PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Brooklin Rider (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ian Dabest (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rider
vs
Dabest

187 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 Sydney, Brooklin Rider!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ian Dabest!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Winston Howard and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rider fails with the takedown.
Dabest shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dabest moves out of range of the strikes.
Rider tries for a takedown but Dabest circles away easily

and Dabest counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dabest.
Dabest trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dabest is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rider wants to get back to his feet but Dabest is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Dabest stands up and waves to Rider to follow him.
Rider pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Rider feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Dabest looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rider working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rider slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dabest is on top in guard.
Rider working a defensive guard here.
Rider will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Rider pulls Dabest in close to prevent any damage.
Dabest throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dabest prevents Rider from getting back to his feet.
Rider trying to control the position.
Rider is breathing heavily.
Dabest throwing strikes but missing.
Dabest passes Rider's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Rider makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Rider.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rider working a defensive guard but Dabest manages to pass into side control anyway.
Rider tries to improve position but can't.
Dabest postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Rider is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Dabest is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Dabest content just to control the position here.
Dabest is landing with some decent strikes but Rider is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Rider really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Rider in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Dabest controlling the position easily from mount.
Dabest putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dabest controlling his opponent.
Dabest has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dabest looking to control but Rider is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rider working to try and regain half guard.
Dabest avoids the attempt from Rider to control.
Dabest postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rider looks a forlorn figure.
Rider can't escape the position.
Rider wants to control but Dabest is having none of it.
Rider is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Dabest goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Rider turns into him and now he's in Dabest's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Rider wants to control from the top but Dabest keeps moving.

Rider decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Dabest takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rider scores with a jab to the head.

Rider clinches up with Dabest and pushes him back against the cage.
Dabest fails to pull guard.
Dabest is trying to break the clinch but Rider has him pressed against the cage.
Rider prevents the takedown attempt.
Brooklin Rider has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ian Dabest.

Rider manages to break the clinch.
Dabest bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Rider's head.
Rider motions for Dabest to come forward. Rider throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rider slow jab from Dabest misses its intended target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ian Dabest dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dabest drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rider is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Dabest is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Rider is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Dabest lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Dabest trying to control the position but Rider is working away.

Dabest tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dabest has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Dabest trying to control the position but Rider is working away.
Dabest lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Dabest tries to advance to mount but can't.
Dabest is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rider is trying to buck Dabest off.
Rider struggling a bit here.

Dabest tries for a kimura but Rider is defending well.
Rider manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Rider is doing well to control the position and prevent Dabest from advancing to side control.
Rider is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rider wants to control the action here but instead Dabest manages to pass to full mount!
Dabest blocks Rider's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Dabest avoids the attempt from Rider to control.
Ian Dabest has got the better of the ground game so far.
BOOM! Dabest connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dabest scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Rider?
Rider tries to lock up and control but Dabest gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rider takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Rider wants to hold on but Dabest pushes him away.
Dabest pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Rider manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Rider wants to get back to full guard.

Dabest is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Rider wants to improve his position but Dabest is controlling well.
Dabest is thwarting Rider's attempts to control the position.
Rider is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rider manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dabest looking to pass the guard.

Rider looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rider tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Dabest counters with a shoot takedown. Rider fights it but they end up in guard.
Dabest trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dabest keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rider's head.
Dabest stopping the sweep attempt from Rider.
Rider controls Dabest momentarily but Dabest frees himself.
Rider utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rider is looking to sweep but instead, Dabest has passed into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dabest looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rider misses with a takedown attempt

so Dabest counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Dabest throwing strikes but missing.
Rider is trying to keep Dabest in close.
Rider lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Dabest!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rider can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dabest is looking to escape.
Rider looking to control and managing it successfully.
Rider's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ian Dabest showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dabest looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
An inside leg kick lands from Rider.
Rider misses with a kick to the body.

Rider moves into the clinch successfully.
Dabest has had enough of the clinch but Rider keeps him there for the moment.
Rider landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Rider will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Dabest up against the cage.
Rider looking to stall.
Rider drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Dabest gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Dabest takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rider has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Dabest is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Dabest is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Rider gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Rider wants the takedown. Dabest is fighting it off but Rider persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Dabest's guard against the cage.
Dabest manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rider manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rider is looking to sweep but instead, Dabest has passed into half guard.
Rider throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Dabest is trying to control the action in half guard but Rider is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Rider manages to get to full guard.
Dabest stops Rider from standing up.
Dabest preventing the sweep.
Rider is looking to stand up but Dabest isn't so interested in that idea.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dabest takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Dabest tries to bum rush Rider with a series of wild strikes but Rider uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice body kick from Rider.
Rider throws a quick inside leg kick.
Brooklin Rider seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Rider.
Rider tries to clinch but Dabest moves away

and Dabest decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Rider's guard.

Dabest drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dabest jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Dabest stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rider swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rider working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dabest.
Rider wants to get back to his feet but Dabest is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Dabest trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rider is on top in guard.
Dabest tries to strike from the bottom.
Rider wants to stand but Dabest has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dabest is trying to keep Rider in close.
Rider pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dabest is keeping the position for now.
Rider trying to control the position from guard on top but Dabest is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rider sitting in guard here, content to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Rider looks to clinch
and Dabest cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Dabest shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Dabest was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Dabest unloads with some shots from mount but Rider bucks and avoids them well.
Rider manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rider holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Rider wants to control but Dabest is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Dabest is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Dabest thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dabest not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dabest trying to mount his opponent but Rider defends it.
Dabest seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Brooklin Rider has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rider wants to control but Dabest is keeping busy.
Dabest not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ian Dabest.
I've got Dabest 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 28:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ian Dabest!