PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Joel Romero (ranked 1570 p4p, 205 weight class) and Roy Roach (ranked 2102 p4p, 265 weight class). Roach has chosen Jump Around, House of Pain as his entrance music. Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Romero
vs
Roach

185 cm
31
197 lbs
13 - 5 - 0

183 cm
25
193 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Hot Spunk
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joel Romero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Roy Roach!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Chris Edwards and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Roach fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Romero, as that shot connected.
Roach throws a nice looking combination but Romero bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Roach looks to score with a jab to the body but Romero is just out of range.
Roach throws a shot from downtown. Romero moves away and avoids it.
Roach scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Roach throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Romero keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Roach misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Romero staying out of range there.
It looked like Romero was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Romero lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Romero cracks a nice hook into Roach's ribs.
Roach misses with a kick to the body.
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!
Roach looks to score with a jab to the body but Romero is just out of range.
Roach misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero moves out of range as Roach throws a body kick.
Romero appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Roach. Romero does a little dance to reset his feet.
Roach throws a body punch but Romero moves out of range.
Roach pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Romero seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Roach throws a sloppy head kick and Romero moves out of range easily.
Roach throws a sloppy head kick
and Romero counters with a right hand to the body.
Roach looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Romero jabs Roach to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Roach throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Romero.
Roach throws a combination that misses
and Romero counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Roach throws a body kick that misses
and Romero counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Roach looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Roach throws a body kick that misses

and Romero counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romero thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Romero stalling.
Romero slips a nice elbow through Roach's hands, connecting with Roach's forehead.
Romero stalling.
Romero throwing shots but Roach is blocking nicely.
We've been hearing good reports from Romero's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roach trying to control here.
Roach throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Roach wants to control but Romero is keeping busy.
Romero is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Romero thows a huge punch but Roach dodges it nicely.

Romero is trying to work for a kimura but Roach is defending well.
Romero missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Romero throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Romero is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Roach misses with a hook
and Romero counters with a right hand to the body.
A telegraphed right hand from Roach misses the target.
Roach just misses with a punch to the body.
Romero lands with a nice combination. Roach backs away looking to recover.
Roach pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Romero misses with a body shot.
Romero swings for the body but Roach moves out of range.
Roach misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Roach swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Romero fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Roach manages to avoid it.
As Romero backs off Roach throws a huge counter combo but Romero manages to avoid it all.
Roach digs a good body shot into Romero's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Joel Romero will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Roach throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Roach misses the shot to the body.
Romero is looking to wear down Roach with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Sloppy strikes from Romero. Those never looked like landing.
Romero keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It looked like Romero was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Roach throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Roach uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Romero has time to react.
Roach misses with a body kick.
Roach tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Roach swings for the body but Romero moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero fails with an attempt to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Roach on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Romero slips under a jab.
Roach misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Romero.
Roach throws a right and a left that Romero avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Roach scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Roy Roach seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Roach looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Roach throws a big shot that misses.
Romero is looking for a counter combo.
Roach throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Roach misses with a jab, cross combination.
Roach jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Romero jabs at Roach's body.
Romero moves out of range of the leg kick from Roach.
Romero swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Romero throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Romero misses with a takedown attempt - Roach sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero just misses with a punch to the body.
Roach tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Roach misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Romero fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Roach looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A head kick misses from Roach.
Roy Roach is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Roach with a nice cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Roach lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Romero misses with a few strikes there.
Romero takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Roach avoids a punch combination nicely.
Roach swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Romero shoots in and bounces Roach off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero trying to control but Roach is working from the bottom.
Romero is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Roach utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Romero trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Romero missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Romero postures up and lands a big shot to Roach's brow.
Romero is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Romero working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Romero trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Romero trying to control the position from guard on top but Roach is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Roach utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Romero passes into half guard.
Romero sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Romero looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roy Roach showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Romero's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Roach lands a two punch combo.
Romero avoids a kick to the body.
Roach throws an overhand right that lands on Romero's shoulder, as Romero tries to avoid the shot.
Roach throws a sloppy head kick and Romero moves out of range easily.
Roach scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Roach waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Romero.
Roach scores with a nice head shot.
Romero throws a body shot but no joy.
Roach just misses with a punch to the body.
Romero was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Roach tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Roach tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Romero was well out of range. Poor timing from Roach.
Romero doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Roach tries to land a front kick but Romero steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Roach. Those never looked like landing.
A lazy body kick from Roach
and Romero counters with a right hand to the body.
Roach throws a leg kick that is checked

and Romero holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Romero has Roach pressed against the cage, preventing Roach from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Romero has Roach pressed against the cage, preventing Roach from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Roach tries to land a knee to the head but Romero blocks with his arms.
Roach tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Romero manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
A short right from Romero.
Romero stalling in the clinch but Roach improves position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero prevents a body shot from Roach.
Romero blocks a body shot from Roach.
Roach misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Roach is trying to break free.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Roach.
Romero stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Roach escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Roach lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Romero slips under a jab from Roach.
Roach throws a body punch but Romero moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roach moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Roach goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Romero throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Roach uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Romero.
Roach throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Romero.
Roach throws a looping overhand right but Romero ducks down to avoid it.
Romero uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Roach.
Roy Roach seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Romero looks to throw the jab but Roach is out of range.
Roach throws a hook but Romero avoids it easily.
Romero is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Roach throws a hook but Romero blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Roach swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Romero on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Roach has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
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!
Roach rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Romero counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Roach misses with a right hand
letting Romero counter with a right hand.
Roach throws a jab but it's blocked by Romero.
A little feinted left hand from Romero on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Roy Roach is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Roach ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Romero lands an overhand right.
Roach ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Romero moves away.
Roach misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Roach connects with the punch.
Roach throws out a loose jab but Romero uses good head movement to avoid it.
Romero darts in looking for a takedown but Roach gets double underhooks and turns Romero into the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roy Roach comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Roach 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roy Roach!
Roy Roach opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.