PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Frederic Joyner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoel Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frederic Joyner had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Joyner
vs
Romero

170 cm
21
193 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

182 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Frederic Joyner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yoel Romero!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Alyssa Summers and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romero misses with a head kick.
Romero misses with a wild combination.

Romero has Joyner up against the cage in a clinch.

Romero pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Romero closes the distance and clinches up with Joyner, looking for a takedown. Romero pushes Joyner against the cage but Joyner circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Romero gets a clinch.
Romero leaning against his opponent.

Romero breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Joyner enables Romero to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Joyner manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero working some strikes from top position.

Joyner working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Romero doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Romero manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Joyner might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Romero with a nice head shot there.

Joyner had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Romero defends it easily.
Romero wants to control from the top but Joyner keeps moving.
Romero trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Romero passes into half guard.
Romero working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Joyner could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Romero is taking a breather. Joyner says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Romero has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Joyner is trying to get back to full guard.
Joyner is trying to maintain the position but Romero is very close to passing his half guard.
Joyner flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Joyner on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Romero controlling the pace.
Joyner is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Romero's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Romero's back!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Romero tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Joyner has got his arm under Romero's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Romero has spun round into Joyner's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Romero pushes down on Joyner's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Romero wants to lay and pray for a moment but Joyner keeps working.
Romero has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Joyner works to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romero postures up and lands a big shot to Joyner's brow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoel Romero dominated that round.
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.

Romero throws a body shot but no joy.
Joyner is looking for a counter combo.
Joyner shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Joyner dives in and grabs Romero's left leg, looking for a takedown. Romero pushes down on Joyner's head and hops out.

Romero clinches up with Joyner and pushes him back against the cage.
Romero is trying to pull guard but Joyner has him pressed against the cage.
Romero is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Joyner to keep the fight standing.

Romero lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero stalling away here and it's allowed Joyner to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Romero's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Romero wants to control from the top but Joyner keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Joyner can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Romero controls the pace.
Joyner is trying to control the position but Romero postures up.
Romero working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Joyner's head.
Romero postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Romero looking to pass the guard.
Romero sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Romero looking to pass the guard.
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.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Romero lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Romero trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Joyner is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Romero has taken the fight to the clinch.
Romero tries for a takedown but Joyner manages to get underhooks.
Frederic Joyner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoel Romero.
The referee is keeping an eye on Romero - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Romero has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Joyner uses from the top position.
Romero trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Romero is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Joyner defends well.
Joyner trying to control the position from guard on top but Romero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Romero is adopting a defensive guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Joyner is stalling in the full guard.
Romero throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoel Romero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Joyner's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Romero tries to sprawl but Joyner drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Romero tries to kick Joyner off in order to stand up. Joyner Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

Joyner tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Romero is trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero is still trying to improve position.
Joyner wants to lay and pray for a moment but Romero keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero is looking to regain half guard here but Joyner keeps moving and retains side control.

Joyner tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romero is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Romero parries the strikes from Joyner easily there. Joyner is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Romero to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Joyner tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Romero dodges the ground and pound from Joyner.
Romero is trying to control Joyner's posture but Joyner avoids it.
Romero manages to get back to half guard.
Romero punching from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero trying to control but Joyner postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Romero has his takedown stuffed

and Joyner counters by moving into the clinch.

Romero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Romero misses with a takedown attempt
and Joyner counters with a left and a right that stings Romero.
Romero throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Joyner.
As Romero looks to move away, Joyner throws a big counter combo but Romero just gets out of the way.

Romero gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Romero breaks from the clinch.
Romero shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Joyner but Joyner pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Frederic Joyner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoel Romero.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Joyner's waist but Joyner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Romero off to one side.
Romero takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Romero fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Joyner to the ground. Romero is now in Joyner's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Romero's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Romero trying to control but Joyner is working from the bottom.
Joyner is pulling down on Romero's head to control his posture.
Yoel Romero has got the better of the ground game so far.
Romero stops Joyner from standing up.
Frederic Joyner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Yoel Romero is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romero sitting in guard, not really doing much.

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 Frederic Joyner.
Well Romero has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoel Romero!