PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Antoine Dodson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodniel Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Romero has chosen Kanye West - Amazing as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dodson
vs
Romero

177 cm
20
163 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

176 cm
37
164 lbs
21 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Antoine Dodson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rodniel Romero!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dodson loads up on a big right hand but Romero slips the punch.
Dodson connects with an inside leg kick.
Romero's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Romero duly obliges.
Romero takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Romero throws a shot from downtown. Dodson moves away and avoids it.
Dodson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Romero's calf.
No joy there for Dodson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dodson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Dodson feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Romero's calf.

Romero throws a left that rocks Dodson and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Romero dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Dodson regain composure!

It looks like Antoine Dodson has been cut.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
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!
Dodson wants to control but Romero postures up.
Romero gets to mount! Dodson was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Dodson has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Romero tries to control but Dodson wriggling away.
Romero looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson is looking to improve his position but Romero isn't that keen on the idea.
Romero tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Dodson wants to hold on but Romero pushes him away.
Dodson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dodson tries to hold on but Romero pushes him away.
Romero takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Dodson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dodson trying to control here.

Dodson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Dodson wants to improve his position but Romero is controlling well.
Romero is thwarting Dodson's attempts to control the position.
Romero looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Dodson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romero prevents Dodson from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson is working hard here to advance position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Dodson moves into full guard.
Romero postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Romero is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Dodson looking for a guillotine here but Romero defends easily.

Romero got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dodson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Romero has managed to get both his arms back between Dodson's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Dodson looking to control but Romero passes into half guard.

Romero is looking for a kimura here.

Romero is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Dodson sees it coming and defends easily.

Dodson actively working from the bottom here.
Dodson moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodniel Romero dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Antoine Dodson's cut.
That's time! Dodson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Dodson connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Dodson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Romero forces Dodson back against the cage and clinches.
Romero can't break the clinch.

Romero breaks the clinch.
Dodson throws a leg kick but Romero sees it coming and moves out of range.
Dodson pushes Romero away with a front kick.
Dodson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Dodson lands a head shot.
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dodson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Good work by Romero as he checks the leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dodson throws a low kick but Romero moves out of range easily.
Romero fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Romero looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rodniel Romero seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Romero looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dodson throws a wild body kick that Romero sees coming a mile off.
Romero scores with a decent looking hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero moves to clinch but Dodson breaks away
and Dodson counters with a good low kick that Romero was not able to check.
Dodson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Dodson thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Romero if he has to take too many more of those.
Romero misses with a series of wild punches.
Dodson throws a low kick but it's checked well by Romero.
A little jabbing left from Romero on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Romero takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Dodson misses with a kick to the body.
Romero has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Dodson.
Romero tries to clinch but Dodson is having none of it.
Dodson half committed to a counter leg kick.
Dodson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A counter left hand to the body from Dodson misses its target.
Romero jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Romero shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Dodson eats them both and turns towards Romero to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Romero walks into a left hand.
A combination from Romero does no damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dodson scores with a nice right hand.
Rodniel Romero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Romero misses with an uppercut.
Dodson drops down looking for a counter takedown but Romero sprawls and moves away.
Romero has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Romero on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Dodson misses with a low kick.
As Dodson backs off Romero throws a huge counter combo but Dodson manages to avoid it all.
Rodniel Romero is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Romero moves out of range of the leg kick from Dodson.
Romero throws a nice looking combination but Dodson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dodson throws a head kick that misses.
Dodson misses with a head kick.
Dodson lands a right hook to the body.
Romero takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Romero swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Romero looks to land a combination but Dodson avoids it well.
Romero scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Dodson fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Dodson explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Dodson throws a head kick that Romero semi-blocks.
Nice body punch from Romero.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Romero.
Romero looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Romero displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Dodson shoots in and bounces Romero off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Dodson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Romero is breathing heavily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dodson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Romero looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Romero is keeping the position for now.
Dodson wants to control from the top but Romero keeps moving.
Romero trying to control the position.

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

Romero looking for a guillotine here but Dodson defends easily.
Romero is trying to keep Dodson in close.
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 Antoine Dodson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Antoine Dodson's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Romero throws a series of punches but Dodson moves out of range.
Dodson tried to counter with a leg kick but Romero avoided it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Dodson, right into the meat.
Dodson throws a head kick that misses.
Dodson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Romero finds it's way round the side to connect with Dodson's head.
A punch combination from Romero misses.
Dodson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Dodson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice defenses there by Dodson.
Romero throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Romero throws a series of punches but Dodson moves out of range.
Dodson lands with an overhand left.
An inside leg kick from Dodson misses.
Dodson works the jab nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dodson swinging wildly here.
Dodson shoots in for a takedown but Romero shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Romero needs to keep his hands up - Dodson had a free shot at his head there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson throws a series of punches but Romero moves out of range.
Dodson fakes the leg kick and cracks Romero in the body.
Romero throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dodson.
Romero's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Dodson connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Romero scrambles back to his feet.
Dodson lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Dodson tries to keep at a distance but Romero has taken the fight into the clinch.

Dodson ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Dodson no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Dodson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Romero wants to control from the top but Dodson keeps moving.
Dodson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Romero 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.
Romero stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dodson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dodson is trying to keep Romero in close.

Dodson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Romero passes into half guard.

Romero is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Romero wants to free his trapped foot but Dodson is holding on for dear life with his legs.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Dodson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Romero scores with a punch to the head.
Rodniel Romero is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dodson scores with the left hand. Romero knows he should have avoided that one.
Dodson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dodson moves out of range of the body kick.
Romero throws a combination that misses
letting Dodson counter with a right hand.
Romero lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dodson circles away quickly and effectively.
Dodson thinks about countering with a head kick.
Dodson throws a nice inside leg kick.
Romero misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dodson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Romero is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Danga de danga de dang - Romero scores with a four punch combination!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dodson scores with a nice head shot.
Romero throws the left hand but Dodson avoids the punch easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Romero misses the target.
Romero lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Romero takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Romero tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dodson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dodson was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Romero walks forward, straight into a front kick from Dodson.
Romero steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Dodson. That one must have hurt.
Dodson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Romero.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Dodson.
Romero slips a jab and a cross from Dodson.
Romero tries to clinch but Dodson is having none of it.
Dodson lands with a shot to the body.
Romero wants to clinch up but Dodson keeps it at a distance.
Dodson swings for the body but Romero moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Antoine Dodson.
I think Dodson 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antoine Dodson!
A very excited looking Antoine Dodson made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.