PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Paxio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cristian Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cristian Romero has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Paxio
vs
Romero

169 cm
29
160 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

179 cm
22
180 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thiago Paxio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cristian Romero!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romero takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Paxio throws a right and a left that Romero avoids nicely.

Paxio instigates a clinch.
Paxio tries to stall but Romero uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Paxio throws a punch but it's blocked by Romero.

Romero gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Paxio regains guard.

Paxio working for a triangle but Romero defends it easily.

Romero got a little sloppy there for a moment and Paxio has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Romero has managed to get both his arms back between Paxio's legs - danger averted.
Romero not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Romero must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Paxio looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Romero works over Paxio with some ground and pound from guard.

Paxio has his foot on Romero's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Romero works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero tries to free his leg and advance position but Paxio is retaining full guard.
Romero with a nice head shot there.

Paxio is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Romero defends well.
Romero trying to control but Paxio is working from the bottom.

Paxio looking for a guillotine here but Romero defends easily.

Paxio looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Romero wants to pass the guard but Paxio is keeping the position.
Romero trying to control but Paxio is working from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Romero is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Paxio working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Romero doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Romero manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Paxio is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Romero content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Paxio is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Paxio working for a triangle but Romero defends it easily.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Romero cracks Paxio with a solid left hand.
Romero stands up over Paxio, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Paxio throws his legs up looking for a submission but Romero uses it to pass to side control.
Paxio gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Paxio is defending against the submission attempts here by Romero.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero working Paxio over with strikes.
Romero not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Paxio looking for submissions off his back.
Romero lands strikes from half guard.
Romero lands with a punch from half guard.

Paxio actively working from the bottom here.
Romero working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Paxio is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Romero scores with a couple of nice shots.

Paxio actively working from the bottom here.

Paxio looking for submissions off his back.

Paxio looking for submissions off his back.
Paxio is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Paxio is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Romero pulls his head out easily.

Romero looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Romero is looking for a kimura here.
Romero seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Paxio does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Paxio taking some punishment here, with Romero in his half guard.

Romero is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Cristian Romero will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Romero scores a takedown into full mount!
Romero lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Paxio hang on?
Paxio taking shots to the head.
Romero prevents Paxio from getting the reversal.
Romero working the ground and pound effectively.
Paxio sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Romero seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Paxio wants to get back to full guard.
Romero throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Paxio looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Paxio looking for submissions off his back.
Romero is looking to take a break and control but Paxio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Paxio actively working from the bottom here.
Romero is trying to control the action in half guard but Paxio is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Paxio is defending against the submission attempts here by Romero.
Paxio on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Paxio taking some punishment here, with Romero in his half guard.
Cristian Romero has got the better of the ground game so far.

Paxio looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ground and pound from Romero.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Romero connects with a nice short shot to Paxio's temple.

Paxio is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Romero pulls his head out easily.
Romero is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Romero tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Romero landing strikes from the mount.
Romero controlling his opponent.
Romero connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Paxio is trying to escape the mount.
Romero lands a nice shot to the head.
Romero lands a heavy elbow.

Paxio is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Romero looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Oh Paxio is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Romero is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Paxio manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Paxio is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Romero pulls his head out easily.
Paxio taking some punishment here, with Romero in his half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Romero connects with a nice short shot to Paxio's temple.
Romero slips a nice elbow through Paxio's hands, connecting with Paxio's forehead.
Paxio is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Romero's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Romero's back!
Romero trying to survive by controlling the hands.
Romero looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

Paxio working for a choke but Romero is defending well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Paxio is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Romero defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Paxio seems to have got his legs back now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Paxio looking for the choke from the back.
Romero trying to control the position but Paxio manages to sink in the hooks.

Paxio is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Romero has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Romero manages to reverse the position and now he's in Paxio's guard. Nice work there by Romero.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Romero showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Romero's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cristian Romero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Romero defending well as Paxio loads up on a big left hand.
A swing and a miss from Paxio.
Paxio swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A punch combination from Paxio misses.
Paxio fails with an attempt to clinch.

Romero is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Paxio's half guard.
Paxio is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Romero scores with a couple of nice shots.
Romero keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Paxio is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Romero pulls his head out easily.

Paxio looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Romero passes to full mount!
The referee warns Paxio that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paxio is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Romero with the ground and pound from mount.
Paxio is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
BOOM! Romero connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Romero looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Paxio covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Cristian Romero!