PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between thiago almer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benn Dodd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). thiago almer has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

almer
vs
Dodd

185 cm
19
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, thiago almer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Benn Dodd!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dodd bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Dodd staying calm.
almer tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dodd wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
almer keeping his opponent close.
Dodd misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
almer is not content to let Dodd control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
almer is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
almer shoots and misses

and Dodd counters with a nice double leg into side control. almer won't be happy with that.
almer is looking for a sweep.
almer is working hard here to advance position.
Dodd is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down almer's shoulder. That is not cool.
Dodd wants to control but almer is keeping him busy.
almer managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Dodd.
almer is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
almer looks to move to half guard but instead Dodd has passed into mount! Damn!
almer is trying to escape the mount.
almer is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Dodd controlling from the full mount.
Dodd tries to control but almer wriggling away.
Dodd controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodd scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish almer?
almer can't escape the position.
Dodd controlling from the full mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dodd pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's four 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.
Dodd tries to control but almer wriggling away.
almer wants to hold on but Dodd pushes him away.
almer is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Dodd controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

almer doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Dodd counters with a shoot takedown. almer fights it but they end up in guard.
almer wants to get back to his feet but Dodd is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Dodd must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dodd slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
almer is trying to control Dodd's posture but Dodd avoids it.
almer is trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dodd controls the position from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
almer is trying to improve his position.
Dodd takes a little break here. almer wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Dodd working the body and head with strikes.
almer can't do much from the bottom here.
almer misses with an elbow from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dodd working away.
almer defending against the ground and pound.
Dodd lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Dodd taking a breather here.
Let's hope that Dodd 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.
almer is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Dodd has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Dodd stands up and we're back to a striking position.
almer throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Dodd.
Dodd tries to clinch there but almer circles away.
Dodd misses with a takedown
and almer counters with a stiff right hand.
almer throws a head kick but Dodd moves out of range.
almer tries to clinch but Dodd moves away

and Dodd counters with a single leg into guard. almer didn't expect that.
almer bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dodd's guard.
Dodd 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodd is looking to sweep but instead, almer has passed into half guard.
almer controlling the action here.
Dodd is trying to control but can't.
almer 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.
Dodd is trying to control but can't.
Dodd is trying to stand back up but almer is controlling him
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benn Dodd showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

almer misses with a takedown attempt

and Dodd counters with a takedown into side control.
Dodd working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
almer is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Dodd gets to mount! almer was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Dodd pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
almer is trying to escape the mount.
almer tries to lock up and control but Dodd gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dodd swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and almer is now in Dodd's guard. A big mistake from Dodd there, giving up the dominant position!
almer slips nicely into half guard.
Dodd manages to get to full guard.

almer stands up and waves to Dodd to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

almer gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Dodd won't allow almer to get back to his feet.
Dodd throwing strikes but missing.
Dodd won't allow almer to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodd sitting in guard, not really doing much.
almer is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dodd stopping the sweep attempt from almer.
almer is trying to control the position but Dodd postures up.

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.

Dodd decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
almer shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Dodd connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dodd tries to clinch but almer moves out of range.
almer lands a head kick. Dodd smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
almer tries to clinch

and Dodd counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in almer's guard now.
almer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dodd is one step ahead there.
Dodd content to stall in guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benn Dodd comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dodd 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benn Dodd!