PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fabio Rombero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nav Dhanju (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Fabio Rombero has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Rombero
vs
Dhanju

183 cm
22
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
225 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Fabio Rombero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Nav Dhanju!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Robert Douchet and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dhanju moves into the clinch.

Dhanju manages to break the clinch.
Rombero lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Nav Dhanju has been cut.
Fabio Rombero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dhanju misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rombero could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rombero looks to land a combination but Dhanju avoids it well.
Dhanju throws a head kick that misses.

Dhanju darts in and clinches Rombero up against the cage.

Rombero breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dhanju shoots in for a takedown but Rombero shows good takedown defense.
Rombero darts in trying to clinch

and Dhanju holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Rombero wants to get back to striking at distance but Dhanju won't allow it.
Dhanju prevents Rombero from breaking the clinch.
Dhanju doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dhanju has Rombero pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rombero manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rombero throws a head punch that misses.
Rombero is trying to break the clinch but Dhanju is controlling him.
Dhanju keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rombero's efforts to push away.
Dhanju goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rombero wants to break free but Dhanju has control.
Dhanju keeps control of Rombero as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Dhanju keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rombero's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rombero tries to circle away but Dhanju has him pinned against the cage.

Dhanju's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rombero throws a lazy head kick

and Dhanju decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rombero's guard.
Dhanju trying to control but Rombero is working from the bottom.
Dhanju might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Rombero kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Rombero wants to get back to his feet but Dhanju is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Dhanju throwing strikes from guard but Rombero blocks nicely.
Dhanju trying to control but Rombero is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rombero looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dhanju is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dhanju is looking to stand up but Rombero won't let him.
Rombero looking for a sweep. Not yet Rombero, not yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rombero throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Rombero misses with a double jab.
Rombero darts in trying to clinch

and Dhanju counters by clinching up.
Rombero wants to break free but Dhanju has control.
Dhanju goes for a takedown in the clinch but Rombero prevents it.
Fabio Rombero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nav Dhanju.
Dhanju looks gassed!
Dhanju keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rombero's efforts to push away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dhanju breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dhanju looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rombero keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rombero tries to clinch

and Dhanju counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Dhanju escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A left and a right from Rombero both land. Nice combination.
Fabio Rombero is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rombero avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rombero is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dhanju fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dhanju moves forwards but Rombero connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rombero lands with a nice combination. Dhanju backs away looking to recover.
Rombero scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rombero misses with a double jab.
Rombero lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Rombero throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Rombero misses with a few strikes there.
Rombero will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rombero throws a combination. Dhanju tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Dhanju tries to close the distance and clinch but Rombero swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dhanju fails to land the takedown.
Rombero connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Dhanju's hands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rombero throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rombero sizes up Dhanju with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Rombero paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabio Rombero dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nav Dhanju's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Horrible takedown by Dhanju or perhaps it was just good defense by Rombero which made him look bad.
Rombero moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Dhanju working aggressively here.
A frustrated look appears on Rombero's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Rombero gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dhanju.
Rombero wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dhanju has him pressed against the cage.
Dhanju has Rombero pressed against the cage, preventing Rombero from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rombero wants to break free but Dhanju has control.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Dhanju obliges.
Rombero is trying to break the clinch but Dhanju has him pressed against the cage.
Rombero wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rombero tries to break the clinch but Dhanju is controlling the position.
Dhanju drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rombero pulls his leg out and moves away.
Fabio Rombero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nav Dhanju.
Dhanju takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dhanju closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
A jab lands there for Rombero.
Dhanju avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rombero closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Rombero throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dhanju.
Rombero throws a right hand that Dhanju ducks under and follows up with a left that Dhanju also avoids with ease.
A combination from Rombero does no damage.
Rombero shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Dhanju showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rombero.
Dhanju moves in looking to clinch but Rombero pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rombero misses with the combination.
Dhanju is trying hard to land a takedown here. Rombero sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Rombero stuffs the takedown.
Rombero scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Rombero wants to clinch but Dhanju slips to the side

and Dhanju counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rombero!
Rombero sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Rombero pushes Dhanju off looking to stand but Dhanju dives back in and keeps control.
Dhanju is trying to control the action in half guard but Rombero is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dhanju not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dhanju looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Dhanju is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rombero doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dhanju.
Rombero wants to get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Dhanju controlling the pace.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Dhanju swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Rombero throws a combination that misses

and Dhanju counters with a shoot takedown. Rombero fights it but they end up in guard.
Dhanju wants to control from the top but Rombero keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nav Dhanju will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Nav Dhanju's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Dhanju fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rombero cracks a nice hook into Dhanju's ribs.
Dhanju shoots in looking for a takedown. Rombero tries to sprawl out of it but Dhanju keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Rombero manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Dhanju closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Dhanju's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A head kick misses from Dhanju.
Rombero misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rombero throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Dhanju on the side of the head.
Rombero misses with a wild combination.
Rombero misses with a series of wild punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rombero throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Dhanju counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rombero won't be happy with that.
Rombero wants to get back to his feet.
Dhanju trying to control the position but Rombero is working away.
Dhanju fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Dhanju wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rombero keeps working.
Rombero is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Dhanju has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Rombero is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dhanju stands up and beckons Rombero to his feet.
Dhanju takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rombero keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rombero stalks Dhanju and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Dhanju's face. Dhanju staggers backwards, shaken.
Rombero moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Dhanju shoots in for a takedown but Rombero shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Fabio Rombero has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nav Dhanju.
Rombero goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Rombero fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rombero is working the combinations to good effect here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dhanju shoots in for a takedown but Rombero shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Rombero gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Dhanju prevents Rombero from getting back to his feet.
Dhanju wants to control from the top but Rombero keeps moving.
Rombero looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Dhanju trying to control the position from guard on top but Rombero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dhanju with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dhanju trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dhanju wanted to stand there but Rombero had control of the position.
Rombero wants to get back to his feet but Dhanju is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Dhanju dodges the punch combination from Rombero.
Dhanju closes this distance looking for a takedown but Rombero circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nav Dhanju comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dhanju 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nav Dhanju!