PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Romano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juan Tamad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Tamad's choice of entrance music: The Joker. Juan Tamad has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Romano
vs
Tamad

176 cm
27
185 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

184 cm
36
200 lbs
24 - 23 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Samuel Romano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 23 - 1, fighting out of London, Juan Tamad!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Romano.
Romano fails with the takedown
and Tamad counters with a stiff right hand.
Romano looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Tamad throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Tamad throws a nice inside leg kick.
A leg kick checked by Romano.
A nice leg kick lands there from Tamad.
Romano cracks Tamad with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Romano wants to clinch up but Tamad keeps it at a distance.
Romano takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Tamad connects with a good right hand that stumbles Romano. Romano circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Romano tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Tamad decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Romano's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Tamad trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tamad postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tamad trying to control the position from guard on top but Romano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tamad throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tamad has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Tamad's guard.

Tamad 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.
Romano being controlled here momentarily.
Tamad is trying to control the position but Romano postures up.
Romano pushes down on Tamad's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Romano is stalling here. Tamad is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Romano seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Tamad has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Romano dodges the ground and pound from Tamad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tamad is staying tight to Romano's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Romano parries the strikes from Tamad easily there. Tamad is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Romano to escape.
Tamad misses with the ground and pound.
Romano is trying to control Tamad's posture but Tamad avoids it.
Romano is looking for a sweep.
Tamad is looking to take a break and control but Romano is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tamad throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Tamad creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tamad lands a few punches from side control.
Romano is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Tamad off and has taken his back!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Romano's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Romano has the hooks in. Tamad is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Romano not allowing Tamad to control his hands.
Romano controlling well, preventing Tamad from escaping the position.
Romano is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Romano controlling well, preventing Tamad from escaping the position.
Tamad is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Romano.
Romano has the hooks in. Tamad is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Romano controlling the positon.
Romano throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Romano keeps control of the position as Tamad tries to break free.
Tamad trying to control the hands but Romano breaks the grip.
Tamad can't escape the position.
Romano tries to get the hooks in deep but Tamad pushed the leg off.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.

Tamad is in a bad position with Romano working for a choke. Tamad manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tamad scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tamad throws a combination. Romano tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Tamad avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Samuel Romano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Romano moves into the clinch.

Tamad breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tamad's coach down at ~T~ Troid - Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Tamad's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Romano shoots in and drives through. Tamad sprawls well.
Tamad changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Romano's corner calls for a 1-2. Romano obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Romano lands a lovely overhand right.
Tamad swings for the body but Romano moves out of range.
Tamad looks to score with a jab to the body but Romano is just out of range.
Tamad moves out of range of the body kick from Romano.
A big left from Romano misses.
Romano keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tamad blocks a jab.

Romano throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Tamad was covering up waiting for the punch and Romano finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Romano trying to control but Tamad is working from the bottom.
Romano won't allow Tamad to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romano trying to control the position from guard on top but Tamad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Romano has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Romano content to stall in guard here.
Romano sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tamad's guard.
Juan Tamad has got the better of the ground game so far.
Romano is looking to take a break and control but Tamad is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tamad is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Romano trying to control from half guard but Tamad is working away.

Romano is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tamad defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Romano trying to control from half guard but Tamad is working away.
Tamad wants to get back to full guard.
Romano not doing much here.

Romano is looking for a kimura but Tamad is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Romano to get the leverage.
Romano prevents Tamad from improving his position.
Tamad gets back to full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tamad is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano looking to control.
Tamad working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tamad is fighting to break Romano's control of his arms but Romano is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Romano is on top in guard.

Romano seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Tamad tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Romano trying to control the position from guard on top but Tamad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romano preventing the sweep.
Romano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tamad is keeping the position for now.
Romano trying to control the position from guard on top but Tamad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tamad looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Romano wants to control from the top but Tamad keeps moving.
Tamad keeping full guard, as Romano tries to pass.
Tamad keeping moving, preventing Romano from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tamad is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Samuel Romano dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Tamad scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Tamad lands with a thumping leg kick.
Romano feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tamad's calf.
Tamad scores with a hook to the body. Romano takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Tamad throws a jab but it's blocked by Romano.

Romano fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tamad, pushing him back against the cage.
Tamad is trying to drag Romano to the mat but Romano just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A nice left hand lands by Tamad.
A short left from Tamad.
Tamad takes an elbow to the temple.
Romano creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Tamad misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tamad makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Romano gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A right hand to the body from Tamad.
Tamad misses with the head strike.
Tamad looking to slow down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tamad lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tamad tries to throw a body punch but Romano avoids it by throwing Tamad back against the cage.
Romano connects with a knee to the head.
Tamad on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Tamad blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Romano lands a good knee to the midsection. Tamad won't want to take too many of those.
Romano landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Tamad takes a shot to the head.
Tamad goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Tamad scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Tamad manages to break the clinch.
Romano tries to clinch up but Tamad circles away and keeps his distance.
Romano takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Tamad tries to move into range but Romano moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tamad lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Romano at a distance.
Juan Tamad seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Romano throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Tamad tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Romano is in Tamad's guard.
Tamad takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tamad controls Romano momentarily but Romano frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tamad keeping moving, preventing Romano from controlling successfully.
Romano looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Romano trying to control the position from guard on top but Tamad is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Romano pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tamad is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romano is working hard here to advance position.
Romano trying to control but Tamad is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Tamad fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Romano, pushing him back against the cage.
Romano softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Tamad manages to break the clinch.
Romano blocks a jab.
Romano throws a head kick that misses.
Tamad drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Romano defends it well.
Romano avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Tamad looks for the body kick but Romano saw that one coming.

Tamad instigates a clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Tamad.
Tamad blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Romano prevents a body shot from Tamad.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tamad can't find room to land a body shot as Romano controls the action.
Romano throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Tamad blocks it with crossed arms.
Romano misses with a punch to the body.

Tamad breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tamad lands with a straight right. Romano didn't see that one coming.
Romano getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Juan Tamad is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romano thuds a left hand into Tamad's body.
Tamad slaps away a takedown attempt from Romano, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Romano moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Romano tries to clinch there but Tamad circles away.
Romano wants to clinch.
Romano slips a jab and a cross from Tamad.
Tamad throws a jab but it's blocked by Romano.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Juan Tamad.
I think Tamad has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Tamad!
Juan Tamad decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.