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 comes to the cage accompanied by Ultimate Battle. Cristian Romero has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Hikaru
vs
Romero

172 cm
24
180 lbs
15 - 4 - 1

179 cm
27
180 lbs
20 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Powerful

Cold Blooded Kemists ↑ 5x160Q
Damnfield clothing

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 - 1, 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 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Cristian Romero!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hikaru shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Romero as he avoids it easily.
Romero takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Romero checks a leg kick nicely.
Hikaru throws a looping overhand right but Romero ducks down to avoid it.

Romero rushes Hikaru and presses him up against the cage.
Hikaru looking to slow down the pace here.
Hikaru tries to throw a body punch but Romero avoids it by throwing Hikaru back against the cage.
Hikaru prevents the takedown attempt.

Romero pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Romero enables Hikaru to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Romero manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hikaru missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hikaru postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Romero working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hikaru.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Romero holds on and takes a little breather.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hikaru's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hikaru advances position into side control!
I wouldn't like to be where Romero is right now.

Hikaru tries for a kimura but Romero is defending well.
Romero tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Hikaru wants to control but Romero is keeping him busy.
Hikaru is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Romero will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Romero controls the position for a moment.
Romero tries to buck Hikaru off but Hikaru is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero struggling a bit here.
Romero parries the strikes from Hikaru easily there. Hikaru is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Romero to escape.
Romero on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
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 works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Romero on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Romero is trying to control Hikaru's posture but Hikaru avoids it.

Hikaru is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Romero is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hikaru cracks Romero with a big right hand but Romero just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Romero manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Hikaru 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Romero is controlling Hikaru's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Hikaru seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Romero does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Romero regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hikaru throws a big elbow that misses.
Hikaru is looking to work some ground and pound but Romero has wrist control.
Romero controls Hikaru momentarily but Hikaru frees himself.
Hikaru is looking to work some ground and pound but Romero has wrist control.
Romero controls Hikaru momentarily but Hikaru frees himself.
Romero keeping moving, preventing Hikaru from controlling successfully.
Hikaru is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sloppy strikes from Hikaru. Those never looked like landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hikaru swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Romero throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hikaru misses with a wild body shot.
Hikaru throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Romero sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hikaru tries to land a front kick but Romero steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Romero shoots in for a takedown but Hikaru shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Romero closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hikaru circles away.
Akisame Hikaru has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cristian Romero.
Hikaru misses with a low kick as Romero jumps back.
Hikaru shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Romero defends it nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Romero shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Hikaru defends it nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
A chopping leg kick lands by Hikaru.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akisame Hikaru 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.

Hikaru tried to score with a low kick but Romero checks it.
Romero slips a jab and a cross from Hikaru.
Romero misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hikaru throws a leg kick but Romero sees it coming and moves out of range.

Hikaru scores with a takedown into Romero's guard.
Romero keeping moving, preventing Hikaru from controlling successfully.
Hikaru with a nice head shot there.
Hikaru stands up over Romero, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Romero controls Hikaru momentarily but Hikaru frees himself.
Hikaru is working Romero over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Romero managing to control the position.
Hikaru throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hikaru in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Romero controlling Hikaru's posture.
Hikaru trying to control the position from guard on top but Romero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hikaru has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Romero is proving hard to escape from.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nice takedown defense from Hikaru. No joy for Romero on that attempt.
Romero gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Hikaru.
Hikaru fails to land with a series of punches.
Hikaru shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Romero shoots for a takedown but Hikaru saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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.
Romero is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Hikaru lands with a right hand.
Romero waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hikaru.
Cristian Romero is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Romero with a lazy takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Akisame Hikaru has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cristian Romero.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Romero fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Romero is breathing heavily.
Romero fails with a takedown attempt.
Romero moves forwards but Hikaru connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Hikaru rushes Romero and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Hikaru is fighting off a takedown attempt but Romero is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Hikaru to the mat. Hikaru regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Hikaru wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hikaru is pulling down on Romero's head. It's preventing any offense from Romero, at least for the moment.
Hikaru looking to hit a scissor sweep but Romero is one step ahead there.
Romero in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hikaru manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Romero manages to get himself to full guard.
Romero controls Hikaru momentarily but Hikaru frees himself.
Hikaru trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hikaru with a nice head shot there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero pulls Hikaru in close to prevent any damage.
Hikaru stopping the sweep attempt from Romero.
Hikaru landing with the ground and pound.
Romero tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Hikaru working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Romero keeping full guard, as Hikaru tries to pass.
Hikaru trying to control the position from guard on top but Romero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Akisame Hikaru overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Romero controlling Hikaru's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akisame Hikaru 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hikaru doesn't manage to clinch there - Romero circles away.
Hikaru swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Akisame Hikaru seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hikaru gets caught napping as Romero dives in and scores a takedown. Hikaru manages to retain guard.
Hikaru wants to improve his position but instead Romero has moved into half guard.
Hikaru wants to get back to full guard.
Hikaru is working hard here to advance position.
Romero is trying to control the action in half guard but Hikaru is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Romero winds up and cracks Hikaru with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Romero is looking to take a break and control but Hikaru is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Romero thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Romero prevents Hikaru from improving his position.
Hikaru preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Romero is working for a kimura but Hikaru is defending it quite comfortably.
Romero is stalling here. Hikaru is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Romero seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Hikaru has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Romero's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Romero defending against the ground and pound.
Hikaru wants to control but Romero is keeping him busy.
The ground and pound from Hikaru seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

Hikaru tries for a kimura but Romero is defending well.
Romero struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hikaru throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Romero to regain full guard.
Romero is trying to control the position but Hikaru postures up.
Romero wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Hikaru trying to control the position from guard on top but Romero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Hikaru accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Romero keeping moving, preventing Hikaru from controlling successfully.
Hikaru looking to pass the guard.

We're going to have a standup here because Akisame Hikaru wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Romero takes one to the chin there.
Akisame Hikaru is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hikaru will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

Hikaru has closed the distance and engaged Romero in a clinch.
Romero is trying to force a seperation but Hikaru has the dominant position.
Romero has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hikaru is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Romero prevents a takedown attempt there.
A frustrated look appears on Romero's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Hikaru can't get the takedown.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hikaru missing with knees to the body.
Romero fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Cristian Romero has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Hikaru ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Hikaru no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Akisame Hikaru.
Well Hikaru 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akisame Hikaru!
Akisame Hikaru managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Valhalla Q160 Nutrition, into his post fight interview.