PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gustavo Levine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoel Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Levine
vs
Romero

150 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
21
195 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gustavo Levine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yoel Romero!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Romero gets tackled into the cage by Levine. Levine maintains the clinch.
Levine wants a takedown.
Levine lands with a short shot to the head.
Romero wants a takedown.

Romero works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Levine throwing short punches from the bottom.
Romero working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Romero must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Levine throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Levine looking for a guillotine here but Romero defends easily.

Levine working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Romero doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Romero manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero throws a big elbow that misses.
Levine has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Romero wants to control from the top but Levine keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero with a flurry of punches that miss.
Romero connects with a couple of short punches.

Levine looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Romero passes into half guard.
Romero is keen to just control but Levine is a slippery customer.
Nice strikes from Romero there.
Levine wants to get back to his feet.
Romero seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nice strikes from Romero there.
Levine is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Levine manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Levine has taken the fight to the clinch.
Romero changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Levine fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Levine moves into the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Levine breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Romero swats away the attempt to clinch by Levine.
Gustavo Levine is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Levine closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levine wants to break the clinch but can't.
Romero changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Levine fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gustavo Levine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoel Romero.
Levine closes the distance looking to clinch

and Romero decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Levine's guard.
Romero throws a strike but Levine rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Romero keeping moving, preventing Levine from controlling successfully.
Levine throws a strike but Romero rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Levine is looking for a triangle but Romero pushes his legs off easily.
Romero keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Levine's head.
Romero looking to pass the guard.
Romero working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Romero scoring with punches to the head and body.
Levine trying to keep a closed guard but Romero is proving a slippery customer.
Levine could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Romero wants to control from the top but Levine keeps moving.
Romero landing some decent shots from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Yoel Romero will probably get the nod.
That's time! Levine's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Levine is looking to clinch but Romero is avoiding it.
Romero drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Levine defends it well.

Levine closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Levine is trying to break the clinch but Romero is controlling him.
Levine tries to score a body lock takedown but Romero shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Levine wants to break free but Romero has control.
Romero drops down looking for an ankle pick but Levine pulls his leg out and moves away.
Levine tries to clinch but Romero moves out of range.

Levine closes the distance and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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 Levine walks away with a smile on his face. Romero gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Romero gets a double leg takedown into Levine's guard.

Levine throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Romero stops Levine from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romero works over Levine with some ground and pound from guard.
Levine thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Levine had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Romero defends it easily.
Romero working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Levine's head.

Romero drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Levine dives on top into guard.

Levine pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Romero is keeping the position for now.
Levine trying to control but Romero is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero has Levine pulled in close to control his posture.
Levine trying to control the position from guard on top but Romero is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Levine decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Romero shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Levine counters by moving into the clinch.
Gustavo Levine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoel Romero.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Romero decides to pull guard.
Levine wants to stand and escape but instead Romero has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Romero throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Romero is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Romero decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Levine moves to clinch but Romero breaks away
and Romero counters with a one-two to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levine doesn't manage to clinch there - Romero circles away.
Romero drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Levine defends it well.
Levine darts in trying to clinch
and Romero counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Levine is rocked!
Romero shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Levine as he avoids it easily.
Romero darts in looking for a takedown but Levine gets double underhooks and turns Romero into the cage.
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!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Levine doesn't manage to clinch there - Romero circles away.

Romero decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yoel Romero showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Romero gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Romero tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Levine can't get the takedown.

Levine successfully pulls guard.
Levine keeping moving, preventing Romero from controlling successfully.
Romero lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Levine throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Romero accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Yoel Romero has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero is looking to advance position but Levine has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Levine misses with a head shot.
Levine looking to finish with strikes here!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levine looking to control but Romero is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Levine thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Romero slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Levine throws a strike but Romero avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Romero seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Levine might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Romero keeping moving, preventing Levine from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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.
Levine looking to sit in guard and control but Romero gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Romero lands a couple of elbows.
Romero scoring with some ground and pound.
Levine keeping moving, preventing Romero from controlling successfully.

Levine is looking for a triangle but Romero pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levine will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Romero advances to half guard.

Levine makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Romero clinches.
Levine digs a right hand into Romero's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Romero's gas tank.
Romero is looking to take this one to the mat.
Romero jumps guard but Levine stands there with Romero around his waist. Romero gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Gustavo Levine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoel Romero.
Levine stops a takedown attempt from Romero.
Levine slows down the pace here.

Romero ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Romero no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Levine in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Levine throws a big right hand that misses.
Romero keeping moving, preventing Levine from controlling successfully.
Levine throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Romero works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Levine with a flurry of punches that miss.
Levine would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gustavo Levine.
I think Romero 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Yoel Romero!