PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yoel Romero (ranked 5349 p4p, 578 weight class) and Alvey Kulina (ranked 4969 p4p, 547 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Romero
vs
Kulina

183 cm
27
155 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

182 cm
19
184 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
KO power

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Determined

Freebok (85% Laundry)

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 4 - 3 - 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alvey Kulina!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Josh West and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kulina moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Romero shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kulina sprawls well. Kulina wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Romero gets slowly back to his feet.
A big right from Kulina misses.
A lazy left from Romero finds it's target.
Romero takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kulina takes a swing at Romero's ribcage but misses.
Romero loads up on a big right hand but Kulina slips the punch.
Kulina looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kulina throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Romero sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Romero changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kulina throws a hook but Romero avoids it easily.
Romero moves out of range as Kulina strikes.
Romero appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Kulina waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Romero.
Kulina throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Romero misses with a wild combination.
Kulina looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulina tries a head kick but it misses.
A left lands for Romero.
Kulina misses with a hook. Romero ducked under it nicely.
Romero ducks right into an uppercut from Kulina.
Kulina throws a head kick that misses.
Romero with a hook.
Kulina throws a push kick but Romero slaps the foot to one side.
Kulina moves out of range of the strikes.
Romero looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kulina throws a jab when Romero was well out of range.
Kulina slips under a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Kulina misses with a looping right.
Kulina throws an overhand right that lands on Romero's shoulder, as Romero tries to avoid the shot.
Kulina fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Romero is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kulina.
Kulina bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Kulina fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Romero manages to avoid it.
Romero attempts a counter takedown but Kulina avoids it well and moves away.
Kulina throws a nice looking combination but Romero bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kulina throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Romero sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Romero loads up on a big right hand but Kulina slips the punch.
Kulina misses with an uppercut.
Romero fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kulina manages to avoid it.
Kulina missing with a left hand there. Romero was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Romero feinted with a counter takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulina throws a hook but Romero avoids it easily.
Romero drops down looking for a counter takedown but Kulina sprawls and moves away.
Romero dives in and grabs Kulina's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kulina pushes down on Romero's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoel Romero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romero ducks under a wild hook from Kulina.
A telegraphed right hand from Kulina misses the target.
Romero half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Romero throws an overhand right that lands on Kulina's shoulder, as Kulina tries to avoid the shot.
Kulina waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Romero.
Romero dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kulina throws a looping overhand right but Romero ducks down to avoid it.
Romero shoots in for a takedown but Kulina shows good takedown defense.
Romero on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Romero throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kulina sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Romero steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kulina.
Kulina might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A cross from Kulina lands.
Kulina lands with a hook. Romero tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kulina lands with an uppercut that bounces Romero off the cage and back into range.
Kulina ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice sprawl there from Kulina as Romero shoots in.

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

Romero decides to pull guard.
Kulina has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Romero is proving hard to escape from.
Kulina trying to control the position from guard on top but Romero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kulina has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Romero is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alvey Kulina dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kulina misses with a looping right.
Kulina has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Romero uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Kulina swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Romero half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Romero fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A telegraphed right hand from Kulina misses the target.
Kulina misses with a hook. Romero ducked under it nicely.
Kulina avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kulina looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kulina throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Romero feinted with a counter takedown.
Kulina is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Romero.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kulina throws a jab when Romero was well out of range.
Alvey Kulina seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kulina throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Romero ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kulina moves away.

Romero forces Kulina back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romero pulls Kulina into guard.

Romero throws his legs up looking for a submission but Kulina uses it to pass to side control.
Romero can't do much from the bottom here.
Romero is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Kulina decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Kulina looks to score with a jab to the body but Romero is just out of range.
Kulina takes a swing at Romero's ribcage but misses.
Yoel Romero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Romero slips a jab from Kulina.
Romero throws a good cross that connects.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Kulina.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kulina looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Romero takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A jab from Kulina misses.
Romero uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kulina.

Romero gets a double leg takedown into Kulina's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Romero preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romero throws a big right hand that misses.
Kulina controls Romero momentarily but Romero frees himself.
Romero keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kulina's head.
Romero trying to control but Kulina is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero is really struggling to control Kulina but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Kulina is looking to stand up but Romero isn't so interested in that idea.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Romero accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Romero postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Romero pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kulina is keeping the position for now.
Kulina 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 stops Kulina from standing up.

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

That's four 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 a right and a left that Kulina avoids nicely.
Kulina looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Nice cross by Romero.
Romero shoots in looking for a takedown. Kulina tries to sprawl out of it but Romero keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kulina manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kulina swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Romero uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kulina.
Romero dives in for a single leg takedown but Kulina sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Romero closes the distance and clinches.
Kulina tries to break the clinch but Romero is controlling the position.
Romero is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kulina to keep 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 fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Romero is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kulina to keep the fight standing.
Kulina tries to break the clinch but Romero is controlling the position.
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 Yoel Romero will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kulina lands a glancing blow to the side of Romero's head.
The fighters circling - Kulina throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Romero half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Romero walks into a straight right hand from Kulina.
Kulina misses with a hook.
Kulina stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kulina wants it to stay on the feet.
Kulina misses with an uppercut.
Kulina showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Romero.
Kulina is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Romero misses its intended target.
Kulina throws a hook but Romero avoids it easily.
Romero swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kulina.
Romero throws out a loose jab but Kulina uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero thows a left - swing and a miss!
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kulina! But no joy.
Kulina fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Romero takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Romero cracks Kulina with a good jab.
Romero will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kulina waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Romero.
Kulina thows a left - swing and a miss!
The fighters circle momentarily. Kulina darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kulina throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Romero stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kulina connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kulina lands with a cross.
Kulina is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Romero.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kulina jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Romero throws the left hand but Kulina avoids the punch easily.
Romero looks to score with a jab to the body but Kulina is just out of range.
Romero takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Romero slips under a jab from Kulina.
Romero drops down looking for a counter takedown but Kulina sprawls and moves away.
Kulina misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Romero rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kulina moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Romero throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kulina lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
A jab from Romero does it's job there.
Romero scores with a jab to the head.
Alvey Kulina is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kulina dodges the punch combination from Romero.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kulina leaves Romero with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kulina throws out a counter right but Romero avoids it with no problem.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yoel Romero. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romero missing with a left hand there. Kulina was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kulina swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kulina moves out of range as Romero strikes.
Romero ducks under a wild hook from Kulina.
Romero appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Romero avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Romero needs to keep his hands up - Kulina had a free shot at his head there.
Kulina dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Donk. Romero catches Kulina right on the button with a cross.
Kulina scores with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Romero does no damage.
Kulina misses with a body shot.
Kulina punishes Romero's body with a nice straight punch.

Romero takes the fight into the clinch.
Romero tries to pull guard but Kulina won't allow it.
Kulina can't break the clinch.
Romero is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kulina to keep the fight standing.
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!
A short right from Kulina.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kulina as Romero tries to tie him up.
Kulina misses with the head strike.
Nice elbow from Romero.
Kulina lands a nice uppercut.
Romero jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kulina walks away with a smile on his face. Romero gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alvey Kulina comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kulina has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Josh West scores the fight 28:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alvey Kulina!
Alvey Kulina managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Freebok (85% Laundry), into his post fight interview.
Yoel Romero was interviewed post fight and said 'He is good fighter. I wish him luck!'.