PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Raikov (ranked 2677 p4p, 3318 weight class) and Vito Romero (ranked 371 p4p, 431 weight class). Raikov's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Back in the USSR. Ivan Raikov is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Raikov
vs
Romero

178 cm
20
195
4 - 0 - 0

188 cm
25
197
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

BE Younick

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ivan Raikov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vito Romero!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Kenichi Hosakawa and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raikov closes the distance and pushes Romero back into the cage.

Raikov gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Romero really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Raikov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Raikov looking to pass the guard.
Raikov advances to half guard.
Romero is looking for a sweep. Raikov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Raikov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Romero is just riding it out for now. Raikov eventually gives up the hold.
Raikov wants to pass to mount but Romero is defending the position.

Romero is defending against the submission attempts here by Raikov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raikov trying to pass the guard but Romero defending well.
Raikov is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raikov avoids the attempt from Romero to control.
Raikov moves to the back.

Raikov looking for the choke from the back.

Raikov is persistently looking for the submission but Romero is defending it well.

Raikov is looking for a rear naked choke here but Romero reverses the position brilliantly into Raikov's guard!
Raikov throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Raikov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Romero manages to get himself to full guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Romero is pulling down on Raikov's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raikov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Raikov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Romero is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Raikov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Romero knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Raikov moves into full mount!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Romero can do anything to dispel that myth.
Raikov fails to move to back control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Raikov looking for a guillotine from mount but Romero is having none of it.
Romero has given up his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raikov is working the back position looking for the choke. Oh, he's slid into an armbar! Beautiful transition and Romero taps out! Fantastic Jiu Jitsu from Raikov.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ivan Raikov!
Ivan Raikov is the new middleweight champion!
Ivan Raikov took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, BE Younick for their support in the buildup to the fight.