PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Denis Denisov (ranked 2433 p4p, 1608 weight class) and Mordecai Dabingyaba (ranked 142 p4p, 94 weight class). Dabingyaba is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Welcome To The Jungle. Mordecai Dabingyaba will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Denisov
vs
Dabingyaba

167 cm
26
140
8 - 12 - 0

180 cm
26
145
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Money Inc. (160Q with Proof ) 165$

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Denis Denisov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Mordecai Dabingyaba!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Denisov takes a swing at Dabingyaba's ribcage but misses.
Dabingyaba was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Dabingyaba tests Denisov's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Denisov closes the distance and clinches.
Denisov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Dabingyaba prevents it.
Denisov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Dabingyaba looking to throw knees to the head but Denisov is blocking nicely.

Denisov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Denisov avoids the body shot from Dabingyaba.

Denisov moves into range and clinches up with Dabingyaba.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dabingyaba misses with a knee strike.
Denisov is trying to pull guard but Dabingyaba turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denis Denisov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Denisov drags the fight down to the ground.
Dabingyaba wants to stand but Denisov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Denisov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dabingyaba slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Denisov.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Denisov controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
It looks like Dabingyaba is going to stand back up.
Denisov wants to improve his position but Dabingyaba is controlling well.
It looks like Dabingyaba is going to stand back up.
Dabingyaba is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Denisov wants to improve his position but Dabingyaba is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Denisov throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Denisov wants to get back to full guard.
Dabingyaba wants to stand up but Denisov is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Denisov is trying to control but can't.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Denisov misses with a two punch combination.
Dabingyaba keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Denisov staying out of range there.
Dabingyaba lands a nice hook to Denisov's body. Denisov takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Dabingyaba throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dabingyaba has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Denisov is landing a low percentage of strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denisov misses with a double jab.
Denisov missing with a left hand there. Dabingyaba was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Dabingyaba misses with an uppercut
enabling Denisov to counter with a crisp jab.
Dabingyaba punishes Denisov's body with a nice straight punch.
Dabingyaba throws a body punch but Denisov moves out of range.
Denisov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Mordecai Dabingyaba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Denisov shoots in but Dabingyaba avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Denisov swinging wildly here.
Dabingyaba scores with a jab. Denisov acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Dabingyaba thows a left - swing and a miss!
Denisov avoids the body shot from Dabingyaba.
Denisov throws a poor cross that misses
and Dabingyaba counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Denisov tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dabingyaba throws a body punch but Denisov moves out of range.
Dabingyaba lands a really nice looking cross but Denisov seems unphased.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dabingyaba just misses with a punch to the body.
Dabingyaba listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Dabingyaba rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Denisov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dabingyaba throws a hook but Denisov blocks it.
It looked like Denisov was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Dabingyaba.
Denisov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Denisov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Denisov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dabingyaba.
Dabingyaba misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Denisov counters with a straight right hand.
Denisov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Denisov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dabingyaba swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Denisov counters by clinching up.
Denisov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Good body shot from Dabingyaba.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Mordecai Dabingyaba dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dabingyaba takes one to the side of the head.
Dabingyaba misses with an uppercut.
Denisov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Dabingyaba throws a lazy uppercut
and Denisov counters with a three punch combo that has Dabingyaba backing up. Dabingyaba nods at Denisov to acknowledge the strikes.

Denisov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Denisov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dabingyaba smiles and moves away.
A jab from Denisov finds it's way through Dabingyaba's defenses.
Decent striking displayed by Denisov there.
Denisov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Denis Denisov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Denisov shoots in for a takedown but Dabingyaba shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denis Denisov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Denisov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Dabingyaba misses with a lunging right hand
and Denisov counters with a left and a right that stings Dabingyaba.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dabingyaba will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Denisov checks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denisov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dabingyaba.
Denisov throws a quick counter head kick but Dabingyaba was just out of range.
Jab, jab by Dabingyaba - just one landing.
Denisov misses with a hook. Dabingyaba ducked under it nicely.
Dabingyaba misses with a looping left.
Dabingyaba motions for Denisov to come forward. Dabingyaba throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Denisov tries to clinch but Dabingyaba moves out of range.
A big right from Dabingyaba misses.
Good leg kick by Dabingyaba.
Denisov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Denisov wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Denisov takes the fight into the clinch.
Denisov jumps guard but Dabingyaba stands there with Denisov around his waist. Denisov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Denisov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dabingyaba smiles and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dabingyaba misses with a hook

and Denisov counters by moving into the clinch.
Denisov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Dabingyaba scores with a shoulder strike.

Denisov successfully pulls guard.
Denisov wants to sweep but no luck.
Denisov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Denisov postures up in Dabingyaba's guard and throws a big left but Dabingyaba blocks it.
Dabingyaba utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Denisov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Dabingyaba is trying to stand up here but Denisov is controlling him well.
Dabingyaba scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Denisov manages to mount him!
Dabingyaba is trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denisov throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Dabingyaba because Denisov loaded up on that one.
Denisov misses with some ground and pound and Dabingyaba recovers position to half guard.
Still in half guard, Denisov seems content to control.
Denisov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Denisov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dabingyaba's head.
Denisov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dabingyaba defending well though.
Denisov thows a huge punch but Dabingyaba dodges it nicely.
Denisov is taking a breather. Dabingyaba 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Denisov decides to stand up.
Dabingyaba misses with a body shot.
Dabingyaba dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Denisov. That did some damage!
Dabingyaba just misses with a punch to the body.
Denisov tries to clinch up.
Dabingyaba is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Denisov.
Dabingyaba misses with a wild body shot.
Denisov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Denisov moves out of range as Dabingyaba strikes.
Denisov throws the left hand but Dabingyaba avoids the punch easily.
Denisov avoids the body shot from Dabingyaba.
Mordecai Dabingyaba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Denisov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dabingyaba steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Denisov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Denisov dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Denisov.
Dabingyaba looks to score with a jab to the body but Denisov is just out of range.
Denisov throws a jab when Dabingyaba was well out of range.
Dabingyaba avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Denisov has Dabingyaba up against the cage in a clinch.
Dabingyaba managing to block the knees to the body from Denisov.
Dabingyaba has had enough of the clinch but Denisov keeps him there for the moment.
Denisov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dabingyaba smiles and moves away.
Mordecai Dabingyaba seems to be getting the better of the standup.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slapping leg kick lands for Dabingyaba.
Denisov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Dabingyaba throws a body shot but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Denisov pushes Dabingyaba up against the cage in a clinch.
Dabingyaba tries to stall but Denisov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Denisov goes for a takedown attempt but Dabingyaba pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denis Denisov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dabingyaba pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Denisov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Denisov lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Dabingyaba fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Denisov checks it well.
Denisov seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Dabingyaba lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Denisov throws a poor cross that misses
and Dabingyaba makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Dabingyaba digs a good body shot into Denisov's ribs.
Dabingyaba moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Dabingyaba misses with a hook.
Dabingyaba has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Dabingyaba there as he acknowledges the shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dabingyaba. Denisov does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dabingyaba looks to land a right hand but Denisov moved out of range.
Dabingyaba throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Denisov drops down looking for a counter takedown but Dabingyaba sprawls and moves away.
Denisov goes for a double leg but Dabingyaba avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Dabingyaba continues to drive forward.

Denisov pulls guard.
Denisov throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Denisov 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.
Denisov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Dabingyaba stopping the sweep attempt from Denisov.
Denisov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Denisov pulls Dabingyaba in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Denisov manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Denisov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Dabingyaba pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Denisov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Dabingyaba gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Denisov is looking to take this one to the mat.
Dabingyaba tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Denisov's elbow.
Denisov wants a takedown.
Dabingyaba working hard to break the clinch.
Denisov blocks the elbow strike.

Dabingyaba breaks the clinch.
Dabingyaba fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dabingyaba is trying to maintain a safe position but Denisov gets an underhook and turns Dabingyaba into the cage.
Dabingyaba wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Denisov has him pressed against the cage.
Dabingyaba tries to throw a body punch but Denisov avoids it by throwing Dabingyaba back against the cage.
Denisov managing to block the knees to the body from Dabingyaba.

Denisov pulls guard effortlessly.
Denisov looking to control.
Dabingyaba stopping the sweep attempt from Denisov.

Denisov has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Dabingyaba off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd cheers as Dabingyaba lands an impressive looking overhand right. Denisov doesn't seem phased though.
Dabingyaba throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Denisov throws a hook to the side of Dabingyaba's head but Dabingyaba sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Dabingyaba was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

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 Denis Denisov.
I think Denisov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mordecai Dabingyaba!