PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dirk Bakker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominic Denato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bakker
vs
Denato

187 cm
19
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
25
219 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

Good wrestler
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dirk Bakker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dominic Denato!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Paulsen Ambrosius and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bakker scores with a takedown into Denato's guard.
Bakker looking to pass the guard.
Denato is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Denato looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Denato escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bakker gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Denato 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.
Bakker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bakker throwing strikes from guard but Denato blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakker wanted to stand there but Denato had control of the position.
Bakker throws a big right hand that misses.
Denato is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Bakker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Denato is working an open guard so Bakker takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Bakker tries for a takedown but Denato circles away easily
and Denato counters with a straight right hand.
Bakker throws a head kick that misses.
Bakker doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bakker takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Denato takes the fight into the clinch.
Denato holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Denato lands a left hand.
Bakker tries to pull guard but Denato holds him up against the cage and eventually Bakker drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dirk Bakker. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Denato avoiding damage as Bakker throws knees to the body.

Denato jumps guard and drags Bakker to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Denato is looking to stand up but Bakker isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Denato is pulling down on Bakker's head. It's preventing any offense from Bakker, at least for the moment.
Denato lands some strikes from the bottom.
Bakker has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Denato wriggles free and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakker tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Denato counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Denato.
Bakker jumps guard but Denato stands there with Bakker around his waist. Bakker gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Bakker breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bakker closes the distance but Denato moves to the side

and Denato counters by moving into the clinch.

Denato jumps into guard, dragging Bakker to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Denato is on top in guard.
Denato trying to control the position from guard on top but Bakker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Denato won't allow Bakker to get back to his feet.
Bakker is breathing heavily.

Bakker is working an open guard so Denato takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Denato rushes Bakker and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bakker has Denato pressed against the cage, preventing Denato from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Denato pulls guard successfully.

Denato looking for a guillotine here but Bakker defends easily.
Bakker throwing strikes from guard but Denato blocks nicely.
Denato manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bakker is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Denato rushes Bakker and presses him up against the cage.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Denato as Bakker tries to tie him up.

Bakker pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bakker moves to clinch but Denato breaks away

and Denato counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bakker trying to control from the bottom.

Denato stands up from half guard.
Bakker with a poor takedown

and Denato counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bakker won't be happy with that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Denato working the ground and pound from side control.
Denato remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Denato stands up and beckons Bakker to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakker lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Denato circles away quickly and effectively.
Bakker gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Denato counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Denato pushes down on Bakker's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Denato controlling the action here.
Let's hope that Denato 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakker has hold of Denato's hands but Denato slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Bakker is trying to control but can't.
Denato is controlling the pace.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dominic Denato wasn't active enough on the ground.
Bakker throws a low kick but Denato avoids it.

Denato is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bakker's half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denato is looking to advance position but Bakker won't allow it.
Denato prevents Bakker from improving his position.
Dominic Denato has got the better of the ground game so far.
Denato performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

Denato is trying to work for a kimura but Bakker is defending well.
Denato perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

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.
Denato working over Bakker with some ground and pound. Bakker looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Bakker has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Denato is working away from the top position though.
Still in half guard, Denato seems content to control.

Denato decides to stand up.

Denato bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bakker is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Denato stands up and we're back to a striking position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominic Denato 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! This is the final round!

Denato takes the fight into the clinch.

Denato manages to break the clinch.
Bakker tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Denato counters with a shoot takedown. Bakker fights it but they end up in guard.
Denato stays in close to Bakker's body and controls the position.
Denato wants to pass the guard but Bakker is keeping the position.
Denato stays in close to Bakker's body and controls the position.
Denato scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bakker keeping full guard, as Denato tries to pass.
Bakker tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Bakker looking to control.
Bakker knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Denato on the ground.
Denato is stalling in the full guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Dominic Denato wasn't active enough on the ground.
Bakker with a poor takedown

and Denato decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bakker's guard.
Denato is stalling in the full guard.

Denato decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bakker throws a nice looking combination but Denato bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bakker throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Denato throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bakker was covering up waiting for the punch and Denato finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Denato stays in close to Bakker's body and controls the position.
Denato connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bakker can't keep his opponent in guard - Denato advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Denato is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Denato passes to side control.
Denato controls the position.

Bakker throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

Bakker gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denato pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bakker is keeping the position for now.
Bakker working a defensive guard here.
Denato controlling from the top position.
Denato stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bakker swivels though and keeps the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dominic Denato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Denato has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 26:30
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 25:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominic Denato!