PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ben Dover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carson McMurder (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dover comes to the cage accompanied by I'm Shipping up to Boston. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Carson McMurder was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Dover
vs
McMurder

175 cm
22
155 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

170 cm
25
169 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Ben Dover!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Carson McMurder!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dover misses with an uppercut. McMurder saw that one coming.
McMurder keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dover thows a left - swing and a miss!
McMurder scores with a hook to the body. Dover takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Dover doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
McMurder connects with a nice looking jab.
McMurder moves out of range of the strikes.
Dover misses with a straight right.
McMurder avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A cross from McMurder lands.
McMurder scores with a shot to the body.
Dover lands with an overhand left.
Nice defenses there by McMurder.
Dover thows a left - swing and a miss!
McMurder bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Dover tries to clinch up but McMurder circles away and keeps his distance.
Dover misses with a jab to the body

and McMurder counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by McMurder.
A right handed body shot lands from McMurder.

McMurder jumps into guard, dragging Dover to the mat.
McMurder looking for a sweep. Not yet McMurder, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dover loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dover lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dover postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Dover missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
McMurder is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dover 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.
Dover keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of McMurder's head.
McMurder is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dover postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
McMurder is trying to keep Dover in close.

McMurder working for a triangle but Dover defends it easily.
Dover stands up over McMurder, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McMurder 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 in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McMurder looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
McMurder keeping full guard, as Dover tries to pass.
Dover with a flurry of punches that miss.

McMurder had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dover defends it easily.
Dover is in close to McMurder's body, working some short punches and elbows.
McMurder is trying to control the position but Dover postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Dover is thwarting McMurder's attempts to control the position.
McMurder looks gassed!
Dover 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.
Dover thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dover not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Dover connects with a nice short shot to McMurder's temple.

McMurder is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dover pulls his head out easily.
McMurder is pressing down on Dover's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
McMurder working a defensive guard here.
Dover distracts McMurder with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dover is in close to McMurder's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Dover thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McMurder is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dover stands up over McMurder, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Dover working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of McMurder's head.
McMurder wants to sweep here but Dover controlling him for the moment.
McMurder is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Dover is looking to work some ground and pound but McMurder has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dover scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Dover content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
McMurder wants to sweep here but Dover controlling him for the moment.
Dover working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Dover dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

McMurder bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Dover throws a sloppy body shot

and McMurder counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Dover!
Dover throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Dover is trying desperately to improve position.

McMurder looking to secure an arm triangle but Dover defends it well.
Dover gets back to half guard.
Dover throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Dover landing rabbit punches to the side of McMurder's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
Dover misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Dover is refusing to be controlled, as McMurder sits in half guard.
Dover connecting with a few gentle strikes.
McMurder is breathing heavily.
McMurder wants to free his trapped foot but Dover is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McMurder wants to work for an arm triangle but Dover is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
McMurder is trying to control. Dover wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dover regains full guard. Nicely done.
McMurder is looking to work some ground and pound but Dover has wrist control.
Dover working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McMurder.
Dover punching to the body, from the bottom.
Dover thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dover is on top in guard.
Dover makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Dover with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Dover throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McMurder works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dover working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dover trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McMurder throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

McMurder has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dover can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
McMurder utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
McMurder working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dover.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dover accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
McMurder is trying to control the position but Dover postures up.
Dover is working McMurder over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Dover in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
McMurder working a defensive guard here.
Dover content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover being controlled here momentarily.
McMurder looking for a sweep. Not yet McMurder, not yet.
McMurder has momentary wrist control but Dover slips an elbow through the middle.
Dover throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as McMurder works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dover lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Dover chips away with some ground and pound.
Dover won't allow McMurder to sweep him here.
Dover working some strikes from top position.
Dover cracks McMurder with a solid left hand.
Dover is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Dover pushing down on McMurder's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Dover is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McMurder wants to control but Dover is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ben Dover overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dover scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Dover lands strikes from half guard.

McMurder looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ground and pound from Dover.
McMurder avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dover.
McMurder avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dover.
McMurder is looking for a sweep. Dover is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dover winds up and cracks McMurder with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Dover throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
McMurder avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dover.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Dover dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

McMurder bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Dover misses with a body shot
and McMurder counters with a flying knee. Nice.
McMurder defending well as Dover loads up on a big left hand.
A shot to the body from Dover misses
and McMurder counters with a left and a right that stings Dover.
Dover throws a jab when McMurder was well out of range.
Dover throws a sloppy body shot

and McMurder counters by moving into the clinch.
Dover drops to a knee looking for a takedown but McMurder gets the underhooks and prevents it.
McMurder is trying to stall.
McMurder has Dover pushed against the cage.
McMurder wants a takedown.
McMurder prevents a takedown attempt there.
Dover is trying to work for a single leg takedown but McMurder pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Dover. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McMurder misses with a body punch.
Dover is trying to drag McMurder to the mat but McMurder just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McMurder receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Dover can't get the takedown.
McMurder holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Dover has McMurder pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. McMurder manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dover tries to score a body lock takedown but McMurder shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Dover drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dover goes for a takedown attempt but McMurder pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Nice jab there from McMurder.
Ben Dover seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dover tries to clinch but fails miserably

and McMurder counters with a nice double leg into side control. Dover won't be happy with that.
Dover gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McMurder throwing shots but Dover is blocking nicely.
Dover tries to roll over but McMurder keeps him under control.
Dover flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Dover is not content to let McMurder control the position.
McMurder trying to pass the guard but Dover defending well.
McMurder wants to control but Dover is keeping him busy.
Dover works his way to full guard. Good work.
McMurder loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dover striking off his back but it's not causing McMurder any problems.
Dover trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McMurder drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and McMurder jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Dover lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
Dover lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for McMurder!
McMurder takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Dover with shots to the head and body - McMurder looks very uncomfortable down there.
Dover postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. McMurder looks a forlorn figure.
Dover prevents McMurder from getting the reversal.
Dover landing shots from mount.
McMurder wants to hold on but Dover pushes him away.
Dover with shots to the head and body - McMurder looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Dover cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
A nice elbow there by Dover.
Carson McMurder has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dover postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. McMurder looks a forlorn figure.
McMurder is trying to escape the mount.
McMurder takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Dover working the ground and pound effectively.
Dover landing strikes from the mount.
Dover lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

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 Ben Dover.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dover, 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Dover!