PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cristian Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akisame Hikaru (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hikaru has chosen Ultimate Battle as his entrance music. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Romero
vs
Hikaru

179 cm
29
180 lbs
22 - 19 - 1

172 cm
27
180 lbs
19 - 7 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Meet the Future

Damnfield clothing
Merciless Gladiators

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 22 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Cristian Romero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Akisame Hikaru!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hikaru stuffs the takedown.
Romero shoots for a takedown but Hikaru saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Some wild striking there from Hikaru.
Hikaru misses with an uppercut.
Akisame Hikaru seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hikaru misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A punch combination from Hikaru misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Romero checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Hikaru scores with a hook.
Romero shoots in and drives through. Hikaru sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cristian Romero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hikaru dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Romero. That did some damage!
Romero moves forwards but Hikaru connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Romero gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romero throws the left hand but Hikaru avoids the punch easily.
Hikaru throws a jab when Romero was well out of range.
Hikaru lands a right hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hikaru scores with a decent looking hook.
Hikaru falls off balance throwing a combination
and Romero counters with a slapping leg kick.
Hikaru looks to throw the jab but Romero is out of range.
Hikaru displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Romero.
Hikaru works the jab nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Romero looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Romero throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Hikaru lands a nice shot that snaps Romero's head back.
Romero shoots and misses
and Hikaru connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Romero. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

Romero bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hikaru parries the strikes from Romero easily there. Romero is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Hikaru to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hikaru is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Romero off and has taken his back!

Hikaru working for the choke.

Hikaru has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

Romero defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Hikaru's arms.
Romero is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Hikaru is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

Hikaru working for a choke but Romero is defending well.
Hikaru lands shots from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Romero's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Hikaru lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Romero hold on?!
Romero rolls, trying to escape but Hikaru keeps control of the position.

Hikaru looking to break Romero's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Romero remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Hikaru will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Romero is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Hikaru gets his way!
Romero is in bad spot here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romero breaks Hikaru's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
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!
Romero wants to control from the top but Hikaru keeps moving.
Romero distracts Hikaru with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hikaru trying to keep a closed guard but Romero is proving a slippery customer.
Romero postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hikaru looking to control.
Romero throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Romero forces his way into half guard.
Hikaru wants to control but Romero is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Romero lands strikes from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Hikaru manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Romero with a flurry of punches that miss.
Romero throws a big elbow that misses.
Romero throwing strikes from guard but Hikaru blocks nicely.
Romero loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akisame Hikaru dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Romero throws a shot to the body.
Hikaru is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Romero.
Hikaru tried to score with a low kick but Romero checks it.
Romero gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hikaru counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Romero shoots in and drives through. Hikaru sprawls well.
Romero with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hikaru counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cristian Romero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hikaru scores with a decent looking hook.
Romero uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hikaru.
Romero misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hikaru throws a jab but it's blocked by Romero.
Romero blocks a leg kick.
Hikaru moves away from the strike by Romero.
A telegraphed right hand from Hikaru misses the target.
Hikaru circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hikaru misses with a lunging right hand

and Romero decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Hikaru's guard.
Romero working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hikaru keeping moving, preventing Romero from controlling successfully.
Hikaru trying to control the position.
Romero in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Romero in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Romero loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hikaru working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Romero.
Romero trying to control the position from guard on top but Hikaru is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Romero lands a couple of decent looking shots.
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!
Romero trying to control but Hikaru is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Romero's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Romero trying to control but Hikaru is working from the bottom.
Hikaru wants to sweep but no luck.
Romero connects with a couple of short punches.
Romero looking to pass the guard.
Hikaru working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Romero.
Romero with a nice head shot there.
Romero looking to pass the guard.
Romero chips away with some ground and pound.
Romero wants to control from the top but Hikaru keeps moving.
Hikaru tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero works over Hikaru with some ground and pound from guard.
Hikaru keeping moving, preventing Romero from controlling successfully.
Romero is looking to work some ground and pound but Hikaru has wrist control.
Romero trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Romero throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Hikaru has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Romero can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Hikaru looking to control.
Romero throws a strike but Hikaru rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero is working hard here to advance position.

Romero looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Hikaru won't allow Romero to sweep him here.
Hikaru stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Romero swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Romero seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Romero keeping moving, preventing Hikaru from controlling successfully.
Hikaru preventing the sweep.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hikaru wants to control from the top but Romero keeps moving.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Akisame Hikaru hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Romero shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cristian Romero dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Romero tries to clinch up but Hikaru circles away and keeps his distance.
Romero misses with a takedown
and Hikaru counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Cristian Romero is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Romero changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hikaru looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Romero swings around for an armbar but Hikaru sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Romero's guard.
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 keeping full guard, as Hikaru tries to pass.
Hikaru stays in close to Romero's body and controls the position.
Romero looking to control.
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 pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Romero is keeping the position for now.

Romero working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Hikaru doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Hikaru manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hikaru working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Hikaru tries to free his leg and advance position but Romero is retaining full guard.
Hikaru working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Romero's head.
Hikaru lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Romero trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Hikaru loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Romero lands an upkick as Hikaru stands over him.
Hikaru won't allow Romero to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romero keeping moving, preventing Hikaru from controlling successfully.
Hikaru working some strikes from top position.
Romero wants to sweep here but Hikaru controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hikaru forces his way into half guard.
Hikaru lands with a punch from half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Romero tries to get to full guard but Hikaru has control of the leg.
Romero 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.

Hikaru is trying to work for a kimura but Romero is defending well.
Hikaru wants to take a breather but Romero is having none of it.
Hikaru prevents Romero from improving his position.
Hikaru is looking to take a break and control but Romero is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hikaru prevents Romero from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hikaru passes into side control, despite Romero's attempt to control the position.
Hikaru working the ground and pound.
Romero is trying to buck Hikaru off.
Hikaru lands an elbow.
Hikaru controls the position from side control.
Romero wants to control but Hikaru postures up.
Cristian Romero overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Romero is looking to reverse the position.
Hikaru working the ground and pound.
Hikaru lands some shots froms side control.
Romero can't do much from the bottom here.

Hikaru thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hikaru tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Romero tries to buck Hikaru off but Hikaru is having none of it.

Hikaru is trying to get an arm triangle but Romero is defending well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Romero can't do much from the bottom here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Romero is not content to let Hikaru control the position.
Romero tries to improve position but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Akisame Hikaru comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hikaru 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akisame Hikaru!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Akisame Hikaru waved his t-shirt featuring Damnfield clothing's logo in front of the cameras.