PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yoel Romero (ranked 3777 p4p, 511 weight class) and Kenny Knight (ranked 6247 p4p, 726 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Romero
vs
Knight

183 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
24
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Yoel Romero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kenny Knight!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Colin Fray and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romero dodges the punch combination from Knight.
Knight throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Romero is looking to counter the offense by Knight and move into the clinch.

Romero moves into the clinch successfully.
Knight prevents the takedown attempt.
Romero is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Knight is defending well.
Romero changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Knight fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoel Romero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Knight fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Romero avoids it really well and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Knight takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Romero instigates a clinch.
Romero has Knight pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Knight manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Romero is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Knight pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Romero prevents Knight from breaking the clinch.
Romero drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Romero lands a takedown into guard.
Knight avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Romero has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Romero postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Romero with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Romero trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero throws an elbow that misses. Knight uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Romero's guard. Nice move by Knight!

Knight stops Romero from standing up.
Knight trying to control the position from guard on top but Romero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Romero will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Knight is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Romero looking for a guillotine here but Knight defends easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Knight accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero trying to control the position.

Romero is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Knight defends well.

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

Knight avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Romero wants to stand and escape but Knight is having none of it.

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

That's four 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.
Knight tries for a takedown but Romero sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Romero scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Romero forces Knight back against the cage and clinches.
Romero leaning his opponent against the cage.
Romero drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Romero creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Knight's defenses.

It looks like Kenny Knight has been cut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romero comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Romero changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Knight fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Knight throws a combination. Romero tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoel Romero dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kenny Knight'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.

Knight throws a series of punches but Romero avoids them all with ease.

It looks like Yoel Romero has been cut.
Knight will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Romero takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Romero scores with a decent looking hook.
Romero keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Knight moves into the clinch.

Romero wants the takedown. Knight is fighting it off but Romero persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Knight's guard against the cage.
Knight trying to keep a closed guard but Romero is proving a slippery customer.
Knight keeping moving, preventing Romero from controlling successfully.
Knight working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Romero.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knight working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Romero.
Knight working a defensive guard here.
Romero with a nice head shot there.
Knight avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Romero connects with a couple of short punches.
Knight utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Romero postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Romero looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Romero throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Romero in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Knight tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Romero looking to pass the guard.
Yoel Romero overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Romero working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Knight's head.
Romero working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Romero with a flurry of punches that miss.
Romero throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Knight works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Romero pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Knight is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero throwing strikes from guard but Knight blocks nicely.

Romero drops back, looking for a kneebar! Knight looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Knight looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Knight!

Romero is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Knight's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Romero is not content to let Knight control the position.
Romero is trying to stand up here but Knight is controlling him well.
Romero regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Romero looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Romero looking for a guillotine here but Knight defends easily.
Romero wants to sweep here but Knight controlling him for the moment.

Romero is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Knight defends well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Romero seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoel Romero dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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. This is the final round!

A big right from Romero misses.
Knight feints the counter takedown.

Romero closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Knight quickly recovers to half guard.
Romero not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Knight kicks Romero off and gets back to his feet.
Knight moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Romero scores with a decent looking hook.
Knight misses with a low kick as Romero jumps back.
Romero fails with a takedown attempt.
Kenny Knight is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Romero is trying hard to land a takedown here. Knight sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knight shoots in looking for a takedown but Romero manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Knight's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero shoots for a takedown but Knight saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoel Romero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romero misses with a wild body shot.
Knight feints the counter takedown.
Romero throws a jab when Knight was well out of range.
Romero is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Knight can do to turn this around?

Romero instigates a clinch.
Romero tries to score a body lock takedown but Knight shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Romero has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Knight is trying to keep an underhook but Romero manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Knight is looking to control Romero's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Knight avoid being mounted?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Romero missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Knight has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Romero is working away from the top position though.
Knight taking some punishment here, with Romero in his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knight flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Knight regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Romero.
Knight trying to strike off his back.
Romero scoring with punches to the head and body.
Romero throwing strikes but missing.
Knight has momentary wrist control but Romero slips an elbow through the middle.
Romero in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Knight preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Romero with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Romero is looking to work some ground and pound but Knight has wrist control.
Knight takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Romero scoring with some ground and pound.
Romero wants to control from the top but Knight keeps moving.
Romero with a flurry of punches that miss.
Romero trying to control the position from guard on top but Knight is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Knight is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Romero cracks Knight with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knight working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Romero.
Romero in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Romero distracts Knight with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Romero postures up.

Romero postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Knight is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Romero, into his guard.

Romero working for a triangle but Knight defends it easily.

Romero working for a triangle but Knight defends it easily.

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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yoel Romero!
A very excited looking Yoel Romero 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.