PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tony Romo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Ranieri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romo comes into the arena with Sweet Caroline - Neil Diamond blaring out of the sound system. Ranieri has chosen DMX - Lord give me a Sign as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Romo
vs
Ranieri

190 cm
25
195 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

186 cm
26
190 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Romo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Ranieri!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ranieri sprawls well. Ranieri wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Romo gets slowly back to his feet.

Ranieri drives through and clinches with Romo against the cage.
Romo tries to pull guard but Ranieri holds him up against the cage and eventually Romo drops back down to his feet.
Ranieri landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knees to the body from Ranieri.
Ranieri throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Romo blocks it with crossed arms.
Romo has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ranieri avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tony Romo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ranieri lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Ranieri pulls Romo into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Romo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Romo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ranieri has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Romo has managed to get both his arms back between Ranieri's legs - danger averted.
Ranieri is adopting a defensive guard.
Ranieri told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

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

Ranieri is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Romo is aware though and is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Romo avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Ranieri has an active guard here but Romo has managed to pass into half guard.
Ranieri is looking to improve his position.
Ranieri is not content to let Romo control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romo is pressing down on Ranieri's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ranieri is holding on for now.
Romo wants to take a breather but Ranieri is having none of it.
Ranieri makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ranieri.
Romo postures up.
Romo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ranieri on the ground.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ranieri is on top in guard.

Romo keeping moving, preventing Ranieri from controlling successfully.
Romo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ranieri is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ranieri pushing down on Romo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ranieri wants to pass the guard but Romo is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romo wants to control but Ranieri is keeping busy.

Romo has one foot on Ranieri's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Joe Ranieri is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Romo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ranieri but Ranieri pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ranieri is looking for the big counter here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ranieri counters with a body kick that stops Romo in his tracks momentarily.
Romo misses with a takedown attempt
and Ranieri counters with a one-two to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Ranieri dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ranieri lands with a straight right. Romo didn't see that one coming.
The fight stays on the outside here - Romo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ranieri tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ranieri misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ranieri fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Romo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ranieri.

Ranieri drives through and clinches with Romo against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ranieri lands a good knee to the midsection. Romo won't want to take too many of those.
Ranieri tries to land a knee to the head but Romo blocks with his arms.
Ranieri unloads a knee to the mid-section. Romo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Ranieri scores with a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ranieri just leaning against Romo, taking a breather.
Ranieri looking to throw knees to the head but Romo is blocking nicely.
Ranieri has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ranieri landing knees to the head.
Ranieri landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Ranieri landing knees to the head.
Ranieri landing knees to the head.
Joe Ranieri seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ranieri tries to land a knee to the head but Romo blocks with his arms.
Ranieri stalling in the clinch.
Ranieri landing knees to the body.
Ranieri with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Romo tries to circle away but Ranieri has him pinned against the cage.
Ranieri connects with a nasty looking knee right to Romo's face.
Romo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ranieri smiles and moves away.
Romo darts in looking for a takedown but Ranieri gets double underhooks and turns Romo into the cage.
Ranieri throws a counter combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Ranieri moves into the clinch successfully.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Romo takes a knee to the side of the body.
Romo misses with a knee to the head.
Romo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Romo takes a knee right on the jaw!
Ranieri connects with a nasty looking knee right to Romo's face.
Ranieri is stalling here.
Ranieri connects with a knee to the head.

Ranieri pulls Romo into guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ranieri has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Romo should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Ranieri has tightened it up now! Romo should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Joe Ranieri!
Joe Ranieri seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
In defeat, Tony Romo stepped up to the mic, saying 'Maybe I can still play for the Browns...'.