PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Romano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan McManus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romano's entrance music is Almost Easy -- Avenged Sevenfold. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying McManus's choice of entrance music: Disturbed-Prayer. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Romano
vs
McManus

190 cm
26
205 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

186 cm
27
205 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Romano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dan McManus!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Cecil Peabody and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romano misses with a head kick.
McManus lands a right hook to the body.
Romano lands with a cross.
McManus throws an overhand right that lands on Romano's shoulder, as Romano tries to avoid the shot.
McManus takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
McManus takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
McManus defending well as Romano loads up on a big left hand.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Romano.
McManus fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Romano avoids it really well and circles away.
Romano defends well against a solid takedown attempt from McManus.
McManus misses with a takedown attempt - Romano sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Matt Romano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan McManus.

Romano shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches McManus napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Romano works to advance to full mount. McManus defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Romano moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, McManus has worked his arm free - good work by McManus!
Romano wants to lay and pray for a moment but McManus keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romano is trying to get an arm triangle but McManus is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romano creates some space and throws a big elbow, but McManus sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Romano tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Romano controlling the position from side mount.
McManus regains half guard.
Romano working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's two 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.
McManus is trying to get back to full guard.
McManus taking some punishment here, with Romano in his half guard.
Romano trying to pass the guard but McManus defending well.
Romano has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
McManus throws a strike from the bottom but Romano passes into side control!
Romano wants to control but McManus is keeping him busy.
Romano is working McManus over with some ground and pound from side control.
Romano fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano wants to lay and pray for a moment but McManus keeps working.
Romano landing a few strikes.
McManus is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Romano goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, McManus rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Romano's guard! Nice work there by McManus!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McManus chips away with some ground and pound.

Romano is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. McManus is aware though and is defending well.

Romano escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McManus gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Romano manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. McManus manages to get himself to full guard.
McManus looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Romano throws a big right hand that misses.
McManus 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 wants to control but McManus is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Romano dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Romano swinging wildly here.
McManus slips under a jab.
Romano lands a lovely overhand right.
McManus misses with a straight right.
McManus misses with an uppercut. Romano saw that one coming.
McManus looks to land a right hand but Romano moved out of range.
Romano lands a nice shot to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts McManus, as that shot connected.
McManus tries to land a leg kick but Romano saw it coming and moves away.

Romano gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Romano looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Romano is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McManus defends well.
McManus throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano looking to control.
Romano lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for McManus!
McManus is looking to get to half guard.

Romano moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, McManus has worked his arm free - good work by McManus!
McManus parries the strikes from Romano easily there. Romano is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable McManus to escape.

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.
Romano lands a few punches from side control.
Romano throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and McManus works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Romano passes to full mount!
Romano breaks from McManus's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Romano looking to land elbow strikes but McManus uses the position to regain half guard.
Romano missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
McManus on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McManus is refusing to be controlled, as Romano sits in half guard.
Matt Romano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Romano wants to pass the guard but McManus is defending well.
Romano not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Romano lands with a punch from half guard.
McManus makes his way to full guard. A much better position for McManus.
Romano trying to control the position from guard on top but McManus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Romano tries to free his leg and advance position but McManus is retaining full 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 controls from within his opponent's guard.
Romano pushing down on McManus's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Romano thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Romano looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Romano passes to side control.
McManus tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Romano working the ground and pound but McManus is defending the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Romano dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Romano throws a big shot that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - McManus looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Romano pulls out of a head kick attempt.

McManus moves into range and clinches up with Romano.
McManus tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Romano smiles and moves away.
McManus tries to land a leg kick but Romano saw it coming and moves away.

McManus drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
McManus trying to control the position from guard on top but Romano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Romano is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
McManus trying to control but Romano is working from the bottom.
Romano 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 one minute gone in the round.
Romano looking to control.
McManus preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
McManus showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Romano.
McManus misses with a takedown attempt
and Romano counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Romano misses with a low kick.
McManus throws a hook to the side of Romano's head but Romano sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Romano misses with a looping right.
A head kick misses from Romano.
Romano is looking to slow McManus down with leg kicks.
McManus avoids the body shot from Romano.
McManus lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by McManus.
Romano takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from McManus.
Matt Romano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan McManus.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McManus jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Romano misses with a hook.
Romano misses with a hook to the body

and McManus counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Romano's guard now.

Romano working for a triangle but McManus defends it easily.
McManus is stalling in the full guard.
McManus trying to control but Romano is working from the bottom.
McManus landing some decent shots from guard.
Romano utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano is trying to keep McManus in close.

Romano has his foot on McManus's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McManus works his way back into a safe position though.
McManus trying to control but Romano is working from the bottom.
McManus scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Romano looking for a sweep. Not yet Romano, not yet.
McManus makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McManus content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
McManus trying to control but Romano is working from the bottom.
Romano bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in McManus's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romano is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Romano throwing strikes from guard but McManus blocks nicely.
Romano wants to pass the guard but McManus is keeping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Romano with a nice head shot there.
Romano passes McManus's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Romano throws a strike but McManus avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Romano wants to control from the top but McManus keeps moving.
Dan McManus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Romano controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan McManus comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

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