PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Artemis Aliachenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Dawkins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Thomas Dawkins has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Aliachenko
vs
Dawkins

186 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Artemis Aliachenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Thomas Dawkins!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Damien Edna and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aliachenko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dawkins swivels and escapes.
Aliachenko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dawkins throws a series of strikes that have Aliachenko backpedaling.

It looks like Artemis Aliachenko has been cut.
Dawkins closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Aliachenko shoots in and bounces Dawkins off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dawkins tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dawkins is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Aliachenko on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Aliachenko tries to get out of the position.

Dawkins is trying to work for a kimura but Aliachenko is defending well.
Aliachenko wants to get back to full guard.
Dawkins wants to control but Aliachenko is keeping him busy.
Dawkins has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Dawkins trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawkins throws some wild stikes that Aliachenko manages to avoid easily.
Aliachenko wants to hold on but Dawkins pushes him away.
Dawkins prevents Aliachenko from getting the reversal.
Dawkins wants to control the pace but Aliachenko is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aliachenko is looking to get to half guard.
Dawkins trying to control but Aliachenko is having none of it.
Aliachenko wants to control but Dawkins is having none of it.
Aliachenko holds on for dear life, controlling Dawkins's posture momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Aliachenko is looking to get to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aliachenko is squirming around, avoiding Dawkins's attempts to control the action.
Dawkins prevents Aliachenko from getting the reversal.
Dawkins looking to ground and pound but Aliachenko is blocking nicely.
Aliachenko is looking to get to half guard.
Dawkins looking to ground and pound but Aliachenko is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aliachenko manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Aliachenko gets full guard.
Dawkins wants to get up but he can't break Aliachenko's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Aliachenko controlling Dawkins's posture.
Aliachenko keeping moving, preventing Dawkins from controlling successfully.
Aliachenko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dawkins manages to get himself to full guard.
Aliachenko postures up in Dawkins's guard and throws a big left but Dawkins blocks it.
Dawkins trying to control the position.
Aliachenko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dawkins wants to stand up but Aliachenko is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aliachenko chips away with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Aliachenko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Aliachenko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aliachenko prevents Dawkins from getting back to his feet.
Dawkins looks gassed!
Aliachenko distracts Dawkins with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Aliachenko landing some decent shots from guard.
Aliachenko throws a big right hand that misses.
Aliachenko content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Aliachenko with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Aliachenko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dawkins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aliachenko is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Artemis Aliachenko will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Artemis Aliachenko's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dawkins fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Aliachenko, pushing him back against the cage.
Dawkins gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Aliachenko.
Aliachenko wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Aliachenko is pressed up against the cage. Dawkins has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Aliachenko down to the mat. Aliachenko avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Aliachenko tries for a takedown but Dawkins sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Aliachenko throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Dawkins was covering up waiting for the punch and Aliachenko finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Dawkins is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Aliachenko wants to pass the guard but Dawkins is keeping the position.
Dawkins is trying to control the position but Aliachenko postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Dawkins is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Aliachenko defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dawkins working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Aliachenko doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Aliachenko manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Aliachenko is working Dawkins over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Aliachenko postures up and lands a big shot to Dawkins's brow.
Dawkins working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Aliachenko.
Aliachenko scoring with punches to the head and body.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aliachenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Aliachenko distracts Dawkins with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Aliachenko wants to pass the guard but Dawkins is keeping the position.
Aliachenko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins has momentary wrist control but Aliachenko slips an elbow through the middle.
Aliachenko throws and elbow that misses. Dawkins uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Aliachenko's guard. Nice move by Dawkins!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Aliachenko is on top in guard.
Aliachenko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Aliachenko keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dawkins's head.
Aliachenko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dawkins manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Aliachenko looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Aliachenko tries to lock up and control but Dawkins gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dawkins punching from mount but Aliachenko doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Aliachenko is working to get back to half guard.
Dawkins tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Dawkins dominating with strikes here.
Aliachenko is squirming around, avoiding Dawkins's attempts to control the action.
Aliachenko sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Aliachenko is trying is best to control the position here.
Aliachenko is staying active underneath Dawkins, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Aliachenko keeping hold of Dawkins's head, controlling as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aliachenko tries to get to full guard but Dawkins has control of the leg.
Dawkins wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aliachenko keeps working.
Aliachenko is controlling Dawkins's trapped leg to prevent Dawkins from advancing to side control.
Aliachenko is looking to control Dawkins's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Aliachenko avoid being mounted?
Artemis Aliachenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Aliachenko on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Dawkins uses his free foot to push down on Aliachenko's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Aliachenko.
Aliachenko can't escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artemis Aliachenko dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Artemis Aliachenko's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Dawkins tries to clinch up.
Artemis Aliachenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dawkins looks for a takedown but Aliachenko sprawls well.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Dawkins tries to break free but Aliachenko pushes him back against the cage.
Dawkins wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Dawkins breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aliachenko misses with a takedown
and Dawkins counters with a stiff right hand.

Aliachenko shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Dawkins manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Aliachenko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Aliachenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dawkins works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dawkins looking to control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aliachenko advances position into side control!

Aliachenko tries for a kimura but Dawkins is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawkins manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Dawkins tries to pass to full mount but Aliachenko defends it.
Aliachenko trying to control but Dawkins postures up.
Aliachenko wants to get back to full guard.

Dawkins is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Aliachenko is just riding it out for now. Dawkins eventually gives up the hold.
Aliachenko is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dawkins's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dawkins's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Aliachenko lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Aliachenko lands strikes to the head.
Aliachenko lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Dawkins hold on?!
Aliachenko is punishing Dawkins with strikes - can he finish him?!
Aliachenko is trying to stick to Dawkins's back but Dawkins is turning into Aliachenko. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Aliachenko's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Dawkins.
Dawkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Aliachenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aliachenko controlling the position.
Aliachenko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dawkins manages to get himself to full guard.
Aliachenko chips away with some ground and pound.
Aliachenko throws and elbow that misses. Dawkins uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Aliachenko's guard. Nice move by Dawkins!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aliachenko looking to control.
Dawkins trying to control the position from guard on top but Aliachenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aliachenko pulls Dawkins in close to his closed guard and prevents Dawkins from doing any damage or advancing position.

Dawkins is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Aliachenko wants to sweep here but Dawkins controlling him for the moment.
Aliachenko is pulling down on Dawkins's head. It's preventing any offense from Dawkins, at least for the moment.
Aliachenko has a closed guard, preventing Dawkins from standing up.

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.
Aliachenko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dawkins manages to get himself to full guard.
Aliachenko stands up over Dawkins, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Thomas Dawkins has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aliachenko distracts Dawkins with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Aliachenko lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Dawkins looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aliachenko is one step ahead there.
Aliachenko with a nice head shot there.
Aliachenko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Artemis Aliachenko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Aliachenko, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 30:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artemis Aliachenko!