PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nero Burningrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gracko Roman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Burningrom
vs
Roman

199 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

199 cm
25
201 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nero Burningrom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gracko Roman!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Roman is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Burningrom's half guard.

Burningrom has one foot on Roman's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Roman darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Roman is pressing down on Burningrom's thigh, looking to free his foot. Burningrom is holding on for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Roman controlling the pace.

Burningrom actively working from the bottom here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Roman controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Roman prevents Burningrom from standing back up.
Roman seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Burningrom looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Burningrom won't allow Roman to pass to mount.
Burningrom wants to get back to his feet.
Roman wants to pass the guard but Burningrom is defending well.
Roman stops Burningrom from getting back to his feet.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Burningrom actively working from the bottom here.
Burningrom wants to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Burningrom stuffs the takedown attempt from Roman. Roman gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Roman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Roman avoids the head kick by Burningrom.
Burningrom avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Burningrom has managed to clinch.
Burningrom gets underhooks to prevent Roman's takedown attempt.
Nero Burningrom has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gracko Roman.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Burningrom tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Roman's elbow.

Burningrom breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Roman fails with the takedown.
Roman fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Burningrom wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burningrom throws a sloppy head kick and Roman moves out of range easily.
Roman tries to clinch there but Burningrom circles away.

Burningrom takes the fight into the clinch.

Burningrom turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Burningrom in side control, throwing shots but Roman defends.
Burningrom fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Roman is trying to improve his position.
The strikes coming from Burningrom are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Roman can't do much from the bottom here.

Burningrom goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Roman rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Burningrom's guard! Nice work there by Roman!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burningrom has his foot on Roman's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Roman works his way back into a safe position though.
Roman's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Burningrom throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Burningrom working for a triangle but Roman defends it easily.
Roman stays in close to Burningrom's body and controls the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Roman stands up from Burningrom's guard - Roman perhaps looking for a knockout.
Burningrom throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Burningrom fails with an attempt to clinch.
Roman moves out of range of the body kick from Burningrom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Roman shoots in for a takedown but Burningrom shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Roman misses the body punch

and Burningrom counters by clinching up.
Stalling in the clinch from Roman.
Burningrom looking to stall.
Roman doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Burningrom breaks from the clinch.
Roman throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Roman fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Burningrom to the ground. Roman is now in Burningrom's guard.

Burningrom pushes Roman off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Roman decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Roman trying to control the pace.
Burningrom is trying to stand back up but Roman is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burningrom kicks off Roman and gets to his feet.
Burningrom throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Roman misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Burningrom blocks a head kick by Roman.
Roman throws a low kick but it's checked well by Burningrom.
Roman displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Burningrom.
The fight stays on the outside here - Roman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Burningrom wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Roman fails in his attempt to clinch.

Roman moves into the clinch successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Roman trying to stall but Burningrom improves his position.

Burningrom has Roman pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Burningrom pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Roman tumbling to the mat - Burningrom dives into Roman's guard.
Burningrom is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Roman can do to turn this around?
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Burningrom accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Burningrom missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Burningrom throws a strike but Roman rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Nero Burningrom overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Roman avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Burningrom escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Roman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Burningrom is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Burningrom had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Roman defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman sitting in guard here, content to control.
Roman's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Roman is continuing to stall.
More stalling from Roman.

Burningrom is looking for a triangle but Roman pushes his legs off easily.

That's four 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.
Roman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Roman gets to his feet - Burningrom follows without any prompting.
Burningrom bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sloppy strikes from Burningrom. Those never looked like landing.
Roman is looking to clinch but Burningrom is avoiding it.
Burningrom is looking to counter the offense by Roman and move into the clinch.

Roman moves into range and clinches up with Burningrom.
Burningrom gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Roman.

Roman manages to break the clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Burningrom or perhaps it was just good defense by Roman, which made it look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nero Burningrom will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Burningrom avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Burningrom.

Roman closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Roman lands in his opponent's guard.

Burningrom had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Roman defends it easily.

Burningrom has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Roman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Burningrom is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Roman is aware though and is defending well.
Roman slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The adventures of Roman the control monster continue. Boring.

Burningrom has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Roman can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Roman is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Burningrom working for a triangle but Roman defends it easily.
Roman showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Let's hope that Roman has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Burningrom shoots in for a double leg but Roman sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Roman avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Burningrom closes this distance looking for a takedown but Roman circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nero Burningrom. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Roman throws a one two combo.

Roman fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Burningrom, pushing him back against the cage.

Roman manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Roman darts in looking for a takedown but Burningrom gets double underhooks and turns Roman into the cage.

Roman is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Burningrom's half guard.
Roman is pressing down on Burningrom's thigh, looking to free his foot. Burningrom is holding on for now.
Burningrom is trying to get back to full guard.
Burningrom trying to get back to full guard but Roman takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Roman controlling his opponent.
Burningrom tries to reverse the position but Roman maintains control.
Burningrom stops Roman from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Burningrom is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burningrom is looking to improve his position but Roman isn't that keen on the idea.
Roman controlling the pace for now.
Burningrom is trying to escape the mount.
Roman looking to control and managing it successfully.
Burningrom keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Roman controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burningrom is in all sorts of trouble here.
Gracko Roman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nero Burningrom is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Roman won't let Burningrom get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gracko Roman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Burningrom 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nero Burningrom!