PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Romano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rampage Penn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romano kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Almost Easy -- Avenged Sevenfold. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Romano
vs
Penn

190 cm
27
205 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

190 cm
26
215 lbs
9 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

-OVERDOSE Factory-
-OVERDOSE Factory-

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 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matt Romano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rampage Penn!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, John Kavanagh and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Romano.
Romano throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Romano thumps Penn with a low kick.
Romano connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Penn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Penn swinging wildly here.
Penn needs to keep his hands up - Romano had a free shot at his head there.
Penn throws a hook to the side of Romano's head but Romano sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Penn doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Penn ducks right into an uppercut from Romano.
Penn misses with a looping left.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Romano checks a leg kick.
Penn shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Penn throws a right and a left that Romano avoids nicely.
A solid leg kick lands there for Romano.
Penn throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Penn slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Romano drops his hands momentarily and Penn takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Romano changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Penn looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Penn is trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Penn sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Romano performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Romano is looking to take a break and control but Penn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Romano lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Penn tries to get to full guard but Romano has control of the leg.
Romano lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
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.

Romano is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Romano throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Romano seems to be working for a kimura but Penn defends the submission attempt.

Penn is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Romano pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romano scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Romano lands strikes from half guard.
Penn wants to improve his position but Romano is controlling well.
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.

Romano is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Penn sees it coming and defends easily.
Penn is looking to improve his position.
Romano working over Penn with some ground and pound. Penn looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Romano is trying to control the action in half guard but Penn is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Penn tries to roll over but Romano keeps him under control.
Penn on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Romano missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Romano connects with a nice short shot to Penn's temple.
Nice strikes from Romano there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano slips a nice elbow through Penn's hands, connecting with Penn's forehead.
Romano not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Romano wants to pass the guard but Penn is defending well.

Romano is looking for a kimura here.

Penn looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Romano seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Penn does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Penn looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ground and pound from Romano.
Romano scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Penn on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Penn is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Romano scores with a couple of nice shots.

Penn is defending against the submission attempts here by Romano.
Penn on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Romano wants to lay and pray for a moment but Penn keeps working.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Romano seems to be looking for submissions.
Romano throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Romano is nestled in close to Penn, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Penn is looking to improve his position.
Romano is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Penn tries to get to full guard but Romano has control of the leg.
Romano lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
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.
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 interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Penn throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Penn throws a leg kick

so Romano counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Romano postures up in Penn's guard and throws a big left but Penn blocks it.

Penn is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Romano is aware though and is defending well.
Romano pushes down on Penn's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Romano is looking for a kimura here.
Penn wants to control but Romano is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Penn on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Penn wants to improve his position but Romano is controlling well.
Romano lands strikes from half guard.
Penn trying to hold on to Romano's head to control him but Romano postures up.
Penn gets back to full guard.
Romano postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano chips away with some ground and pound.
Romano distracts Penn with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Penn utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Penn looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Romano passes into side control.
Romano scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Penn to see if he's OK.
Romano scores with punches from side control.
Penn takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Penn tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Romano working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romano cracks Penn with a big right hand but Penn just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Penn is rocked!
Penn tries to buck Romano off but Romano is having none of it.
Penn is still in real trouble! Can Romano finish him?
Penn is breathing heavily.
Penn taking punishment in the form of punches.

Romano is trying to get an arm triangle but Penn is defending well.
Penn seems to have recovered his senses.
Romano cracks Penn with a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romano happy to just control the position for now.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romano lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Penn down.
Penn stops Romano from passing to mount.
Romano landing a few strikes.
Penn taking a bit of punishment here - Romano scoring with strikes.
Romano wants to control but Penn is keeping him busy.
Penn being controlled for a moment.
Romano scores with a couple of short elbows.
Penn is looking to regain half guard here but Romano keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano cracks Penn with an elbow. That is naaassty.

Romano is trying to get an arm triangle but Penn is defending well.
Romano works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Penn is not content to let Romano control the position.
Romano in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Penn is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Penn tries to roll over but Romano keeps him under control.
Romano is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Penn!
Romano punishing his opponent with strikes.
Romano connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Romano tries to control but Penn wriggling away.
Penn gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romano missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Romano looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Penn with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Romano is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Romano lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Romano is thwarting Penn's attempts to control the position.
Penn taking some punishment here, with Romano in his half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Romano sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Penn defending well though.
Romano not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Penn manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Romano lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Penn keeping moving, preventing Romano from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Penn looking for a guillotine here but Romano defends easily.

Penn escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Romano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Romano dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sloppy strikes from Romano. Those never looked like landing.
Rampage Penn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Penn punishes Romano's body with a nice straight punch.
Romano with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Penn takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Penn misses with a hook. Romano ducked under it nicely.
Romano misses the shot to the body.
Romano misses with a head kick.
Penn misses with a looping left.
Romano throws a leg kick
and Penn connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Romano scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Romano is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Penn can do to turn this around?
Penn misses with a looping left.
The fighters circling - Penn throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Romano throws a half hearted mid kick.
Penn shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Romano counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Penn is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Romano there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Penn misses with an uppercut. Romano saw that one coming.
Romano misses with a wild combination.
Romano defending well as Penn loads up on a big left hand.
Penn blocks a leg kick.
Romano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Romano checks a leg kick.

Romano shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Penn napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Romano working the head with strikes.
Penn takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Romano is working Penn over with some ground and pound from side control.
Penn is looking to regain half guard here but Romano keeps moving and retains side control.
Penn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Penn trying to remain calm as Romano controls from the top position.
Romano working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Penn tries to buck Romano off but Romano is having none of it.
Matt Romano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romano scoring with punches from side control.
Penn is not content to let Romano control the position.
Penn being controlled for a moment.
Penn manages to work his way to half guard, despite Romano's best efforts.

Penn is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Romano pulls his head out easily.

Penn actively working from the bottom here.
Romano is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Romano trying to control the action but Penn is working from the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Romano connects with a nice short shot to Penn's temple.
Rampage Penn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Romano content to control rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Romano.

Romano 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.

Penn actively working from the bottom here.
Nice strikes from Romano there.
Romano keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Romano is looking to take a break and control but Penn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Romano is looking for a kimura here.
Romano with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romano drops an elbow to the side of Penn's head.
Matt Romano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Romano thows a huge punch but Penn dodges it nicely.
Penn trying to get back to full guard but Romano takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Penn keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Romano looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Romano with a couple of short strikes.
Romano raining down hammerfists from mount.
Romano trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Romano softens up his opponent with a couple of shots there and then CRACK! One massive shot lands there and Penn is out cold! Romano jumps to his feet and celebrates on the cage with the fans, who are, quite frankly, going absolutely mental!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Matt Romano!