PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stavros Halkias (ranked 702 p4p, 1263 weight class) and Vito Romero (ranked 105 p4p, 195 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Halkias
vs
Romero

192 cm
21
218
6 - 0 - 0

188 cm
28
211
7 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Voodoo Nutrition
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Shadow Realm NYC

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stavros Halkias!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vito Romero!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romero lands with a right hand.
Halkias uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Romero.
Halkias was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Halkias swings for the body but Romero moves out of range.
Romero bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Vito Romero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Romero lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Halkias lands with a right hand.
Halkias thows a left - swing and a miss!
Romero scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
A punch lands to the side of Romero 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Romero jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And Halkias counters with a quick kick to the body but Romero blocks it.
Romero ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Halkias defending well as Romero loads up on a big left hand.
Romero tries to clinch up but Halkias circles away and keeps his distance.
Nice uppercut there from Romero.
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!
Halkias fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Romero misses with a shot to the body
and Halkias cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Romero throws a hook but Halkias avoids it easily.
Halkias throws a quick counter kick to the body but Romero avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Halkias checks it well.
Halkias lands a nice looking body kick.
Romero scores with a nice right hand.
Romero scores with a nice strike.
Romero throws a lazy uppercut
and Halkias counters with a stiff right hand.
Romero keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Halkias.
Romero on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Halkias throws a looping overhand right but Romero ducks down to avoid it.
Romero moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Halkias throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Halkias uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Romero.
Romero throws a poor cross that misses
and Halkias counters with a left to the body.
Romero looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Romero clinches up with Halkias and pushes him back against the cage.
Halkias lands with a left to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halkias misses with a hook from the clinch.
Romero can't find room to land a body shot as Halkias controls the action.
Romero lands with a left to the head.
Halkias struggles to land a body shot inside as Romero controls his hands.
Halkias throws a head punch that misses.
Romero tries to work over Halkias's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Romero misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Halkias tries to throw a body punch but Romero avoids it by throwing Halkias back against the cage.
Halkias misses with a hook from the clinch.
Halkias prevents a body shot from Romero.
Romero goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Romero doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Romero misses with a punch to the body.
Romero takes a shot to the head.
Halkias lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Good body shot from Romero.
Halkias with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Romero misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero prevents a body shot from Halkias.
Halkias swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Romero.
Halkias misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Halkias fails to land.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Romero takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Halkias scores with a shot to the side of Romero's head.
Halkias is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Romero is keeping busy.
Romero struggles to land a body shot inside as Halkias controls his hands.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Halkias.
A hook to the body from Halkias.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Romero.
Come on Romero - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Romero blocking some punches.
Halkias lands an elbow inside.
Romero tries to throw a body punch but Halkias avoids it by throwing Romero back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero digs a right hand into Halkias's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Halkias's gas tank.
Romero lands a body shot.
Romero is trying to stall.
Romero misses with a body punch.
Romero controlling the action here for a moment.
Halkias throws a head punch that misses.
Halkias pushes Romero back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Halkias lands an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Romero slows down the pace here.
Romero is trying to stall.
Romero blocks an uppercut.
Romero tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Halkias's elbow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stavros Halkias dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Romero throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Romero might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Romero wants to clinch but Halkias slips to the side
and Halkias counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Romero throws out a loose jab but Halkias uses good head movement to avoid it.
Romero misses with a shot to the body
and Halkias connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Romero throws a big shot that misses.
Romero lands a really nice looking cross but Halkias seems unphased.
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Halkias paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Halkias throwing a counter right hand but Romero manages to avoid it.
Halkias throws a sloppy head kick and Romero moves out of range easily.
Halkias is looking to clinch but Romero is avoiding it.
Romero walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Halkias counters with a nice low kick that buckles Romero's knee momentarily.
Halkias takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Romero misses with an uppercut.
Halkias steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Romero.
Halkias went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Romero rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Halkias counters with a body kick that stops Romero in his tracks momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good shot there by Romero.
Romero tries to clinch but Halkias is having none of it.
Romero scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Halkias thuds his right hand into Romero's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Romero avoids the body shot from Halkias.
Halkias looks to score with a jab to the body but Romero is just out of range.
Romero looks to land a left hand but Halkias moved out of range nicely.
A slow jab from Romero misses its intended target.
Halkias lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Romero falls off balance throwing a combination
and Halkias counters with a nice body shot.
Romero needs to keep his hands up - Halkias had a free shot at his head there.

It looks like Vito Romero has been cut.
Halkias scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Romero takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romero throws a lazy right hand but Halkias sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Romero misses with a left hand
and Halkias counters with a head kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Romero tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Halkias's elbow.
Halkias doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Romero misses with a body punch.
Stavros Halkias has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Romero blocking some punches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Romero takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Romero struggles to land a body shot inside as Halkias controls his hands.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Halkias.
Halkias misses with a hook from the clinch.
Halkias comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Romero pressing his opponent against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Halkias as Romero tries to tie him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halkias lands with a light punch inside.
Romero throws a punch but it's blocked by Halkias.
Halkias can't find room to land a body shot as Romero controls the action.
Romero tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Halkias's elbow.
A head punch on the inside from Romero fails to land.
Nice body punch from Halkias.
Romero is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Halkias with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Nice body punch from Romero.
Halkias is trying to maintain a safe position but Romero gets an underhook and turns Halkias into the cage.
Still in the clinch, Halkias scores with a nice short uppercut.
Romero doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Halkias is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Romero can do to turn this around?
Halkias misses with some punches.
Romero cracks Halkias with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero tries a body shot but Halkias blocks it.
Romero tries a body shot but Halkias blocks it.
Romero digs a right hand into Halkias's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Halkias's gas tank.
Romero working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Romero.
Romero tries to throw a body punch but Halkias avoids it by throwing Romero back against the cage.
Romero tries to stall but Halkias uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Halkias pushes off an throws an elbow but Romero leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Halkias lands a body shot.
A shot in the inside from Halkias.
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!
Halkias misses with some punches.
Halkias lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Romero is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Halkias scores with a hook to the body.
Halkias misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stavros Halkias dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Vito Romero's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Romero misses with a combination
and Halkias counters with a stiff right hand.
Halkias throws a jab but it's blocked by Romero.

Halkias has closed the distance and engaged Romero in a clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Romero lands with a light punch inside.
A bit of stalling here from Romero.
Halkias tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Romero's elbow.
Romero tries to throw a body punch but Halkias avoids it by throwing Romero back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero misses with a body punch.
Romero takes a knee right on the jaw!
Romero working aggressively here.
Romero blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Halkias.
Romero tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halkias misses with a short punch on the inside.
Halkias tries a knee to the head but Romero blocks it.
Halkias can't find room to land a body shot as Romero controls the action.
Romero misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Romero struggles to land a body shot inside as Halkias controls his hands.
Romero can't find room to land a body shot as Halkias controls the action.
Romero goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short uppercut from Halkias.
Halkias throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Halkias tries to work over Romero's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Romero misses with a hook to the ribs.
Romero misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Halkias swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Romero lands a left hand.
Halkias misses with some punches.
Halkias misses with a short punch on the inside.
Romero scores with a nice hook to the head.
Romero prevents a body shot from Halkias.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halkias blocks a body shot from Romero.
Halkias tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Romero's elbow.
Romero is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Halkias is keeping busy.
Halkias lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Halkias lands a hook to the side of the head.
Romero takes a shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head punch on the inside from Halkias fails to land.
Halkias lands a body shot.
Halkias misses with the head strike.
A left hand lands to the body for Halkias.
A head punch on the inside from Halkias fails to land.
Halkias misses with a punch on the inside.
Romero lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Halkias working aggressively here.
Halkias scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A right handed body shot lands from Halkias.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halkias misses with some punches.
Halkias has a couple of punches blocked by Romero.
Halkias blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Halkias lands an elbow inside.
Halkias fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Romero displaying some good clinch control by pressing Halkias up against the cage.
Halkias leaning his opponent against the cage.
Romero has a couple of punches blocked by Halkias.
Halkias is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Romero is defending well for now.
A short right from Halkias.
Halkias looking to throw knees to the head but Romero is blocking nicely.
Romero struggles to land a body shot inside as Halkias controls his hands.
Halkias lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That has opened up Vito Romero's cut even more.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero lands a left hand that snaps the head of Halkias backwards.
Halkias lands a nice uppercut.
Romero lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Halkias backwards.
Romero looking to slow down the pace here.
Romero misses with a punch to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Halkias creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Romero struggles to land a body shot inside as Halkias controls his hands.
Romero lands a hook to the side of the head.
Halkias misses with a hook from the clinch.
Romero tries a body shot but Halkias blocks it.
Romero blocks an uppercut.
Halkias swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Halkias scores with a nice hook to the head.
Halkias can't find room to land a body shot as Romero controls the action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Romero.
Halkias tries a body shot but Romero blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stavros Halkias clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Vito Romero'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.

Halkias throws a hook but Romero avoids it easily.
Halkias slips a straight right by Romero.
Halkias blocks a jab.
Romero does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Romero tried to score with a low kick but Halkias checks it.
Romero throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Halkias throws a leg kick which misses Romero's front leg but catches the back leg as Romero tries to avoid it.
Halkias uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Romero.
Sloppy strikes from Romero. Those never looked like landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero moves into range and connects with a jab.
Halkias looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Nice defenses there by Halkias.
Halkias seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Halkias throws a combination that misses
and Romero counters with a straight right hand.
Romero misses with a right hand
and Halkias counters with a leg kick.
Halkias takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero misses with a left hand
and Halkias makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Romero is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Romero jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Halkias has taken the fight to the clinch.
Halkias working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Halkias has a couple of punches blocked by Romero.
Romero throws a head punch that misses.
Romero can't find room to land a body shot as Halkias controls the action.
Halkias lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Romero or not.
Halkias fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Halkias has a couple of punches blocked by Romero.
Romero is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Halkias is stalling here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halkias misses with the head strike.
Romero will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Halkias up against the cage.
Halkias swings wildly with an uppercut but Romero uses good head movement to avoid it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Halkias as Romero tries to tie him up.
Halkias prevents a body shot from Romero.
A nice right hand lands inside from Halkias.
A head punch on the inside from Halkias fails to land.
Romero tries to work over Halkias's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Romero tries to work over Halkias's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Romero tries to work over Halkias's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Halkias.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Halkias.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Halkias on the inside.
Romero tries a body shot but Halkias blocks it.
Halkias blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Halkias struggles to land a body shot inside as Romero controls his hands.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Halkias as Romero tries to tie him up.
Romero tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Romero swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Romero throws a punch but it's blocked by Halkias.
Romero blocks an uppercut.
Romero blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Halkias avoiding damage.
Halkias lands a shoulder strike.
Halkias tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A shot in the inside from Romero.
Halkias scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero tries to throw a body punch but Halkias avoids it by throwing Romero back against the cage.
Halkias goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right handed body shot lands from Halkias.
Romero tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Halkias's elbow.
Romero can't find room to land a body shot as Halkias controls the action.
Romero misses with the head strike.
A shot in the inside from Romero.
Halkias fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Romero tries to work over Halkias's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Halkias.
Romero misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Halkias has a couple of punches blocked by Romero.
Halkias misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Still in the clinch, Halkias scores with a nice short uppercut.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Romero as Halkias tries to tie him up.
Halkias misses with a knee strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Stavros Halkias had his way with Vito Romero in that round.
The cut man is working on Vito Romero's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Romero misses with a looping left.
A big left from Romero misses.
Halkias is looking to counter punch.
Romero connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Romero waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Halkias.
A little feinted left hand from Halkias on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Romero scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Romero fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Halkias, pushing him back against the cage.
Halkias prevents a body shot from Romero.
Halkias lands a right hand that snaps the head of Romero backwards.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Halkias.
Halkias lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Romero.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halkias misses with a short punch on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Romero is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Romero blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Halkias fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Halkias.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halkias is looking to control Romero's arms but Romero gets an underhook and turns him. Now Halkias has his back to the cage.
Romero swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Romero struggles to land a body shot inside as Halkias controls his hands.
Romero doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Romero tries to throw a body punch but Halkias avoids it by throwing Romero back against the cage.
Romero struggles to land a body shot inside as Halkias controls his hands.
Romero tries to throw a body punch but Halkias avoids it by throwing Romero back against the cage.
Halkias lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Romero backwards.
Halkias scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Halkias creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Romero wants to stall.
Halkias is working Romero over against the cage.
Halkias tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Halkias doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Romero's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Halkias throws an elbow but it misses.
Halkias tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A short body shot lands from Halkias as the two fighters clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Halkias.
Romero blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Romero.
Halkias lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A short right from Halkias on the inside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Romero misses with a hook to the ribs.
Halkias lands a body shot.
A short left from Halkias.
Halkias goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Halkias lands an uppercut.
Halkias throws a punch but it's blocked by Romero.
Romero blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero scores with a shoulder strike.
A short body shot lands from Romero as the two fighters clinch.
Halkias lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Romero blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Romero tries to work over Halkias's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Romero digs a right hand underneath Halkias's ribcage. Halkias let out a lung full of air as it connected.
A bit of stalling here from Halkias.
Halkias swings wildly with an uppercut but Romero uses good head movement to avoid it.
Romero blocks an uppercut.
Romero taking a breather.
Halkias has a couple of punches blocked by Romero.
Stavros Halkias is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Halkias pushes Romero back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Halkias lands a right hand that snaps the head of Romero backwards.
Halkias lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Romero cracks Halkias with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Halkias as the two fighters clinch.
Halkias misses with a body punch.
Romero lands a body shot in the clinch.
Halkias lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Romero backwards.
Romero lands with a short shot to the head.
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!
Halkias throws a head punch that misses.
Romero blocks an uppercut.
Vito Romero has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Halkias prevents a body shot from Romero.
The referee is keeping an eye on Romero - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Halkias tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Romero's elbow.
Halkias misses with a punch on the inside.
Romero struggles to land a body shot inside as Halkias controls his hands.
Halkias misses with a hook to the ribs.
Romero tries a body shot but Halkias blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stavros Halkias showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Halkias has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 50:45
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 50:45
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stavros Halkias!
Stavros Halkias retains his light heavyweight title!
A victorious Stavros Halkias thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.