PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ronnie Owens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoel Romero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yoel Romero has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Ronnie Owens's chin.

Owens
vs
Romero

163 cm
24
194 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 New York, Ronnie Owens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Yoel Romero!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Russell Pearce and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Romero throws a head kick that misses
and Owens counters with a two punch combo.

Romero looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Owens!

Owens bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Romero on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Romero looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Owens is fending him off so far but Romero persists. Nope, Owens circles away and we're back to standing.
Owens moves out of range as Romero throws a body kick.

Owens closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Owens tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Romero smiles and moves away.
Romero looks to land a combination. Owens sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Ronnie Owens has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Romero is trying to pull guard but Owens has him pressed against the cage.

Owens manages to break the clinch.
Owens stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Owens wants it to stay on the feet.
Ronnie Owens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoel Romero.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Romero has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Owens clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

Owens is trying to shake Romero off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Romero won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Owens lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Romero circles away quickly and effectively.
Romero tries to score a power double leg takedown but Owens sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Romero somewhat.
Owens could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Owens defends it nicely.

Romero takes the fight into the clinch.

Romero breaks from the clinch.
Romero shoots in and drives through. Owens sprawls well.
Owens throws a sloppy head kick and Romero moves out of range easily.
Romero gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Owens counters with a shoot takedown. Romero fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens stands up over Romero, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Romero really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Owens. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Romero is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Owens missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Owens accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Owens is looking to work some ground and pound but Romero has wrist control.
Owens throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Romero works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Owens throwing strikes but missing.
Owens throwing strikes from guard but Romero blocks nicely.
Romero trying to keep a closed guard but Owens is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Romero utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Owens postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Romero trying to control the position.
Owens postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Owens throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Owens working some strikes from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Romero has momentary wrist control but Owens slips an elbow through the middle.
Owens missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Romero looking to control.

Owens gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Yoel Romero seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Owens stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Owens wants it to stay on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie Owens dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ronnie Owens's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Romero misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Owens.
Owens went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

Romero closes the distance and clinches.
Owens is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Romero can do to turn this around?

Romero jumps into guard, dragging Owens to the mat.
Owens scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Owens lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Owens postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Owens scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Owens 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.

Owens avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Romero preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Romero is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Owens prevents Romero from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owens postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Owens scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Owens working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Romero's head.
Owens with a flurry of punches that miss.
Romero trying to keep a closed guard but Owens is proving a slippery customer.
Owens postures up in Romero's guard and throws a big left but Romero blocks it.
Owens postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Owens is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Romero trying to keep a closed guard but Owens is proving a slippery customer.

Owens stands up and waves to Romero to follow him.

Owens darts in and clinches Romero up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Romero has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Owens is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Owens jumps guard.
Romero trying to control but Owens is working from the bottom.
Romero wants to pass the guard but Owens is keeping the position.

Owens looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Owens has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Romero can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ronnie Owens overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Owens is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Owens throws a big right hand that misses.

Romero escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Owens gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Romero pulls Owens in close to prevent any damage.
Owens with a flurry of punches that miss.

Owens gets to his feet. Romero looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Ronnie Owens is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Owens tries to clinch but Romero is having none of it.
Romero fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Owens tries to counter by clinching up but Romero breaks away and moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sloppy strikes from Romero. Those never looked like landing.
Owens is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Romero.
Romero fails with a takedown attempt.
Romero is breathing heavily.

Romero instigates a clinch.
A short body shot lands from Romero as the two fighters clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Owens tries to pull guard but Romero won't allow it.
Romero keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Owens's efforts to push away.
Romero lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Owens.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ronnie Owens dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ronnie Owens's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Owens clinches.

Romero's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Owens takes the fight into the clinch.

Romero has clasped his hands together around Owens's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Owens is looking for a sweep.
Owens sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Owens actively working from the bottom here.
Romero throwing shots but Owens is blocking nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Romero wants to lay and pray for a moment but Owens keeps working.
Owens moves into full guard.

Owens throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owens looking to control.
Owens is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Owens controls Romero momentarily but Romero frees himself.
Romero wants to control from the top but Owens keeps moving.

Owens 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.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Owens looking for subs off his back but Romero has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's two 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.
Owens wants to improve his position but Romero is controlling well.
Owens wants to sweep but Romero has passed to side control!
Owens manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Romero passes the guard and advances to mount!
Owens tries to hold on but Romero postures up.
Owens is looking to improve his position but Romero isn't that keen on the idea.
Owens might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Romero connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Romero looking to control but Owens is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Owens is desperately trying to improve his position but Romero has a good base and remains in mount.
Owens tries to hold on but Romero pushes him away.
Romero punishing his opponent with strikes.
Romero looking to control but Owens is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Owens tries to hold on but Romero pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Owens that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Owens taking shots to the head.
Romero looking to control but Owens is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Romero raining down hammerfists from mount.
Romero tries to control but Owens wriggling away.
Romero in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Owens wants to hold on but Romero pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Owens is squirming around, avoiding Romero's attempts to control the action.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Owens is wriggling around trying to escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yoel Romero comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Owens has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ronnie Owens!