PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Bolleke (ranked 954 p4p, 1473 weight class) and Jonathan Dobbins (ranked 135 p4p, 213 weight class). Dobbins is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: The Pogues - Dirty Old Town. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Bolleke
vs
Dobbins

195 cm
35
205
28 - 12 - 2

182 cm
40
209
41 - 29 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thomas Bolleke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 41 - 29 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jonathan Dobbins!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Sam Margolis and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dobbins throws a looping overhand right but Bolleke ducks down to avoid it.
Bolleke scores with a jab. Dobbins acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Dobbins uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Dobbins displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bolleke throws out the jab.
Bolleke is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dobbins swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Bolleke tries to clinch but Dobbins moves out of range.
Dobbins misses with a left hand

and Bolleke counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dobbins wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Bolleke manages to pass to side control.

Dobbins is looking for a sweep. Bolleke is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dobbins is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bolleke stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolleke working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Bolleke trying to control the pace.
Dobbins tries to get to full guard but Bolleke has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Dobbins manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Bolleke trying to control the position from guard on top but Dobbins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dobbins can't keep his opponent in guard - Bolleke advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dobbins gets full guard.
Bolleke won't allow Dobbins to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dobbins pulls Bolleke in close to prevent any damage.
Bolleke trying to control the position from guard on top but Dobbins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dobbins working a defensive guard here.
Dobbins wants to sweep but no luck.
Bolleke will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bolleke accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dobbins keeping moving, preventing Bolleke from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dobbins lands a nice hook to Bolleke's body. Bolleke takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Dobbins throws a body punch but Bolleke moves out of range.
Bolleke bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Jonathan Dobbins is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bolleke steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dobbins.
Bolleke drops down looking for a counter takedown but Dobbins sprawls and moves away.
Dobbins misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bolleke.
Bolleke feinted with a counter takedown.
Nice shot lands for Bolleke.
Dobbins looks to land a left hand but Bolleke moved out of range nicely.
Dobbins misses with an uppercut. Bolleke saw that one coming.
Dobbins throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
It looked like Bolleke was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Dobbins.
Dobbins jabs Bolleke to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Bolleke takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bolleke tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dobbins paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dobbins misses with a looping left.
Dobbins takes a swing at Bolleke's ribcage but misses.
Dobbins throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Dobbins looks to throw the jab but Bolleke is out of range.
Dobbins throws a jab but it's blocked by Bolleke.
Dobbins lands a right hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bolleke throws a jab when Dobbins was well out of range.
Bolleke scores with a jab. Dobbins acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Bolleke uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dobbins.
Bolleke was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Bolleke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dobbins now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Jonathan Dobbins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dobbins scores with a jab to the head.
Dobbins lands a nice looking body shot.
Bolleke slips under a jab.
Dobbins takes one on the button.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jonathan Dobbins dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bolleke avoids the body shot from Dobbins.
Bolleke slips under a jab.
Bolleke swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Bolleke connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bolleke throws a lazy right hand but Dobbins sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Jonathan Dobbins seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dobbins misses with a hook
and Bolleke counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Dobbins thinking.
Dobbins is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Dobbins misses with a hook. Bolleke ducked under it nicely.
Bolleke attempts a counter takedown but Dobbins avoids it well and moves away.
Dobbins throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bolleke sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Dobbins throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bolleke sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A jab from Dobbins misses.
Bolleke displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dobbins throws out the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big left from Bolleke misses.
Bolleke ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Bolleke lands with a right hand.
Dobbins connects with the punch.
Dobbins throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolleke catches Dobbins with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Dobbins takes a swing at Bolleke's ribcage but misses.
It looked like Bolleke wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Bolleke lands an overhand right.
Dobbins throws a poor cross that misses

and Bolleke counters with a takedown into side control.
Bolleke tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Bolleke misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Bolleke gets to mount! Dobbins was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Bolleke punishing his opponent with strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bolleke lands a big shot there that rocks Dobbins but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Dobbins wants to control but Bolleke is having none of it.
Bolleke 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.
Dobbins regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Bolleke takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Bolleke not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dobbins is staying active underneath Bolleke, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Dobbins wants to get back to full guard.
Bolleke is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Dobbins!
Bolleke controlling from the full mount.
Dobbins wants to control but Bolleke is having none of it.
Bolleke landing shots from mount.
Bolleke looking to control but Dobbins is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Bolleke trying to control but Dobbins is having none of it.
BOOM! Bolleke connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Dobbins is desperately trying to improve his position but Bolleke has a good base and remains in mount.
Bolleke lands a couple of good shots and Dobbins has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Dobbins is trying to break free.
Bolleke seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Bolleke keeps control of the position easily here as Dobbins tries to buck him off.
Bolleke landing with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Bolleke. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Dobbins is trying to stand back up.
Dobbins covers up after that shot from Bolleke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dobbins is trapped and Bolleke is scoring with shots to the head and body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bolleke trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Bolleke controlling the positon.
Dobbins breaks Bolleke's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Bolleke dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Dobbins takes a swing at Bolleke's ribcage but misses.
Dobbins bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Dobbins swats away the attempt to clinch by Bolleke.
Dobbins has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Bolleke finds it's way round the side to connect with Dobbins's head.
Bolleke is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dobbins can do to turn this around?
Dobbins throws a lazy uppercut
and Bolleke counters with a straight right hand.
Bolleke is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Dobbins takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Bolleke ducks under a wild hook from Dobbins.
Bolleke throwing a counter right hand but Dobbins manages to avoid it.
Bolleke pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolleke looks to score with a jab to the body but Dobbins is just out of range.
Dobbins looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bolleke misses with a wild body shot.
Dobbins fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bolleke slips a straight right by Dobbins.
Dobbins throws a body punch but Bolleke moves out of range.
It looked like Bolleke wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dobbins slips a straight right by Bolleke.
Dobbins throws a right hand that misses
and Bolleke counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Bolleke lands an overhand right.
Dobbins with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bolleke to score with a decent uppercut.
Dobbins looks to land a combination but Bolleke avoids it well.
Bolleke lands the left hand.
Bolleke tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dobbins was well out of range. Poor timing from Bolleke.
Bolleke slips under a jab from Dobbins.
Dobbins lands a nice hook to Bolleke's body. Bolleke takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Dobbins swings widly with a right hand
and Dobbins takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dobbins is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bolleke.
Bolleke smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Dobbins is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dobbins with a jab.
Bolleke fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
It seemed like Dobbins was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dobbins swings for the body but Bolleke moves out of range.
Dobbins throws a lazy right hand but Bolleke sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bolleke is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
A jab from Dobbins misses.
Bolleke ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dobbins moves away.
Dobbins looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Bolleke keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A jab from Bolleke finds it's way through Dobbins's defenses.
Dobbins doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Bolleke sends Dobbins crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Bolleke is motioning to the referee to let Dobbins up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Dobbins is still on wobbly legs! Can Bolleke finish him?
Bolleke knocks out Dobbins with a massive right hand! The ref tackles Bolleke before he can follow up with any more strikes and that's it everyone. Bolleke picks up the big W with a huge KO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Thomas Bolleke!
A relieved looking Thomas Bolleke thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.