PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Finlay Standifer (ranked 185 p4p, 592 weight class) and Ernesto Romero (ranked 16 p4p, 47 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Standifer
vs
Romero

172 cm
23
159
12 - 4 - 0

165 cm
30
156
13 - 5 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Furnace Performance 🔥
Uncle Rufus Clothing .Co

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Finlay Standifer!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ernesto Romero!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romero doesn't manage to clinch there - Standifer circles away.
Standifer looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Romero darts in and clinches Standifer up against the cage.
Romero misses with a short punch on the inside.
Standifer lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Romero backwards.
Standifer lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Romero blocks an uppercut.
Standifer blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Standifer.
Romero fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Romero blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Romero on the inside.
Romero misses with some punches.
Standifer tries to work over Romero's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Standifer blocking some punches.
Romero lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Standifer makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Standifer blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Standifer lands a hook to the side of the head.
Standifer doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Romero fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short left from Standifer.
Romero gets through Standifer's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Romero.
Standifer lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Romero or not.
Romero misses with the head strike.
Romero misses with a short punch on the inside.
Standifer lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Standifer gets through Romero's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Romero misses with some punches.

Romero escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch up but Standifer swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Romero lands a jab to the head.
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Standifer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Standifer swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Romero misses with a hook.
Standifer looks to land a left hand but Romero moved out of range nicely.
Romero is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Romero pushes Standifer up against the cage in a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Romero misses with the head strike.
Standifer throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Standifer working aggressively here.
Standifer has a couple of punches blocked by Romero.
Standifer throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Romeros head.
Romero's coach down at MMA Training and Sparring Buddies was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Romero's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Standifer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Standifer swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Romero misses with a short punch on the inside.
Standifer lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Standifer goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Romero lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Standifer backwards.
Standifer blocking some punches.

Standifer successfully pulls guard.
Standifer lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Standifer stands up over Romero, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Standifer stops Romero from standing up.
Standifer sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Standifer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Romero wants to stand but Standifer is controlling the position.
Romero can't keep his opponent in guard - Standifer advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Romero really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Standifer. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Standifer wants to free his trapped foot but Romero is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Standifer 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Standifer is trying to control. Romero wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Standifer is working for a submission of some sort.
Romero is looking to escape.
Standifer missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Romero is looking to escape.
Standifer lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Standifer is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Romero doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Standifer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Finlay Standifer dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Romero tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Standifer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Romero waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Standifer.
Romero tries to clinch but Standifer moves out of range.
Romero is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Standifer attempts a counter takedown but Romero avoids it well and moves away.
Romero tries to clinch but Standifer moves away
enabling Standifer to counter with a crisp jab.
Romero cracks Standifer with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Romero misses with a looping right.
Romero paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Standifer takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Romero tries to clinch
and Standifer counters with a nice uppercut.
Romero clobbers Standifer with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Romero closes the distance looking to clinch
and Standifer cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero fails in his attempt to clinch.
Romero tries to clinch but Standifer moves out of range.
Standifer connects with a single shot there.
Standifer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Romero was well out of range. Poor timing from Standifer.

Romero pushes Standifer up against the cage in a clinch.
Romero blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Standifer has Romero pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Standifer pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Romero tumbling to the mat - Standifer dives into Romero's guard.
Standifer postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Standifer stands and throws Romero's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Romero avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Standifer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero is not content to let Standifer control the position.
Romero on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Standifer sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Romero is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Romero managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Standifer.
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!
Standifer in side control, throwing shots but Romero defends.
Standifer scores with punches from side control.
Standifer working the ground and pound from side control.
Standifer scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Romero to see if he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Standifer tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Standifer has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Standifer sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Romero is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Standifer working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Standifer throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Romero is not content to let Standifer control the position.
Standifer cracks Romero with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero tries to escape but Standifer is in control.
Standifer works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Standifer wants to control but Romero is keeping him busy.
Romero trying to control but Standifer flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

Standifer working for the choke.
Standifer throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Romero!

Standifer looking for the RNC.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Romero is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Standifer gets his way!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Finlay Standifer dominated that second 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.

Romero moves into range and clinches up with Standifer.
Standifer tries to throw a body punch but Romero avoids it by throwing Standifer back against the cage.
Standifer doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Romero fails to land.
Standifer lands a left hand.

Romero breaks from the clinch.
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch up but Standifer swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Romero moves in looking to clinch but Standifer pushes him off.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Standifer clobbers Romero with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Romero is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Standifer is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Romero clinches with his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero lands a left hand that snaps the head of Standifer backwards.
Romero lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Standifer fails to land.
Standifer is leaning against Romero and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Standifer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Standifer.
Romero misses with a hook from the clinch.
Standifer working aggressively here.
Standifer is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Romero is defending well.
Romero is trying to break free.
Standifer tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Romero blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Romero creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Romero swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Standifer misses with a body punch.
Romero wants to break free but Standifer has control.
Standifer misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ernesto Romero seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Romero scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Standifer tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Romero blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Romero.
Standifer stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romero swings wildly with an uppercut but Standifer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Romero misses with a punch on the inside.
Romero swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Standifer swings wildly with an uppercut but Romero uses good head movement to avoid it.
Romero throws a punch but it's blocked by Standifer.
A right handed body shot lands from Standifer.
Standifer takes a shot to the head.
Romero lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Romero throws a head punch that misses.
Romero throws a head punch that misses.
Romero misses with the head strike.
Romero swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero misses with the head strike.
Standifer tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Romero just stands there and leans against the cage.
Romero has a couple of punches blocked by Standifer.
A head punch on the inside from Romero fails to land.
Romero throws a punch but it's blocked by Standifer.
Standifer lands with a right to the head.
Romero tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A shot in the inside from Romero.
Romero prevents a body shot from Standifer.
Romero fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Romero fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Standifer changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Romero fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Finlay Standifer. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romero tries to clinch up.
Romero is looking to clinch but Standifer is avoiding it.
Standifer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Romero can do to turn this around?
Romero tries to clinch up.
Romero fails in his attempt to clinch.
Standifer changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero wants to clinch.

Romero gets a clinch.
Romero lands a left hand that snaps the head of Standifer backwards.
Romero misses with a hook from the clinch.
Romero working aggressively here.
Romero blocks an uppercut.
Standifer working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Romero blocking some punches.
Standifer tries to work over Romero's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Standifer blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Romero fails to land.
Standifer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ernesto Romero really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Standifer throws a body shot but no joy.
Romero tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Standifer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Standifer fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Romero on the side of the head.
Standifer throws a body punch but Romero moves out of range.
Romero tries to clinch but Standifer is having none of it.
Standifer appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Romero tries to clinch up but Standifer circles away and keeps his distance.
Standifer misses with a body shot.
Romero wants to clinch up but Standifer keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero tries to clinch up but Standifer circles away and keeps his distance.
Standifer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Standifer seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Standifer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Romero.
Standifer keeps the fight on the outside.
Standifer attempts a counter takedown but Romero avoids it well and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Standifer throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Romero throws out a counter right but Standifer avoids it with no problem.
Romero on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch up but Standifer swats him away and circles back towards the center.
An attempted straight right counter from Standifer misses the target.
Standifer looks to land a left hand but Romero moved out of range nicely.
Romero tries to clinch
and Standifer counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Romero tries to clinch but Standifer is having none of it.
Standifer appears to be looking for a big counter.
Standifer keeps the fight on the outside.
It looked like Standifer was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Romero.
Romero uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Standifer.
Ernesto Romero is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch but Standifer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ernesto Romero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A jab from Romero finds it's way through Standifer's defenses.
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Standifer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Standifer changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Standifer misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Standifer swats away the attempt to clinch by Romero.
Standifer swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Romero rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Standifer cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Romero throws a hook to the side of Standifer's head but Standifer sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Romero tries to clinch up but Standifer circles away and keeps his distance.
A little feinted left hand from Standifer on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

Romero pushes Standifer up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Romero fails to land.
Romero tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Standifer blocking some punches.
Romero misses with a punch on the inside.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Romero blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Standifer.
Romero lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Standifer blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Standifer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Romero gets underhooks to prevent Standifer's takedown attempt.
Standifer blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Standifer fails to land.
Romero misses with a hook from the clinch.
Standifer struggles to land a body shot inside as Romero controls his hands.
Standifer lands a right hand.
A short right from Standifer on the inside.
Romero lands an uppercut.
Standifer scores with a shoulder strike.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Standifer.
Standifer can't find room to land a body shot as Romero controls the action.
Standifer has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Romero avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Standifer manages to pull guard.
Standifer 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.
Standifer has his hands on Romero's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Standifer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Romero can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Standifer working for a triangle but Romero defends it easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Standifer has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Romero can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Finlay Standifer had his way with Ernesto Romero in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Romero tries to clinch there but Standifer circles away.
It looked like Standifer wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Standifer throws a body shot but no joy.
Romero tries to clinch but Standifer is having none of it.
Standifer shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Romero as he avoids it easily.
Romero tries to clinch up but Standifer circles away and keeps his distance.
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch but Standifer swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Romero tries to clinch up but Standifer circles away and keeps his distance.
Romero missing with a left hand there. Standifer was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero moves in looking to clinch but Standifer pushes him off.
Romero tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
An attempted straight right counter from Standifer misses the target.

Romero moves into the clinch.
Standifer throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Romeros head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Romero.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Standifer throws a head punch that misses.
Standifer misses with a body punch.
Standifer scores with a nice hook to the head.
Romero misses with some punches.
Romero blocks a body shot from Standifer.
Standifer is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Still in the clinch, Romero scores with a nice short uppercut.

Romero pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Romero is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Standifer tries to counter with a takedown but Romero is quick to defend against it.
Romero uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Standifer.
Standifer lands a nice shot to the body.
Romero fails in his attempt to clinch.
It looked like Standifer wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Romero tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Standifer manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero tries to clinch but Standifer is having none of it.
A little feinted left hand from Standifer on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Standifer avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Standifer is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Romero throws a lazy uppercut
and Standifer counters with a right hand to the body.
Standifer cracks Romero with an open hand slap.
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Standifer paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Romero tries to clinch

and Standifer counters with a nice double leg into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Standifer drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Romero dives on top into guard.

Standifer tries to strike from the bottom.
Standifer 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.
Romero is looking to stand up but Standifer won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Standifer tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Standifer is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Finlay Standifer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Standifer lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Standifer in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Standifer postures up in Romero's guard and throws a big left but Romero blocks it.
Standifer is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Standifer postures up in Romero's guard and throws a big left but Romero blocks it.
Standifer makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Standifer lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Standifer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Standifer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Finlay Standifer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Standifer slips nicely into half guard.
Romero is refusing to be controlled, as Standifer sits in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romero keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ernesto Romero has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Romero is refusing to be controlled, as Standifer sits in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Finlay Standifer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Standifer has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 49:46
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 49:46
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Finlay Standifer!