PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Romano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and luis eduardo almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romano comes to the cage accompanied by Almost Easy -- Avenged Sevenfold. almeida is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Sabor Açaí. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Romano
vs
eduardo almeida

190 cm
23
205 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
20
204 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

TKO Vegas
PowerCore Labs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Matt Romano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, luis eduardo almeida!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romano shoots in for a takedown but almeida shows good takedown defense.
Romano just misses with a punch to the body.
almeida is looking to chop away at Romano's legs.
Romano shoots in and drives through. almeida sprawls well.
luis eduardo almeida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
almeida throws a big shot that misses.
No joy there for Romano, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A nice leg kick lands there from almeida.
Romano shoots in for a takedown but almeida shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Romano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romano throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.

almeida gets caught flat footed, as Romano shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
almeida keeping full guard, as Romano tries to pass.
Romano passes almeida's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Still in half guard, Romano seems content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romano is looking to stall here but almeida recovers full guard.
Romano throws and elbow that misses. almeida uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Romano's guard. Nice move by almeida!

That's one minute gone in the round.
almeida in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Romano manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. almeida manages to get himself to full guard.
Romano makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
almeida is pulling down on Romano's head. It's preventing any offense from Romano, at least for the moment.
Romano looking to sit in guard and control but almeida gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Romano 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Romano wants to improve his position but instead almeida has moved into half guard.
Romano is trying to control but almeida passes into side control!

almeida looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Romano tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano is working hard here to advance position.
Romano is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on almeida's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Romano is trying to control but can't.
Romano is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Romano throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Romano has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. almeida is working away from the top position though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from almeida, right into the meat.
Romano is breathing heavily.
almeida lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
almeida lands a really nice looking cross but Romano seems unphased.
almeida tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Romano paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Romano shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts almeida as he jumps to the side.
Good leg kick by almeida there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Romano uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by almeida.
Romano scores with a three punch combo!
almeida throws a leg kick but Romano moved away.
Romano ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Romano shoots in for a double leg but almeida sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
almeida lands a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
almeida digs a good body shot into Romano's ribs.
Romano uses good head movement to avoid the hook from almeida.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

luis eduardo almeida dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

almeida connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
almeida feints and then cracks Romano's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Romano down.
Romano shoots for a takedown but almeida saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
almeida keeps Romano at a distance using the push kick.
almeida fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Romano looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
almeida throws a body punch but Romano moves out of range.
almeida turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nice body kick from almeida.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

almeida has managed to clinch.
almeida is stalling here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
almeida gets underhooks to prevent Romano's takedown attempt.
A right hand to the body from almeida.
almeida lands a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Come on almeida - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Romano can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Romano. That's going to take a lot out of him.
almeida tries a knee to the head but Romano blocks it.
Romano managing to block the knees to the body from almeida.

almeida breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
luis eduardo almeida seems to be getting the better of the standup.
almeida stuffs the takedown.
almeida fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
almeida cracks Romano with an open hand slap.
A solid body kick from almeida.
Romano chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before almeida can pounce on him.
almeida tries to clinch there but Romano circles away.
A good leg kick by almeida.
almeida lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
almeida tries to close the distance and clinch but Romano swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
almeida just misses with a punch to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from almeida lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Romano has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Romano and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
almeida scores with a body shot.
Left hook, right uppercut from almeida.

It looks like Matt Romano has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
almeida feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Romano's calf.
almeida fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Romano takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Nice shot lands for almeida.
almeida misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Romano.
Romano slips a straight right by almeida.
Matt Romano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Romano has a takedown stuffed.
almeida has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
almeida connects with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

almeida moves into the clinch.
almeida is pressed up against the cage. Romano has hold of a leg and is looking to drag almeida down to the mat. almeida avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Romano avoids the body shot from almeida.
almeida is looking to clinch.
almeida is looking to clinch.
almeida closes this distance looking for a takedown but Romano circles away.
Romano moves out of range of the strikes.
almeida tries to clinch but Romano is having none of it.
almeida closes this distance looking for a takedown but Romano circles away.
Romano shoots in for a takedown but almeida shows good takedown defense.
Romano tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but almeida swivels and escapes.
almeida misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
almeida throws a right hand that Romano ducks under and follows up with a left that Romano also avoids with ease.
Romano fails with a takedown attempt.
almeida cracks the inside of Romano's front leg.
almeida misses the body punch

and Romano decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in almeida's guard.
Romano sitting in guard here, content to control.
Romano looking to sit in guard and control but almeida gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Romano looking to hit a scissor sweep but almeida is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

luis eduardo almeida showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Matt Romano's cut.
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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

A nice leg kick lands there from almeida.
almeida scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Romano avoids the body shot from almeida.
Romano avoids a kick to the body.

almeida darts in and clinches Romano up against the cage.
Romano goes for a takedown attempt but almeida pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
almeida throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Romano.
Romano takes a swing at almeida's ribcage but misses.

Romano changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. almeida looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Romano trying to control the action but almeida is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Romano working the strikes but almeida uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
almeida taking some punishment here, with Romano in his half guard.
Romano wants to lay and pray for a moment but almeida keeps working.
almeida is trying to control but can't.
Romano perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

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.
almeida is pressing down on Romano's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romano trying to control but almeida is working from the bottom.
Romano is pushing down on almeida's leg trying to pass to half guard. almeida is fighting to maintain full guard but Romano has managed to sneak the leg through.
Ground and pound from Romano.
Romano seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but almeida does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Romano content to control rather than advance.
Romano 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.
almeida makes his way to full guard. A much better position for almeida.
Romano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. almeida is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano wants to control from the top but almeida keeps moving.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Matt Romano just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Romano darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Matt Romano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

almeida is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Romano pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romano thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
almeida is trying to maintain the position but Romano is very close to passing his half guard.
almeida avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Romano.
almeida won't allow Romano to pass to mount.
almeida tries to get to full guard but Romano has control of the leg.
Romano looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Romano working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on almeida's thigh. almeida counters though and makes it back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to luis eduardo almeida.
I've got almeida winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... luis eduardo almeida!