PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Trader Stiga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dom Romanelli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romanelli has chosen slipknot - psychosocial as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Stiga
vs
Romanelli

178 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Trader Stiga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dom Romanelli!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Sergei Dronov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid leg kick lands there for Stiga.
Stiga tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Romanelli paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stiga is looking to clinch but Romanelli is avoiding it.
Stiga throws a head kick that misses.
Stiga feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Romanelli's calf.
Stiga tries to clinch there but Romanelli circles away.
Stiga doesn't manage to clinch there - Romanelli circles away.
Stiga fails in his attempt to clinch.
Stiga tries to clinch there but Romanelli circles away.
Stiga wants to clinch.
Stiga throws out a leg kick but Romanelli moves out of range and Stiga only half commits.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stiga moves in looking to clinch but Romanelli pushes him off.
Romanelli avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Stiga fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Romanelli, pushing him back against the cage.
Romanelli misses with a knee to the head.
Stiga misses with a knee strike.
Romanelli is trying to break free.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romanelli managing to block the knees to the body from Stiga.
Romanelli tries to pull guard but Stiga won't allow it.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Stiga.
Romanelli tries to break the clinch but Stiga is controlling the position.
Stiga with a knee to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Stiga.
Stiga connects with a knee to the head.
Stiga lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Stiga scores a nice knee to the body.
Romanelli lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Romanelli stalling against the cage.
Stiga is working for takedown but Romanelli is calmly controlling the position for now.
Stiga lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Stiga is breathing heavily.
Stiga misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Romanelli.
Romanelli fails to pull guard.
Stiga tries to land knees in the clinch but Romanelli avoids the damage to the body.

Romanelli breaks the clinch.
Stiga tries to clinch but Romanelli is having none of it.

Stiga has closed the distance and engaged Romanelli in a clinch.
Stiga with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stiga with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stiga throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Romanelli blocks it with crossed arms.
Romanelli tries to pull guard but Stiga holds him up against the cage and eventually Romanelli drops back down to his feet.
Trader Stiga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dom Romanelli.
Romanelli is looking to control Stiga's arms but Stiga gets an underhook and turns him. Now Romanelli has his back to the cage.
Romanelli has had enough of the clinch but Stiga keeps him there for the moment.
Romanelli on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stiga keeps control of Romanelli as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Stiga is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Romanelli is keeping busy.
Romanelli is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Stiga misses with a knee strike.
Stiga tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Stiga lands a knee to the head.
Stiga scores a nice knee to the body.
Stiga scores with a knee to the head.
Stiga avoiding damage.
Stiga connects with a nasty looking knee right to Romanelli's face.
Stiga unloads a knee to the mid-section. Romanelli lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Stiga unloads a knee to the mid-section. Romanelli lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
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!
Knees to the body from Stiga.
Knees to the body from Stiga.
Stiga prevents Romanelli from breaking the clinch.
Stiga landing knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Stiga.
Stiga landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Stiga throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Romanelli blocks it with crossed arms.
Romanelli is trying to break the clinch but Stiga has him pressed against the cage.
Stiga tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Stiga using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Romanelli has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Stiga is pressed up against the cage. Romanelli has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stiga down to the mat. Stiga avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Romanelli tries to bum rush Stiga with a series of wild strikes but Stiga uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stiga thows a left - swing and a miss!
Romanelli tries to clinch but Stiga is having none of it.
Stiga tries to clinch but Romanelli moves away
enabling Romanelli to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romanelli fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Romanelli has a takedown stuffed.
Stiga throws a head kick that misses
and Romanelli counters with a big head kick but Stiga shrugs it off.
Romanelli thows a left - swing and a miss!
A solid leg kick lands there for Stiga.
Stiga tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick by Stiga misses

and Romanelli counters with a single leg into guard. Stiga didn't expect that.

Romanelli stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Stiga tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Romanelli counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Stiga's guard now.
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!
Stiga wants to stand but Romanelli is controlling the position.
Stiga pulls Romanelli in close to his closed guard and prevents Romanelli from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romanelli prevents Stiga from getting back to his feet.
Stiga has his hands on Romanelli's head, controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Romanelli stands and steps away. Stiga gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stiga throws a sloppy head kick and Romanelli moves out of range easily.
Trader Stiga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Stiga clinches up with Romanelli and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Stiga has managed to clinch.
Romanelli avoiding damage as Stiga throws knees to the body.
Stiga throws a knee to the head but misses.
Stiga lands a knee to the head.

Romanelli ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Romanelli no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Romanelli escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Stiga gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Stiga wants to pass the guard but Romanelli is keeping the position.
Stiga has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Romanelli being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stiga wants to stand and escape but instead Romanelli has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Romanelli is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stiga is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stiga is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Stiga is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stiga on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Stiga tries to get out of the position.
Stiga pulls Romanelli in close to his closed guard and prevents Romanelli from doing any damage or advancing position.
Romanelli preventing the sweep.

That's two 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.
Romanelli trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Stiga has his feet on Romanelli's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Stiga throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Romanelli.
Stiga wants to clinch.
Stiga throws a head kick that Romanelli semi-blocks.
Stiga tries to clinch but Romanelli is having none of it.
Stiga tries to clinch up

so Romanelli counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Stiga is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Romanelli won't allow Stiga to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stiga wants to get back to his feet but Romanelli is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Romanelli forces his way into half guard.
Romanelli is pressing down on Stiga's thigh, looking to free his foot. Stiga is holding on for now.
Stiga knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Romanelli on the ground.
Stiga is holding on to half guard well.
Stiga landing strikes from the bottom.
Stiga moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Stiga tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Romanelli won't allow Stiga to get back to his feet.
Romanelli trying to control the position from guard on top but Stiga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Romanelli stops Stiga from standing up.
Stiga tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Stiga is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Stiga tries to clinch but Romanelli moves away
and Romanelli counters with a straight right hand.
Stiga fails in his attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dom Romanelli showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Stiga throws a head kick but Romanelli moves out of range.
Stiga tries to clinch up.

Stiga closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Stiga has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Romanelli clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Stiga controls the action.
Stiga has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Romanelli breaks Stiga's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Stiga wants to get back to his feet but Romanelli is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Dom Romanelli has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stiga looking to control.

Stiga kicks Romanelli off and gets to his feet.
Stiga misses with a kick to the body.
Stiga bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Romanelli misses with a takedown attempt - Stiga sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Stiga clinches but Romanelli breaks the clinch

and Romanelli counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Romanelli.
Romanelli trying to control but Stiga is working from the bottom.
Romanelli won't allow Stiga to sweep him here.
Romanelli postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romanelli showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Stiga holds on and takes a little breather.
Stiga wants to sweep here but Romanelli controlling him for the moment.
Stiga is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Stiga is looking to take a break and control but Romanelli is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Stiga controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stiga throwing shots but Romanelli is blocking nicely.
Stiga not doing much here.
Stiga trying to control the action but Romanelli is working from the bottom.

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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Trader Stiga just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Romanelli is looking to clinch.
Stiga misses with a few strikes there.
Stiga staying out of range there.

Stiga closes the distance and clinches.
Stiga with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Stiga connects with a knee to the head.
Stiga with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Stiga is pressed up against the cage. Romanelli has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Stiga down to the mat. Stiga avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Stiga forces Romanelli back against the cage and clinches.
Stiga throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Romanelli blocks it with crossed arms.
Stiga connects with a knee to the head.
Stiga prevents a takedown attempt there.
Trader Stiga has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dom Romanelli.
Stiga misses with a knee to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Trader Stiga showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Stiga 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Trader Stiga!