PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Akisame Hikaru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cristian Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hikaru kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Ultimate Battle. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Hikaru
vs
Romero

172 cm
24
180 lbs
15 - 4 - 0

179 cm
27
180 lbs
20 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Damnfield clothing
Cold Blooded Kemists ↑ 5x160Q

Brute

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 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akisame Hikaru!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cristian Romero!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romero tries to clinch but Hikaru moves out of range.
Hikaru fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Hikaru gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Romero to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Romero is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Romero trying to control the position from guard on top but Hikaru is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hikaru utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Romero trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Romero sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hikaru avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hikaru is trying to control the position but Romero postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero postures up and lands a big shot to Hikaru's brow.
Romero trying to control but Hikaru is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romero being controlled here momentarily.
Romero is looking to work some ground and pound but Hikaru has wrist control.
Hikaru tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hikaru is working hard here to advance position.
Hikaru working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Romero.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hikaru is on top in guard.
Romero wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero has his hands on Hikaru's head, controlling the position.
Hikaru slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Romero 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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Romero has Hikaru pulled in close to control his posture.

Cristian Romero has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Hikaru throws a head kick that misses.
Romero avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hikaru lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hikaru swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Hikaru tries for a takedown but Romero sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Hikaru throws a front kick aimed at Romero's knee but Romero avoids it well.
Hikaru misses with the combination.
Hikaru tries to work over Romero's front leg with a kick but Romero checks it.
Hikaru cracks Romero with a good jab.
Romero wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero walks into a left hand.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hikaru.
Hikaru wants to land a leg kick but Romero is out of range.
Hikaru dives in and grabs Romero's left leg, looking for a takedown. Romero pushes down on Hikaru's head and hops out.
Romero tries for a takedown but Hikaru circles away easily
and Hikaru connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Romero tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Hikaru manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Romero shoots in and drives through. Hikaru sprawls well.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hikaru misses the shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cristian Romero will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Romero displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hikaru throws out the jab.
Romero showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hikaru.
Hikaru swings for the body but Romero moves out of range.
Hikaru throws a low kick, looking for Romero's leg but Romero calmly moves out of range.
Hikaru changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Romero tries to avoid it but Hikaru manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Romero to the ground. Romero escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Hikaru tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Romero paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Hikaru shoots in and drives through. Romero sprawls well.
Hikaru throws a half hearted mid kick.
Hikaru thows a body shot but no joy.
Hikaru thows a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero moves away from the strike by Hikaru.

Romero shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Hikaru taking some punishment here, with Romero in his half guard.
Romero wants to take a breather but Hikaru is having none of it.
Romero not landing any meaningful shots this time.
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. Romero connects with a nice short shot to Hikaru's temple.
Romero tries to pass to full mount but Hikaru defends it.
Cristian Romero has got the better of the ground game so far.

Romero wants to work for an arm triangle but Hikaru is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Romero performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hikaru manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hikaru looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Romero wants to control from the top but Hikaru keeps moving.
Romero not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Romero stopping the sweep attempt from Hikaru.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero is looking to work some ground and pound but Hikaru has wrist control.
Romero scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hikaru wants to sweep here but Romero controlling him for the moment.
Hikaru utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hikaru is trying to control the position but Romero postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Romero 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.
Romero distracts Hikaru with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hikaru utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Romero missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hikaru utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Romero won't allow Hikaru to sweep him here.
Romero trying to control but Hikaru is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Romero is looking to work some ground and pound but Hikaru has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cristian Romero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Romero shoots in and drives through. Hikaru sprawls well.
Cristian Romero is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Hikaru tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hikaru shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Romero defends it nicely.
Hikaru throws a head kick that misses.
Left hook, right uppercut from Hikaru.
Romero thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Hikaru if he has to take too many more of those.
Romero throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Hikaru's waist but Hikaru gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Romero off to one side.
Romero slips a straight right by Hikaru.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hikaru is defended easily by Romero.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero tries to clinch but Hikaru is having none of it.
Hikaru misses with a straight right.
Hikaru lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Romero circles away quickly and effectively.
Romero wants to clinch.
Hikaru throws a jab but it's blocked by Romero.
An inside leg kick from Hikaru misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Akisame Hikaru has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cristian Romero.
Romero staying out of range there.
Romero fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Hikaru throws a leg kick that misses.
Hikaru is looking to chop away at Romero's legs.
Hikaru misses with the combination.
Romero moves out of range of the leg kick from Hikaru.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hikaru shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Romero as he jumps to the side.
Hikaru shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Hikaru throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Romero tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Hikaru is in Romero's guard.
Romero trying to control the position.
Hikaru stopping the sweep attempt from Romero.
Akisame Hikaru has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hikaru content to stall in guard here.
Hikaru trying to control but Romero is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Romero has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hikaru jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Romero swinging wildly here.
Akisame Hikaru is winning the standup battle so far.
Hikaru throws a good cross that connects.
Hikaru throws a low kick, looking for Romero's leg but Romero calmly moves out of range.
Hikaru swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Romero.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Romero fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Hikaru avoids it really well and circles away.
Nice sprawl there from Hikaru as Romero shoots in.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akisame Hikaru showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Romero has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!