PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ben Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Dover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dover has chosen I'm Shipping up to Boston 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.

Jones
vs
Dover

180 cm
21
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
18
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

EFC Clothing

StarDust.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ben Jones!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ben Dover!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones tries to clinch there but Dover circles away.
Jones fails in his attempt to clinch.

Jones fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dover, pushing him back against the cage.
Jones throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dover blocks it with crossed arms.
Jones is trying to maintain a safe position but Dover gets an underhook and turns Jones into the cage.

Jones breaks from the clinch.
Jones will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jones shoots in for a takedown but Dover shows good takedown defense.
No luck for Jones with that takedown attempt.
Jones closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dover circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dover scores with a hook to the body. Jones takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Jones fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jones moves in looking to clinch but Dover pushes him off.

Dover gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dover can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dover drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Jones effectively controlling the action here.
Dover drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dover blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Jones tries to stall but Dover uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Jones trying to land knees to the body.
Jones is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Jones trying to land knees to the body.
Dover wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Jones has him pressed against the cage.
Knees to the body from Jones.
Jones misses with a knee strike.
Jones is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Jones misses with a knee strike.
Dover wants to break free but Jones has control.

Jones manages to break the clinch.
Dover listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Dover gets caught flat footed, as Jones shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Dover wants to sweep but no luck.
Dover throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Dover keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Dover has Jones pulled in close to control his posture.
Dover working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Dover keeping moving, preventing Jones from controlling successfully.
Dover looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Jones puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Dover avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Jones.
Dover preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Dover missing with punches from the bottom.
Jones blocks the strikes from Dover.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dover is trying to maintain the position but Jones is very close to passing his half guard.
Dover is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Danga de danga de dang - Dover scores with a four punch combination!
Jones swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
enabling Dover to counter with a crisp jab.
Jones gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Ben Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jones darts in trying to clinch

and Dover counters by moving into the clinch.

Jones breaks the clinch.
Jones misses with a combination
and Dover counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Dover dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Jones tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Dover counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Jones thinking.
Jones misses with a combination
and Dover counters with a stiff right hand.
Dover looks to land a combination. Jones sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Dover takes a swing at Jones's ribcage but misses.
Dover slips under a jab.

Jones has closed the distance and engaged Dover in a clinch.
Jones tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jones misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dover.
Jones landing knees to the body.
Jones is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Jones tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Jones misses with a knee strike.
Jones pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dover is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dover has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jones is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jones taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Jones for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Jones looking to slow down the pace here.
Jones wants to get back to striking at distance but Dover won't allow it.
Dover drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Jones gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Dover looking for a takedown.
Ben Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Dover.
Jones tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jones misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dover.
Jones misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dover tries to break the clinch but Jones is controlling the position.
Jones tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jones with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Jones trying to land knees to the body.
Dover jumps guard but Jones stands there with Dover around his waist. Dover gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Jones's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jones tries to clinch up
and Dover counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dover displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Jones throws out the jab.
Dover avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Dover lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Jones backs up against the cage.
Jones looks to clinch
letting Dover counter with a right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones misses with a combination
and Dover counters with a series of strikes. Jones will be more careful next time no doubt.

Dover moves into the clinch.
Dover prevents Jones from breaking the clinch.
Jones trying to stall but Dover improves his position.
Dover is working for takedown but Jones is calmly controlling the position for now.
Jones wants to get back to striking at distance but Dover won't allow it.
Dover looking for a takedown.
Jones with a knee to the head.
Dover is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Dover blocks an elbow strike.
Dover keeps control of Jones as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Dover tries for a takedown but Jones manages to get underhooks.

Dover turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dover trying to control the action but Jones is working from the bottom.
Dover creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Dover lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Jones down.
Dover in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Dover working the ground and pound.
Jones is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Dover misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Dover showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Jones wants to land a leg kick but Dover is out of range.
Jones tries to clinch up

and Dover counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dover postures up and lands a big shot to Jones's brow.
Jones wants to get back to his feet but Dover is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Dover postures up in Jones's guard and throws a big left but Jones blocks it.
Dover controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Dover trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dover is looking to work some ground and pound but Jones has wrist control.
Dover throwing strikes but missing.
Jones looking to control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dover checks the leg kick.
Jones closes the distance but Dover moves to the side
and Dover counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dover scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A head kick misses from Jones.
Jones darts in trying to clinch
and Dover counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Jones tries to clinch but Dover moves away
and Dover counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Dover shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Dover missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Jones is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dover scores with a couple of nice shots.
Dover really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Jones. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Jones is looking to escape.
Dover stalling.
Jones is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dover scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ground and pound from Dover.
Dover is taking a breather. Jones says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Dover is keen to just control but Jones is a slippery customer.
Dover looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jones with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Dover is looking to advance position but Jones won't allow it.
Still in half guard, Dover seems content to control.
Jones keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four 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.
Dover seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Dover throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Jones is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dover scores with a couple of nice shots.
Dover looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Dover is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Dover looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Dover thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jones's head.
Dover stalling away here and it's allowed Jones to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Dover really dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Jones tries to clinch but Dover moves away

and Dover counters by moving into the clinch.
Dover tries to score a body lock takedown but Jones shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Jones looking to throw knees to the head but Dover is blocking nicely.
Dover tries to pull guard but Jones won't allow it.
Jones trying to stall but Dover improves his position.
Dover wants a takedown but no success here.
Ben Jones has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Dover.
Dover tries to break the clinch but Jones is controlling the position.
Jones is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Dover is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dover has him pressed against the cage.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Jones throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dover blocks it with crossed arms.
Jones wants to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Jones is trying to break the clinch but Dover has him pressed against the cage.
Dover is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Jones pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Jones tries to stall but Dover uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Dover tries to score a body lock takedown but Jones shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Dover prevents Jones from breaking the clinch.
Jones prevents the takedown attempt.
Jones misses with an elbow strike.
Dover is working for takedown but Jones is calmly controlling the position for now.
Jones looking to throw knees to the head but Dover is blocking nicely.
Jones wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dover is trying to break the clinch but Jones has him pressed against the cage.
Dover can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Dover tries to pull guard but Jones won't allow it.
Dover is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Jones gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jones lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Jones prevents a takedown attempt there.

Jones escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dover lands a jab to the nose.
Jones tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Dover counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Jones finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Jones tries to clinch but Dover moves away
and Dover counters with a lovely shot to the body.
A combination from Jones does no damage.

Dover drives through and clinches with Jones against the cage.
Jones trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones stops a takedown attempt from Dover.
Dover is working for takedown but Jones is calmly controlling the position for now.

Dover pulls guard effortlessly.
Dover controls Jones momentarily but Jones frees himself.
Dover is striking off his back. Jones thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Dover can do anything to dispel that myth.
Jones is keen to just control but Dover is a slippery customer.
Dover has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jones is working away from the top position though.
Dover controlling the position for now.

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.
Dover wants to get back to full guard.
Dover keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Jones is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dover smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Ben Dover will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Dover gets the takedown into side control.
Ben Dover has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jones is trying to get back to half guard.
Dover controlling the position from side mount.
Jones stops Dover from passing to mount.
Dover is staying tight to Jones's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Jones pushes Dover away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Dover gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones taking a bit of punishment here - Dover scoring with strikes.
Jones managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Dover.
Jones is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Dover wants to control but Jones is keeping him busy.
Dover is chipping away with strikes.
The ground and pound from Dover seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Dover throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Dover lands a few punches from side control.
Dover is looking to take a break and control but Jones is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dover is trying to ground and pound but Jones uses the momentary lack of control by Dover to regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Jones tries to get to full guard but Dover has control of the leg.
Jones trying to hold on to Dover's head to control him but Dover postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dover lands a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones shoots and misses

and Dover counters by moving into the clinch.
Jones prevents Dover from breaking the clinch.
Jones prevents the takedown attempt.

Dover jumps into guard, dragging Jones to the mat.
Dover trying to keep a closed guard but Jones is proving a slippery customer.
Ben Dover is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dover managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dover 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.
Dover wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Let's hope that Dover has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Ben Jones has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dover trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Dover comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dover 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Andi Peters scores the fight 45:50
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 45:50
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Dover!
Ben Dover is the new lightweight champion!