PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yoel Romero (ranked 2441 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yowis Ben (ranked 23344 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Romero
vs
Ben

193 cm
25
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

199 cm
31
270 lbs
11 - 14 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yoel Romero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 14 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yowis Ben!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ben looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Romero looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ben is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Romero looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ben 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.
Ben winds up and cracks Romero with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Romero wants to improve his position but Ben is controlling well.

Romero looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ben lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ben working the head and body with strikes.
Ben slips a nice elbow through Romero's hands, connecting with Romero's forehead.
Romero is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero is staying active underneath Ben, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Romero actively working from the bottom here.
Romero is breathing heavily.
Ben scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Romero looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ben content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Romero on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ben lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ben lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Ben seems to be looking for submissions.
Ben working over Romero with some ground and pound. Romero looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Romero looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ben slips a nice elbow through Romero's hands, connecting with Romero's forehead.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ben connects with a nice short shot to Romero's temple.
Ben takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Ben lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Ben is looking for a kimura here.
Ben wants to control but Romero is keeping him busy.
Ben working over Romero with some ground and pound. Romero looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ben seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Ben looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Romero with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Romero looking for submissions off his back.
Ben landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Romero has hold of Ben's hands but Ben slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ben working over Romero with some ground and pound. Romero looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Ben is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Romero has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ben looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ben seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Romero wants to get back to full guard.
Romero is in trouble now - Ben has advanced to mount!
Ben dominating with strikes here.
Ben landing shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ben controlling from the full mount.
Ben fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Romero keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ben with a couple of short strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ben lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Romero hang on?
Ben scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Romero?
Ben lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Romero hang on?
Ben trying to control but Romero is having none of it.
Ben is landing with some decent strikes but Romero is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Romero is looking to get to half guard.
Ben scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Romero is desperately trying to improve his position but Ben has a good base and remains in mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ben scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Romero looking for submissions off his back.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ben connects with a nice short shot to Romero's temple.
Ben scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Ben scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Romero tries to get to full guard but Ben has control of the leg.
Ben 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.

Ben is working for a submission of some sort.

Romero is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ben pulls his head out easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ben slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ben looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Romero with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ben is looking for a kimura but Romero is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ben to get the leverage.
Ben wants to lay and pray for a moment but Romero keeps working.

Romero actively working from the bottom here.
Ben lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ben scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Romero actively working from the bottom here.
Ben keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Romero is refusing to be controlled, as Ben sits in half guard.
Romero on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Ben there.
Ground and pound from Ben.
Ben seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Romero does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Romero looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Romero looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Yowis Ben has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ben lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ben lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nice strikes from Ben there.
Romero is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ben scores with a couple of nice shots.

Ben is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Ben scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ben scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ben winds up and cracks Romero with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Ben is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ben takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Romero looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Ben is looking for a kimura but Romero is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ben to get the leverage.
Ben is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Ben wants to work for an arm triangle but Romero is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ben scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ben looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Romero has hold of Ben's hands but Ben slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Romero looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ben scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Romero looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ben looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Romero with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Romero actively working from the bottom here.
Ben looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Romero with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ben drops an elbow to the side of Romero's head.
Ben landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ben passes to full mount!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ben working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Ben scores with a couple of good head shots there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yowis Ben showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Ben closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Ben lands in his opponent's guard.
Ben lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Romero keeping moving, preventing Ben from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ben's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Romero looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ben keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Romero's head.
Ben is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero keeping moving, preventing Ben from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ben's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Romero has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ben can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ben lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ben distracts Romero with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ben is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ben lands a couple of elbows.
Ben lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ben's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Romero keeping moving, preventing Ben from controlling successfully.
Ben lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ben scoring with some ground and pound.
Ben landing some decent shots from guard.
Ben is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ben works over Romero with some ground and pound from guard.
Ben has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Romero looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ben lands a couple of digs.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ben's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ben is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Ben drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ben jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Ben wants to control from the top but Romero keeps moving.
Ben is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ben distracts Romero with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ben postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ben working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Romero working for a triangle but Ben defends it easily.
Romero looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ben is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Romero is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ben postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ben stands up over Romero, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ben trying to control but Romero is working from the bottom.
Ben content to stall in guard here.
Ben lands a couple of digs.
Ben lands a couple of digs.

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.
Ben working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Romero's head.
Ben postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

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

Romero has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ben can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ben connects with a couple of short punches.
Ben is in close to Romero's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Romero working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ben has passed into half guard!
Ben trying to control the action but Romero is working from the bottom.
Yoel Romero has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ben might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Romero haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yowis Ben comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ben 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 25:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 25:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yowis Ben!