PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yoel Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Pichushkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pichushkin has chosen Sacred Reich - Rest in Peace as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Romero
vs
Pichushkin

170 cm
20
198 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

195 cm
21
186 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Great low kicks
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Soul Supremacy Nutrition (90% laundry)

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Yoel Romero!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexander Pichushkin!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Josh West and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romero rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Pichushkin counters with a three punch combo that has Romero backing up. Romero nods at Pichushkin to acknowledge the strikes.
Pichushkin checks a low kick from Romero.
Pichushkin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Romero looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Pichushkin is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Pichushkin cracks Romero with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Pichushkin lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Romero moves out of range as Pichushkin strikes.
Pichushkin looks to score with a jab to the body but Romero is just out of range.
Pichushkin throws a series of punches but Romero moves out of range.
Romero tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pichushkin was well out of range. Poor timing from Romero.
Romero throws out a powerful jab.

It looks like Alexander Pichushkin has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pichushkin throws out a powerful jab.
Romero looks to throw the jab but Pichushkin is out of range.
Pichushkin connects with a jab.
Romero missing with a left hand there. Pichushkin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Romero slips a jab from Pichushkin.
Pichushkin takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Romero moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pichushkin throws a series of punches but Romero moves out of range.
Romero dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Pichushkin. That did some damage!
Romero sizes up Pichushkin with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Pichushkin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Pichushkin pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Romero back to the cage. Pichushkin follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
A punch combination from Pichushkin misses.
Pichushkin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A big left from Pichushkin misses.
Romero looks to land a right hand but Pichushkin moved out of range.
Pichushkin jabs Romero to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Pichushkin lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pichushkin moves out of range of the body kick from Romero.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Romero, right into the meat.
Pichushkin throws a leg kick
and Pichushkin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pichushkin throws a half hearted mid kick.
A left lands for Pichushkin.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Pichushkin crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Romero - the referee stops the clock and Pichushkin gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Romero. Pichushkin manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pichushkin.
Pichushkin throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Romero makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Romero throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A swing and a miss from Pichushkin.
Pichushkin ducks under a wild hook from Romero.
Pichushkin fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Pichushkin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Romero misses with a looping left.
A big right from Romero misses.
Romero missing with a left hand there. Pichushkin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Romero tries a head kick but it misses.
Romero connects with a leg kick. Pichushkin looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Pichushkin lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

It looks like Yoel Romero has been cut.
Romero lets loose with a powerful body kick. Pichushkin will feel that in the morning.
Pichushkin throws a hook to the side of Romero's head but Romero sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Pichushkin misses with a double jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pichushkin misses the shot to the body.
Romero throws a lazy uppercut
and Pichushkin counters with a nice uppercut.
Romero walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Pichushkin walks into a straight right hand from Romero.
Pichushkin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Romero. Romero obviously looking to wear him down.
Pichushkin looks to land a right hand but Romero moved out of range.
Romero tries a head kick but it misses.
Pichushkin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A head kick misses from Romero.
A big left from Romero misses.
Pichushkin misses the shot to the body.
Romero takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Pichushkin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Romero circles away quickly and effectively.
Pichushkin thows a leg kick but Romero checks it
and Romero cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd cheers as Pichushkin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Romero doesn't seem phased though.
Pichushkin is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Romero had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pichushkin throws a nice looking combination but Romero bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pichushkin lands a body shot.
A right-left combo lands from Pichushkin.
Pichushkin misses with a body shot.
Romero misses with a looping right.
A low kick from Pichushkin misses
and Romero cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pichushkin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Pichushkin looks to score with a jab to the body but Romero is just out of range.
Pichushkin throws a lazy right hand but Romero sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pichushkin scores with a body shot.
Pichushkin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Romero manages to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pichushkin cracks a nice hook into Romero's ribs.
Pichushkin connects with a single shot there.
Romero throws a sloppy head kick and Pichushkin moves out of range easily.
Nice body punch from Pichushkin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Pichushkin dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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.

Pichushkin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Romero.
Alexander Pichushkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Romero.
Pichushkin takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Romero on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Romero lands a leg kick that knocks Pichushkin off balance momentarily.
Pichushkin throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Romero on the side of the head.
Pichushkin just misses with a punch to the body.
Alexander Pichushkin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Romero checks the leg kick nicely there.
Romero uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pichushkin.
Pichushkin misses with a straight left.
Pichushkin is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Pichushkin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Romero.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero throws out a loose jab but Pichushkin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Romero slips a straight right by Pichushkin.
Crunch! Romero slams his shin into Pichushkin's torso.
Pichushkin slips under a jab.
Pichushkin misses with a body shot
and Romero counters with a thumping low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pichushkin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Romero misses with a looping right.
Romero shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Decent striking displayed by Romero there.
Pichushkin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Romero circles away quickly and effectively.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Romero might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Romero looks to land a right hand but Pichushkin moved out of range.
Romero bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Romero throws a lazy right hand but Pichushkin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Romero pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Romero pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Romero takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Romero works the jab nicely.
Pichushkin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pichushkin throws a leg kick but Romero sees it coming and moves out of range.
Pichushkin with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Romero checks a low kick from Pichushkin.
Pichushkin connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Romero scores with a jab.
Pichushkin misses with a combination
and Romero counters with a nice body kick.
Romero on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Romero's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Pichushkin connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Romero scrambles back to his feet.
Pichushkin misses with a straight left.
Romero lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Pichushkin misses with a wild combination.
Pichushkin changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Pichushkin throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Romero to counter with a crisp jab.
Pichushkin tries to work over Romero's front leg with a kick but Romero checks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero misses with a lunging right hand
and Pichushkin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Romero thinking.
Pichushkin misses the jab.
Pichushkin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Romero pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A lazy left from Romero finds it's target.
Romero looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Romero connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Romero lets loose with a powerful body kick. Pichushkin will feel that in the morning.
Pichushkin jabs at Romero's body.
Romero scores with a nice right hand.
Pichushkin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Pichushkin looks to land a combination but Romero avoids it well.
Pichushkin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Romero's head.
Nice jab there from Pichushkin.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pichushkin throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Romero stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Pichushkin swings widly with a right hand
enabling Romero to counter with a crisp jab.

That has opened up Alexander Pichushkin's cut even more.
Good work by Romero as he checks the leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pichushkin tries to bum rush Romero with a series of wild strikes but Romero uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pichushkin is breathing heavily.
Romero on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Romero misses with a looping right.
Pichushkin tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The crowd cheers as Pichushkin lands an impressive looking overhand right. Romero doesn't seem phased though.
Romero takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Pichushkin throws a body punch but Romero moves out of range.
Romero avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pichushkin misses the jab.
Romero throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pichushkin scores with a nice head shot.
Pichushkin misses with a hook to the body
and Romero counters with a nice uppercut.
Pichushkin digs a good hook to Romero's body.
Pichushkin swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Romero.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Pichushkin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
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!

Pichushkin throws a predictable looking body shot
and Pichushkin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pichushkin misses with a wild combination.
Alexander Pichushkin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pichushkin throws a shot from downtown. Romero moves away and avoids it.
Nice body punch from Pichushkin.
Romero throws a leg kick which misses Pichushkin's front leg but catches the back leg as Pichushkin tries to avoid it.
Pichushkin checks the leg kick nicely there.
Pichushkin throws a predictable looking body shot
and Romero counters with a good, hard body kick but Pichushkin shrugs it off.
Pichushkin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Romero throws a hook but Pichushkin avoids it easily.
Romero defending well as Pichushkin loads up on a big left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pichushkin lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Romero misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pichushkin falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Romero to counter with a crisp jab.
Pichushkin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Pichushkin.
Romero throws a shot from downtown. Pichushkin moves away and avoids it.
Pichushkin scores with a body shot.
Romero pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pichushkin misses with a straight left.
Pichushkin looks to land a left hand but Romero moved out of range nicely.
Romero throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Pichushkin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
No joy there for Pichushkin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Romero pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Pichushkin throws an off balance right hand
and Romero counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Pichushkin slips a straight right by Romero.
Romero misses with a body kick.
Romero dodges the punch combination from Pichushkin.
Romero uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pichushkin.
Yoel Romero has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero ducks under a wild hook from Pichushkin.
Pichushkin throws a predictable looking body shot
and Romero counters with a low kick, right behind Pichushkin 's knee.
Pichushkin misses with a wild body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Romero lands with a thumping leg kick.
Pichushkin moves away from the strike by Romero.
Pichushkin throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Pichushkin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Romero dips to his left and cracks Pichushkin with an uppercut!
Pichushkin throws a series of punches but Romero moves out of range.
Pichushkin misses with a wild combination.
Pichushkin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Romero.
Pichushkin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Pichushkin lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Romero looks to throw the jab but Pichushkin is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Romero throws a shot from downtown. Pichushkin moves away and avoids it.
Pichushkin has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Romero.
Pichushkin staying out of range there.
Romero lands a glancing blow to the side of Pichushkin's head.
Pichushkin has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Romero.
Pichushkin misses with a wild body shot.
Pichushkin throws a right hand that misses
and Romero counters with a leg kick.
Pichushkin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pichushkin misses with a hook
and Romero cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pichushkin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Romero.
Romero moves out of range as Pichushkin strikes.
Romero avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Pichushkin swinging wildly here.
Romero looks to land a left hand but Pichushkin moved out of range nicely.
Romero bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Romero misses with a hook. Pichushkin ducked under it nicely.
Romero avoids the body shot from Pichushkin.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Romero.
Pichushkin throws a nice looking combination but Romero bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Romero throws a head kick but Pichushkin moves out of range.
Romero lands with a straight right. Pichushkin didn't see that one coming.
Pichushkin slips under a jab.
Pichushkin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Romero moves away.
Romero throws a leg kick which misses Pichushkin's front leg but catches the back leg as Pichushkin tries to avoid it.
Pichushkin misses with a low kick.
A big right from Romero misses.
Romero misses with a hook
and Pichushkin counters with a low kick, right behind Romero 's knee.
Romero tries to land a leg kick but Pichushkin saw it coming and moves away.
Alexander Pichushkin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Romero throws a head kick but Pichushkin moves out of range.

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 Yoel Romero.
Well Pichushkin 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 Chris Saunders scores the fight 28:30
Judge Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Pichushkin!
Alexander Pichushkin really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Soul Supremacy Nutrition (90% laundry) logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.