PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Roman Romario (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl James Noons (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romario comes to the cage accompanied by National Anthem. Noons has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Karl James Noons is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Romario
vs
James Noons

180 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
21
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Roman Romario!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Karl James Noons!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Noons throws a series of punches but Romario avoids them all with ease.
A head kick misses from Romario.

Romario forces Noons back against the cage and clinches.
Romario tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Noons smiles and moves away.
Noons dips to his left and cracks Romario with an uppercut!

Romario darts in and clinches Noons up against the cage.
Noons is looking to break free of the clinch but Romario has double underhooks.
Noons wants to get back to striking at distance but Romario won't allow it.
Noons has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Noons tries to break free but Romario pushes him back against the cage.
Noons is trying to break the clinch but Romario is controlling him.
Noons wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Romario has him pressed against the cage.
Romario keeps control of Noons as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Romario jumps guard and drags Noons to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

Noons avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noons wants to get up but he can't break Romario's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Romario is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Romario seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Romario trying to control from half guard but Noons is working away.
Romario not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Romario is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Noons doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Romario.
Noons pushes Romario off looking to stand but Romario dives back in and keeps control.
Noons looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romario is looking to stall here but Noons recovers full guard.
Romario looking to sit in guard and control but Noons gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Noons wants to get up but he can't break Romario's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

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

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Noons swinging wildly here.
Noons lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Romario circles away quickly and effectively.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Noons throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Noons misses with a wild combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Romario dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A chopping leg kick lands by Romario.
Noons looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Karl James Noons is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Romario closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Noons wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Romario has him pressed against the cage.
Romario tries for a takedown but Noons manages to get underhooks.
Noons tries to break free but Romario pushes him back against the cage.
Noons prevents a takedown attempt there.

Romario pulls guard effortlessly.
Romario controlling the position.
Noons would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Noons is breathing heavily.
Romario is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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.
Noons is looking to stand up but Romario won't let him.

Noons gets to his feet - Romario follows without any prompting.
Noons throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Romario.
No joy there for Noons, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Romario lands with a thumping leg kick.
Noons displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Romario throws out the jab.
Noons misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noons stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Romario.
Noons misses with a jab, cross combination.

Romario instigates a clinch.
Romario crunches a lovely knee into Noons's ribcage.
Romario pressing his opponent against the cage.
Romario can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roman Romario. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romario changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Noons fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Noons looks to land a left hand but Romario moved out of range nicely.

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.
Noons misses with a two punch combination.
Noons swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Romario showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Noons.
Noons keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Noons throws a series of punches but Romario moves out of range.
Romario fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Noons.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A slapping leg kick lands for Romario.

Romario closes the distance and pushes Noons back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Romario dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Romario avoids a punch combination nicely.
Noons throws a series of punches but Romario avoids them all with ease.
Noons misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Noons misses with a few strikes there.
Noons throws a right hand that Romario ducks under and follows up with a left that Romario also avoids with ease.
Romario scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Noons moves away from the strike by Romario.
Noons ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Romario moves away.
Noons takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Noons misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romario closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Noons to the mat! Noons manages to get full guard.
Romario working some strikes from top position.
Romario throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Noons works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Romario trying to control but Noons is working from the bottom.
Romario loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Romario advances to half guard.

Romario is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Noons sees it coming and defends easily.
Noons is refusing to be controlled, as Romario sits in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Noons is looking to escape.

Romario is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Noons doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Romario.
Romario trying to mount his opponent but Noons defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Noons regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Romario.
Romario wants to pass the guard but Noons is keeping the position.

Romario gets to his feet - Noons follows without any prompting.
Karl James Noons seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Some wild striking there from Noons.

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.
Romario moves out of range of the strikes.
Noons misses with the combination.
Some wild striking there from Noons.
Karl James Noons has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Roman Romario is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Karl James Noons is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Noons misses with a jab, cross combination.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Romario throws a hook but Noons avoids it easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roman Romario showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Romario has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roman Romario!