PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yoel Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Gracias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fernando Gracias looks lathargic as he enters the arena. Wake up son, you're about to have a fight!

Romero
vs
Gracias

200 cm
25
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
28
190 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Yoel Romero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fernando Gracias!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracias gets caught flat footed, as Romero shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gracias looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Romero in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Romero sitting in guard here, content to control.

Romero gets to his feet - Gracias follows without any prompting.

Romero has taken the fight to the clinch.
Romero really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Romero gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Romero takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Gracias is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Romero scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracias taking some punishment here, with Romero in his half guard.
Romero throwing shots but Gracias is blocking nicely.
Romero is taking a breather. Gracias 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.
Gracias avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Romero.

Romero stands up and beckons Gracias to join him on the feet.
Yoel Romero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Romero darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Romero moves into full mount! Gracias won't be happy about that!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Gracias?

Romero working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Romero controlling from mount.
Romero is landing with some decent strikes but Gracias is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero controlling from mount.
Romero's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Romero connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Gracias defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Romero.
Romero controlling the pace for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romero scoring with strikes but Gracias is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoel Romero dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Romero shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gracias manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Yoel Romero overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Romero gets to his feet. Gracias looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Romero shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gracias's guard.
Romero is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracias is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Further stalling from Romero.

Romero gets to his feet. Gracias looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two 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.

Romero throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gracias was covering up waiting for the punch and Romero finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Romero throwing strikes but missing.
Romero trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Romero stands up from Gracias's guard - Romero perhaps looking for a knockout.
Romero is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gracias can do to turn this around?

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero tries for a takedown but Gracias manages to get underhooks.
Romero is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gracias to keep the fight standing.
Romero lands a hook to the side of the head.
Gracias trying to control the position but instead, Romero has worked for underhooks and has pushed Gracias into the cage.
Romero tries for a takedown but Gracias manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoel Romero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romero working Gracias over with knees to the body.
Gracias takes a knee right on the jaw!

Romero manages to break the clinch.

Romero drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Romero controls from within his opponent's guard.
Romero tries to free his leg and advance position but Gracias is retaining full guard.
Romero engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Romero has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Romero decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gracias, up you get!
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! This is the final round!

A decent looking body kick lands there for Romero.
Romero pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gracias with the counter takedown but Romero avoids it easily.
Romero fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Romero shoots for a takedown but Gracias saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Gracias let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Romero has managed to clinch.
Gracias is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Romero is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Romero pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gracias takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Romero drives through and clinches with Gracias against the cage.

Romero jumps guard and drags Gracias to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Gracias preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero managing to control the position.

Romero escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Gracias gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Romero pulls Gracias in close to prevent any damage.

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.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Romero is trying to control the position but Gracias postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Yoel Romero is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Romero slaps away a takedown attempt from Gracias, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gracias gets tackled into the cage by Romero. Romero maintains the clinch.
Romero tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Gracias's elbow.
Romero has Gracias pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gracias manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoel Romero. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Romero manages to break the clinch.

Romero instigates a clinch.
Gracias tries to break the clinch but Romero is controlling the position.
Fernando Gracias has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Romero breaks from the clinch.

Romero shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gracias's 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracias keeping full guard, as Romero tries to pass.
Romero will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Romero works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Romero stops Gracias from getting back to his feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracias won't allow Romero to pass to mount.
Yoel Romero is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Well, if Romero is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoel Romero showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Romero has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoel Romero!
A very excited looking Yoel Romero rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.