManus lands a big shot there that rocks Romano but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
McManus pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
McManus tries to control but Romano wriggling away.
McManus won't let Romano get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

McManus throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Romano has his hands clasped together but McManus breaks the hold and Romano is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by McManus!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Dan McManus!