PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Kobel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Patrice Romeu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Kobel
vs
Romeu

175 cm
19
300 lbs
0 - 8 - 1

213 cm
25
300 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 8 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Kobel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Patrice Romeu!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Kobel. No joy for Romeu on that attempt.

Romeu moves into the clinch.
Romeu goes for a takedown attempt but Kobel pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Romeu throws a combination that misses
and Kobel counters with a series of strikes. Romeu will be more careful next time no doubt.
A punch combination from Romeu misses.

Romeu shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Romeu wants to pass to mount but Kobel is defending the position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kobel tries to get to full guard but Romeu has control of the leg.

Romeu seems to be looking for submissions.

Romeu is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romeu is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kobel is just riding it out for now. Romeu eventually gives up the hold.
Kobel won't allow Romeu to pass to mount.

Romeu is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kobel doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Romeu.

Romeu seems to be working for a kimura but Kobel defends the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romeu frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Romeu goes for an armbar but Kobel turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Kobel.

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

Kobel gets to his feet - Romeu follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romeu shoots in looking for a takedown. Kobel tries to sprawl out of it but Romeu keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kobel manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ivan Kobel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrice Romeu.
Romeu fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kobel avoids it really well and circles away.
Romeu with a poor takedown
and Kobel counters with a three punch combo that has Romeu backing up. Romeu nods at Kobel to acknowledge the strikes.
Kobel is breathing heavily.
Kobel circles away from the clinch attempt.

Romeu feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Romeu wanted to stand there but Kobel had control of the position.
Romeu trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romeu tries to stand but Kobel is controlling from the bottom.

Romeu drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kobel manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Romeu has Kobel in his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Romeu has his foot on Kobel's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kobel works his way back into a safe position though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Romeu thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Romeu thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrice Romeu dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Romeu throws a head kick but Kobel moves out of range.
Romeu shoots in for a double leg but Kobel sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Romeu gets a clinch.
Kobel could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Kobel pulls guard successfully.
Romeu would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Romeu chips away with some ground and pound.
Romeu tries to free his leg and advance position but Kobel is retaining full guard.

Romeu drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kobel manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Romeu has Kobel in his guard.
Kobel throws a strike but Romeu rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Romeu is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Romeu wants to stand and escape but instead Kobel has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Kobel preventing the sweep.
Romeu trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Kobel looking to sit in guard and control but Romeu gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Romeu is looking to stand up but Kobel won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romeu is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Romeu passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Romeu is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kobel has escaped the position, nice work there.
Romeu wants to stand but Kobel has his arm trapped.

Romeu decides to take the fight back to the feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Romeu clinches up with Kobel and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Romeu manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Romeu looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kobel has picked Romeu up and slammed him! Romeu can't keep hold of the triangle and Kobel manages to pass to side control!
Romeu takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Romeu looks to move to half guard but instead Kobel has passed into mount! Damn!
Romeu bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Romeu tries to stand but Kobel is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romeu distracts Kobel with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Romeu stands up over Kobel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Romeu stands and throws Kobel's legs to the side, diving into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Romeu working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Kobel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kobel stops Romeu from passing to mount.

Romeu decides to take the fight back to the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Patrice Romeu showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Kobel as Romeu shoots in.

Romeu pushes Kobel up against the cage in a clinch.
Romeu has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kobel is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kobel gets underhooks to prevent Romeu's takedown attempt.
Ivan Kobel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrice Romeu.
Romeu dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Romeu lands a takedown into guard.

Romeu has gone for a leg lock! Kobel slips out almost immediately though and dives into Romeu's guard.
Romeu wants to stand and escape but Kobel is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Romeu isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Kobel stacks Romeu on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Kobel!
Kobel advances nicely into full mount.
Kobel with good strikes from the mount here!
Romeu is flailing around like a fish out of water, trying to land strikes.

Kobel jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Romeu is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Romeu and Kobel has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romeu is looking for a sweep.
Romeu manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Romeu tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

Romeu is working for a submission of some sort.

Romeu is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kobel defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Romeu is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kobel is just riding it out for now. Romeu eventually gives up the hold.
Romeu is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Romeu is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Kobel has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Kobel!
Kobel sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Romeu's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romeu is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Romeu is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kobel pulls his head out easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kobel stops Romeu from getting back to his feet.
Ivan Kobel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Patrice Romeu is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Romeu is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Patrice Romeu comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Romeu winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Patrice Romeu!