PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yoel Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bo Dobbins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bo Dobbins has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Romero
vs
Dobbins

190 cm
22
195 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

182 cm
21
185 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite 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 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yoel Romero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bo Dobbins!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Romero shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Romero showed some decent athleticism there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romero scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Romero is just content to waste time from the top position. Dobbins takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Dobbins looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Romero trying to control the position from guard on top but Dobbins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Dobbins keeping moving, preventing Romero from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Romero accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Romero drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Romero jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dobbins can do anything to dispel that myth.
Dobbins is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dobbins throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Romero lands a couple of digs.
Romero working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dobbins's head.
Romero stopping the sweep attempt from Dobbins.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Romero content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Dobbins controls Romero momentarily but Romero frees himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romero distracts Dobbins with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dobbins really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Romero. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Romero is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Romero is looking to work some ground and pound but Dobbins has wrist control.
Romero lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Romero scoring with punches to the head and body.
Dobbins trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero pushes down on Dobbins's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Dobbins is looking to improve his position.
Romero thows a huge punch but Dobbins dodges it nicely.
Romero trying to control from half guard but Dobbins is working away.
Romero not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dobbins wants to get back to full guard.

Dobbins looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Romero seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Romero is working for a kimura but Dobbins is defending it quite comfortably.
Dobbins is looking for a sweep. Romero is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Romero has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Romero with the ground and pound but Dobbins uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Romero in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dobbins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Romero is one step ahead there.
Romero postures up in Dobbins's guard and throws a big left but Dobbins blocks it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Romero postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoel Romero dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Romero throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dobbins's waist but Dobbins gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Romero off to one side.
Dobbins shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Romero as he avoids it easily.
Romero is looking to counter the offense by Dobbins and move into the clinch.

Dobbins gets caught napping as Romero dives in and scores a takedown. Dobbins manages to retain guard.
Dobbins avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Romero is stalling in the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Romero accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dobbins wants to stand up but Romero is controlling him.
Romero trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dobbins thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero lands a couple of digs.
Romero pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dobbins is keeping the position for now.
Romero throwing strikes from guard but Dobbins blocks nicely.

Dobbins looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dobbins is trying to hold Romero in close to prevent damage but Romero has managed to pass into half guard.
Romero missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Romero throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Ground and pound from Romero.
Romero seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dobbins does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dobbins keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Romero sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dobbins defending well though.
Romero is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dobbins can do to turn this around?
Dobbins is staying active underneath Romero, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Romero seems to be looking for submissions.
Romero looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Dobbins throws a sloppy head kick and Romero moves out of range easily.
Romero drops down looking for a counter takedown but Dobbins sprawls and moves away.

Dobbins clinches up against the cage.
Romero wants to take the fight to the mat but Dobbins manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Dobbins wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Romero wants the takedown. Dobbins is fighting it off but Romero persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Dobbins's guard against the cage.
Romero postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dobbins wriggles free and stands up.
Nice body kick from Dobbins.
Dobbins lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Romero circles away quickly and effectively.
Romero avoids a punch combination nicely.
Dobbins throws a shot to the body.
Romero shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoel Romero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romero shoots in but no luck this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dobbins tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Romero.

Romero fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Dobbins sprawls well initially but Romero persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Dobbins is refusing to be controlled, as Romero sits in half guard.
Romero missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romero throwing shots but Dobbins is blocking nicely.
Dobbins is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoel Romero dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Dobbins shoots in but Romero avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Dobbins tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Romero paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Romero tries to counter with a takedown but Dobbins is quick to defend against it.
Dobbins throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Romero counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Dobbins!
Romero wants to control but Dobbins is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Dobbins's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Romero lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Romero laying and praying for a moment but Dobbins takes advantage and regains half guard.
Romero is pressing down on Dobbins's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dobbins is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dobbins on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Romero wants to take a breather but Dobbins is having none of it.
Romero landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ground and pound from Romero.
Dobbins is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Romero scores with a couple of nice shots.
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 Dobbins's temple.
Romero performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Dobbins wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dobbins wants to get back to his feet.
Dobbins blocking the ground and pound attempt from Romero.
Romero trying to pass the guard but Dobbins defending well.
Romero seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Romero scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Romero looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Dobbins with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Romero seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Romero sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dobbins defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero trying to control from half guard but Dobbins is working away.
Dobbins felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Romero is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Dobbins!
Romero is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Yoel Romero overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Romero trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Romero dominating with strikes here.
Romero lands a nice shot to the head.
Dobbins wants to hold on but Romero pushes him away.
Romero pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Romero with good strikes from the mount here!
Romero fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Dobbins is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Dobbins is wriggling around trying to escape.
Dobbins is still in real trouble! Can Romero finish him?
Dobbins takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dobbins taking shots to the head.
Romero looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Dobbins 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 4:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Yoel Romero!