PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Romelu Lukaku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Isarno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Lukaku
vs
Isarno

185 cm
22
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

190 cm
24
175 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Romelu Lukaku !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Isarno!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Mauricio Rocha and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Isarno closes the distance and clinches up with Lukaku , looking for a takedown. Isarno pushes Lukaku against the cage but Lukaku circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lukaku shoots in for a double leg but Isarno sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Isarno is looking to clinch.
Lukaku closes the distance and clinches up with Isarno, looking for a takedown. Lukaku pushes Isarno against the cage but Isarno circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lukaku keeps the fight on the outside.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lukaku .
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Romelu Lukaku . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Isarno keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lukaku circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lukaku counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Isarno closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Isarno ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Isarno no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Lukaku postures up.
Lukaku prevents Isarno from getting back to his feet.
Isarno looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Isarno controlling the position.
Lukaku has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The ref stands the fighters back up. John Isarno was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A nice combination there by Isarno.
Lukaku tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Isarno swivels and escapes.
Lukaku slips a jab from Isarno.
Lukaku throws a right and a left that Isarno avoids nicely.

Isarno clinches up with Lukaku and pushes him back against the cage.

Isarno jumps into guard, dragging Lukaku to the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Isarno wants to get back to his feet but Lukaku is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Isarno wants to sweep here but Lukaku controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Isarno looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Isarno is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Isarno wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Isarno trying to keep a closed guard but Lukaku is proving a slippery customer.
Isarno wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lukaku avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lukaku controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Romelu Lukaku wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Lukaku gets tackled into the cage by Isarno. Isarno maintains the clinch.
Isarno tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lukaku 's elbow.
Isarno can't get the takedown.

Lukaku tightens his grip and picks Isarno up, before dumping him to the ground. Isarno manages to land in guard.

Isarno escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lukaku gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Lukaku is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lukaku tries to free his leg and advance position but Isarno is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Isarno 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.

Lukaku cracks a nice hook into Isarno's ribs.
No luck for Lukaku with that takedown attempt.
Lukaku shoots in for a takedown but Isarno shows good takedown defense.
Romelu Lukaku is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lukaku shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Romelu Lukaku . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Isarno throws a head kick that misses.
Lukaku dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lukaku fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Isarno avoids it really well and circles away.
Isarno throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Isarno wants to clinch up but Lukaku keeps it at a distance.
Lukaku takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Lukaku closes this distance looking for a takedown but Isarno circles away.
Isarno goes for a double leg but Lukaku avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lukaku continues to drive forward.
Lukaku looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Isarno's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Isarno.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Lukaku .
Isarno lands a nice leg kick that just misses Lukaku 's sensitive parts.

Isarno closes the distance and clinches.

Isarno's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lukaku lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Isarno looks for a takedown but Lukaku sprawls well.
Isarno tries to clinch there but Lukaku circles away.
Isarno keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lukaku moves out of range as Isarno strikes.
Horrible takedown attempt by Lukaku or perhaps it was just good defense by Isarno, which made it look bad.
Isarno is looking to clinch.
Isarno tries to clinch but Lukaku is having none of it.
Isarno dives in for a single leg takedown but Lukaku sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Isarno tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lukaku smiles and moves away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lukaku dives in for a single leg takedown but Isarno sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Isarno breaks the clinch.
Isarno shoots for a takedown but Lukaku saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Isarno will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lukaku tries to score a power double leg takedown but Isarno sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lukaku somewhat.
Lukaku shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Isarno sprawls well. Isarno wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lukaku gets slowly back to his feet.
Isarno jabs Lukaku to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Lukaku shoots in for a takedown but Isarno shows good takedown defense.
Lukaku shoots in but no luck this time.

Isarno instigates a clinch.
Lukaku goes for a takedown in the clinch but Isarno prevents it.

Isarno breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Isarno lands with a slapping head kick.
Lukaku slaps away a takedown attempt from Isarno, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lukaku shoots in and drives through. Isarno sprawls well.
Isarno will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Isarno fails in his attempt to clinch.

Lukaku drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Isarno looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lukaku is one step ahead there.
Lukaku knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Isarno on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Isarno is trying to control the position but Lukaku postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Isarno showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Isarno fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Isarno as Lukaku shoots in.
Isarno closes the distance and clinches up with Lukaku , looking for a takedown. Isarno pushes Lukaku against the cage but Lukaku circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lukaku .

Isarno throws Lukaku to one side and escapes!
Lukaku is trying hard to land a takedown here. Isarno sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Isarno fails to land with a series of punches.
A combination from Lukaku does no damage.
Isarno fails to land the takedown.
Romelu Lukaku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Isarno.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lukaku shoots in looking for a takedown. Isarno tries to sprawl out of it but Lukaku keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Isarno manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Isarno tries to clinch but Lukaku moves out of range.
Lukaku avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lukaku lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Lukaku swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lukaku shoots in for a double leg but Isarno sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Isarno darts in looking for a takedown but Lukaku gets double underhooks and turns Isarno into the cage.

Isarno manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Isarno is trying to keep Lukaku in close.
Lukaku stays in close to Isarno's body and controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Romelu Lukaku .
Lukaku throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lukaku shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Isarno shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lukaku as he jumps to the side.
Isarno darts in looking for a takedown but Lukaku gets double underhooks and turns Isarno into the cage.

Isarno breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lukaku tries for a takedown but Isarno sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Isarno or perhaps it was just good defense by Lukaku , which made it look bad.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lukaku .
Isarno darts in looking for a takedown but Lukaku gets double underhooks and turns Isarno into the cage.
Lukaku changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Isarno fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Isarno has a takedown stuffed.
Lukaku shoots in but Isarno avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Isarno fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Isarno fails in his attempt to clinch.
Isarno wants to clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Isarno.
Lukaku closes this distance looking for a takedown but Isarno circles away.
Lukaku looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Isarno is fending him off so far but Lukaku persists. Nope, Isarno circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Isarno doesn't manage to clinch there - Lukaku circles away.
Lukaku misses with a combination

and Isarno counters by clinching up.

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 Romelu Lukaku .
I think Isarno 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight for John Isarno!
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for John Isarno!
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight for John Isarno!

John Isarno wins by unanimous decision!