PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Wellen Dowd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy Slapper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dowd comes to the cage accompanied by Primus - Wynona's Big Brown Beaver. The crowd seem to be enjoying Slapper's choice of entrance music: beep beep i'm a jeep. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Dowd
vs
Slapper

177 cm
29
184 lbs
20 - 11 - 0

185 cm
24
181 lbs
9 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 20 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Wellen Dowd!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Billy Slapper!
The judges for this bout are Leandro Rodrigues, Emerson Jorge and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dowd throws a hook but Slapper blocks it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Dowd checks a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Slapper. Dowd does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dowd ducks under a wild hook from Slapper.
Slapper avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Slapper is looking to clinch.
Dowd swings and misses with a shot to the body
letting Slapper counter with a right hand.
Slapper throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Dowd stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Dowd throws a hook to the side of Slapper's head but Slapper sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Slapper tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dowd paws at him with a jab and circles away.

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

Dowd is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Slapper trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slapper regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dowd working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Dowd postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Slapper is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dowd, into his guard.
Slapper showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Slapper trying to control the position from guard on top but Dowd is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two 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.

Dowd throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dowd 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.
Slapper working some strikes from top position.

Dowd has his foot on Slapper's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Slapper works his way back into a safe position though.
Slapper working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Slapper stays in close to Dowd's body and controls the position.
Slapper wants to pass the guard but Dowd is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Slapper trying to control but Dowd is working from the bottom.

Dowd had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Slapper defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dowd looking for a guillotine here but Slapper defends easily.
Dowd manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Slapper manages to get himself to full guard.
Slapper is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dowd pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Slapper is keeping the position for now.

Dowd drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Slapper manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dowd has Slapper in his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slapper wants to control from the top but Dowd keeps moving.

Dowd has an active guard here but Slapper has managed to pass into half guard.
Dowd wants to get back to full guard.
Slapper lands with a punch from half guard.
Dowd regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dowd is breathing heavily.
Slapper slips nicely into half guard.
Slapper stalling.

Dowd looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Slapper takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Slapper tries to clinch up but Dowd circles away and keeps his distance.
Dowd bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A lazy body kick from Slapper
and Dowd makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A lazy left from Slapper finds it's target.
Billy Slapper seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Slapper keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Slapper gets a takedown into half guard.
Slapper blocks the strikes from Dowd.

Dowd looking for submissions off his back.
Dowd throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Slapper lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Dowd taking some punishment here, with Slapper in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slapper passes the guard and advances to mount!
Slapper can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dowd is looking to escape.
Slapper landing shots from mount.
Dowd taking shots to the head.
Slapper tries to control but Dowd wriggling away.
Dowd really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Slapper looking to control but Dowd is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Slapper prevents Dowd from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dowd is working hard here to advance position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dowd throwing hammer fists to the chest of Slapper. What's that going to do exactly?
Dowd can't escape the position.
Slapper is landing with some decent strikes but Dowd is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Slapper with shots to the head and body - Dowd looks very uncomfortable down there.
Slapper putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Slapper is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Billy Slapper has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dowd really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Dowd in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Dowd is rocked!
Slapper looking to control but Dowd is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dowd tries to reverse the position but Slapper maintains control.

Slapper jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Dowd manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Dowd on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slapper wants to control but Dowd is keeping him busy.
Dowd regains half guard.
Slapper passes to full mount!
Dowd flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Dowd is working to get back to half guard.
Dowd regains half guard.
Slapper slips a nice elbow through Dowd's hands, connecting with Dowd's forehead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dowd actively working from the bottom here.
Slapper seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dowd does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Slapper takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Slapper wants to work for an arm triangle but Dowd is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dowd is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Slapper 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.
Slapper lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Dowd actively working from the bottom here.
Slapper trying to pass the guard but Dowd defending well.

Dowd actively working from the bottom here.

Dowd actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Slapper is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Dowd tries to reverse the position but Slapper maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Billy Slapper 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!

Slapper is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dowd ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Slapper misses with a looping right.

Slapper instigates a clinch.
Nice body punch from Slapper - that landed with a thud.
Slapper misses with the head strike.
Dowd tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Slapper just stands there and leans against the cage.
Slapper cracks Dowd with a nice body shot.
Slapper lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Slapper lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Dowd.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Slapper creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Dowd tries for a takedown but Slapper manages to get underhooks.
Slapper tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dowd blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Slapper softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Slapper blocks an uppercut.
Dowd tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Slapper just stands there and leans against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wellen Dowd. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good body shot from Slapper.
Slapper blocks an uppercut.
Dowd tries to stall but Slapper uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Dowd blocking some punches.
Slapper presses Dowd against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Slapper lands a body shot.
Slapper lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Dowd.
Slapper lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Slapper makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

It looks like Wellen Dowd has been cut.
Slapper lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Slapper lands an elbow inside that Dowd shrugs off.
Slapper lands a left hand that snaps the head of Dowd backwards.
Dowd jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Slapper walks away with a smile on his face. Dowd gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Slapper missing with a left hand there. Dowd was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Slapper misses with a straight left.

Dowd gets caught flat footed, as Slapper shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Slapper advances position into side control!
Dowd tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Slapper wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Wellen Dowd has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dowd takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Dowd throws a few strikes from the bottom but Slapper takes advantage and mounts!
Slapper working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Slapper postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Dowd looks a forlorn figure.
Oh Dowd is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Slapper working the ground and pound effectively.
Slapper lands a big elbow.
Dowd is trying to escape the mount.
Dowd seems to have got his legs back now.
Slapper with the ground and pound from mount.
Slapper landing punches.
Dowd throwing hammer fists to the chest of Slapper. What's that going to do exactly?
Slapper connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Dowd tries to reverse the position but Slapper maintains control.
Slapper lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slapper controlling from the full mount.
Slapper wants to control the pace but Dowd is squirming around nicely.
Slapper takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Slapper prevents Dowd from getting the reversal.
Billy Slapper is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Slapper blocks Dowd's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Slapper looking to control and managing it successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Dowd is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dowd throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Slapper sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Slapper tries to control but Dowd wriggling away.
Dowd tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Slapper sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Billy Slapper hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Slapper swings away with a body shot that misses
and Dowd counters with an inside leg kick.
Slapper's jab looks to have found its range, popping Dowd under the eye.

And that's the end of the fight!
Billy Slapper comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Slapper 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 Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 26:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Billy Slapper!