PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Morris McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jason Romziel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

McDonald
vs
Romziel

173 cm
24
169 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

174 cm
23
166 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Good low kicks
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Morris McDonald!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jason Romziel!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McDonald tries for a takedown but Romziel circles away easily
and Romziel counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McDonald throws a poor cross that misses
and Romziel counters with an outside leg kick.
McDonald misses with a shot to the body

and Romziel counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Romziel.
McDonald has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Romziel has passed into side control.
Romziel wants to lay and pray for a moment but McDonald keeps working.
McDonald parries the strikes from Romziel easily there. Romziel is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable McDonald to escape.
The strikes coming from Romziel are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Romziel swings around for an armbar but McDonald sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Romziel's guard.
McDonald throws a big right hand that misses.
McDonald lands a couple of digs.
McDonald wanted to stand there but Romziel had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romziel managing to control the position.
Romziel looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McDonald throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McDonald makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
McDonald has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Romziel 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.
Romziel controls McDonald momentarily but McDonald frees himself.
McDonald throws a strike but Romziel rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
McDonald keeping moving, preventing Romziel from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Romziel scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
McDonald is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
McDonald utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Romziel throwing strikes but missing.
Romziel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romziel chips away with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romziel working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Romziel thows a big elbow that misses.
Romziel throwing strikes but missing.
McDonald keeping moving, preventing Romziel from controlling successfully.
Romziel might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control McDonald kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

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

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.
Romziel wants to control from the top but McDonald keeps moving.
McDonald throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
McDonald working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Romziel.

McDonald is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Romziel defends well.
Romziel trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.
Romziel missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Romziel 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.

McDonald misses with a lunging right hand
and Romziel counters with a nice leg kick.
Romziel lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
McDonald misses with a lunging right hand

so Romziel counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Romziel with a flurry of punches that miss.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Romziel accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McDonald is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
McDonald thows a huge punch but Romziel dodges it nicely.
McDonald throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Romziel trying to control here.
McDonald not landing any meaningful shots this time.

McDonald is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Romziel has managed to free his arm - good work.
McDonald not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McDonald is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Romziel has managed to free his arm - good work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

McDonald 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.
Romziel is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McDonald's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McDonald's back!
Romziel tries to keep control of the position but McDonald is staying busy.

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.
Romziel punishes McDonald with strikes from the back mount.
Romziel is not going to allow McDonald to sit and survive in this position.
The referee is taking a good look at McDonald as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Romziel!
McDonald tries to escape the position.
Romziel trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Romziel doesn't have the hooks in and McDonald manages to turn into his guard.
McDonald throws and elbow that misses. Romziel uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in McDonald's guard. Nice move by Romziel!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald trying to control the position.
Romziel forces his way into half guard.
Romziel sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McDonald defending well though.

Romziel is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, McDonald has managed to free his arm - good work.
Romziel works his way into side control.

That's four 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.
McDonald regains half guard.
Romziel prevents McDonald from improving his position.
Romziel moves nicely into side control.
McDonald tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Romziel wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
McDonald sneaks back into half guard.
Romziel frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Romziel landing strikes from the mount and McDonald is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Romziel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

McDonald looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A nice leg kick lands there from McDonald.
McDonald swings widly with a right hand
and Romziel counters with a slapping leg kick.
McDonald works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Romziel misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
McDonald throws a right hand that misses
and Romziel counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
McDonald swings widly with a right hand
and Romziel counters with a one-two to the body.
Romziel scores with a hook to the body. McDonald takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
McDonald misses with a takedown
and Romziel counters with a straight right hand.

Romziel shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Romziel breaks from McDonald's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Romziel cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McDonald tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romziel goes for an armbar but he's not got it… McDonald turns into him and now he's in Romziel's guard.
McDonald throwing strikes but missing.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Romziel holds on and takes a little breather.
McDonald throwing strikes from guard but Romziel blocks nicely.
Romziel has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
McDonald stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Romziel swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Morris McDonald has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
McDonald working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Romziel is on top in guard.
Romziel works over McDonald with some ground and pound from guard.
Romziel controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Romziel trying to control but McDonald is working from the bottom.
McDonald has momentary wrist control but Romziel slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romziel passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Romziel works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
McDonald trying to remain calm as Romziel controls from the top position.
McDonald is looking to reverse the position.
Romziel throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Romziel creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
McDonald looks to move to half guard but instead Romziel has passed into mount! Damn!
Romziel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McDonald is looking to escape.
Jason Romziel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romziel controlling his opponent.
McDonald is squirming around, avoiding Romziel's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Romziel comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Romziel has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Romziel!