PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Anderson (ranked 3864 p4p, 452 weight class) and Yoel Romero (ranked 3885 p4p, 454 weight class). Yoel Romero will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Anderson
vs
Romero

180 cm
26
184 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

183 cm
27
159 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Freebok (85% Laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mark Anderson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Yoel Romero!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Chris Saunders and Josh West.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romero shoots in looking for a takedown. Anderson tries to sprawl out of it but Romero keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Anderson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Romero works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Anderson.
Anderson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Romero.
Anderson misses with a two punch combination.
Romero lands a nice shot that snaps Anderson's head back.
Anderson keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero shoots for a double leg takedown but Anderson sprawls well. He's pushed Romero's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Romero swings for the body but Anderson moves out of range.
Anderson closes the distance and clinches up with Romero, looking for a takedown. Anderson pushes Romero against the cage but Romero circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Anderson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Romero defends well and Anderson ends up having to push Romero into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Anderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Romero throws a body shot but no joy.
Anderson misses with a takedown attempt

and Romero moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson blocks the elbow strike.
Anderson tries for a takedown but Romero manages to get underhooks.
Romero tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Anderson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Anderson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Romero gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Anderson has picked Romero up - he's going for a ride! Anderson dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Romero actively working from the bottom here.
Romero slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anderson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Romero can do anything to dispel that myth.

Romero looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Anderson passes into half guard.
Anderson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Romero is trying to maintain the position but Anderson is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anderson is working for a submission of some sort.
Anderson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Anderson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Romero looking for submissions off his back.

Romero looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Anderson is thwarting Romero's attempts to control the position.
Anderson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson working Romero over with strikes.

Anderson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Anderson is looking to take a break and control but Romero is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Anderson seems to be looking for submissions.

Romero looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Anderson is trying to control the action in half guard but Romero is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Anderson wants to free his trapped foot but Romero is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Romero is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Anderson scores with a couple of nice shots.

Romero looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Anderson trying to mount his opponent but Romero defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero trying to control from the bottom.
Anderson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Anderson 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.

Anderson wants to work for an arm triangle but Romero is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Anderson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Romero looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Anderson stalling.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Anderson 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.
Anderson prevents Romero from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Anderson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Romero stuffs the takedown.
Anderson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Anderson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Romero sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Anderson somewhat.

Anderson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Anderson is looking for a kimura but Romero is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Anderson to get the leverage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anderson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Anderson is trying to control. Romero wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Romero is pressing down on Anderson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Anderson throwing strikes but missing.
Anderson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Romero's guard.
Romero is looking to improve his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Anderson in particular looking to stall.
Romero works his way to full guard. Good work.
Anderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Romero swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Romero has momentary wrist control but Anderson slips an elbow through the middle.
Anderson passes Romero's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Mark Anderson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Romero actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Anderson seems to be working for a kimura but Romero defends the submission attempt.

Romero looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Romero wants to control but Anderson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Anderson winds up and cracks Romero with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Romero is in trouble now - Anderson has advanced to mount!
Anderson 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero is squirming around, avoiding Anderson's attempts to control the action.
Romero tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Romero tries to lock up and control but Anderson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Anderson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Romero tries to hold on but Anderson pushes him away.
Anderson scoring with strikes but Romero is staying in there.

Romero is rocked!
Anderson looking to control but Romero is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Romero is still in real trouble! Can Anderson finish him?
Anderson working the ground and pound effectively.
Anderson fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Anderson cracks Romero with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Mark Anderson!
Mark Anderson is the new welterweight champion!
The defeated Yoel Romero had this to say: 'He is good fighter. I wish him luck!'.