PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyoto Tachia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Dignam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lyoto Tachia is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Tachia
vs
Dignam

186 cm
29
217 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

187 cm
26
215 lbs
9 - 3 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lyoto Tachia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sean Dignam!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tachia stuffs the takedown attempt from Dignam. Dignam gets slowly back to his feet.
Lyoto Tachia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dignam with a poor takedown
enabling Tachia to counter with a crisp jab.

It looks like Sean Dignam has been cut.
Tachia wants to clinch
and Dignam cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dignam connects with a single shot there.
Tachia wants to clinch but Dignam slips to the side
and Dignam counters with a stiff right hand.
Dignam fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tachia avoids it really well and circles away.
Lyoto Tachia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sean Dignam.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Dignam.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dignam working the body and head with strikes.
Tachia wants to get back to his feet.

Dignam is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Tachia knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Tachia tries to escape but Dignam is in control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tachia bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Tachia moves to clinch but Dignam breaks away

and Dignam counters with a takedown into side control.

Dignam goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Tachia rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Dignam's guard! Nice work there by Tachia!
Tachia has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dignam looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dignam is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Dignam throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tachia wants to stand but Dignam has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Tachia preventing the sweep.
Tachia would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dignam 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.
Tachia has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dignam is proving hard to escape from.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Dignam is looking for a triangle but Tachia pushes his legs off easily.

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.
Dignam manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Tachia is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dignam working for a submission but Tachia is keeping him at bay.
Dignam raining down shots from the mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dignam looking to control but Tachia is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Dignam dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sean Dignam's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dignam throws a shot to the body.
Tachia moves to clinch but Dignam breaks away

and Dignam decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tachia's guard.
Tachia knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dignam on the ground.
Dignam is looking to work some ground and pound but Tachia has wrist control.
Tachia wants to stand up but Dignam is controlling him.
Dignam passes into half guard.
Tachia tries to kick Dignam off in order to stand up. Dignam Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

Dignam working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dignam in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dignam controls the position.
Dignam moves into full mount!
You get the feeling that Tachia really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Dignam looking to control but Tachia is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Dignam goes for an armbar but Tachia turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Tachia.
Tachia wanted to stand there but Dignam had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dignam looking to control.
Dignam has a closed guard, preventing Tachia from standing up.
Tachia won't allow Dignam to sweep him here.

Dignam working for a triangle but Tachia defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dignam has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Sean Dignam has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dignam trying to keep a closed guard but Tachia is proving a slippery customer.
Dignam manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four 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.
Dignam misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Dignam goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Tachia turns into him and now he's in Dignam's guard.
Tachia would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Dignam showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sean Dignam's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tachia looks to clinch

and Dignam counters with a nice double leg into side control. Tachia won't be happy with that.
Tachia bucks up and tries to throw Dignam off but instead Dignam has got his back!
Tachia covering up well under a series of strikes from Dignam.

Tachia is trying escape back to his feet. He turns into his opponent's guard and eventually finds his way back to his feet.
Sean Dignam is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Dignam fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tachia sprawls well initially but Dignam persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Dignam is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Tachia pushes Dignam off and gets back to his feet.
Tachia wants to clinch

and Dignam counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dignam throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Tachia is defending against the submission attempts here by Dignam.
Dignam trying to control the pace.

Dignam is looking for a kimura but Tachia is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Dignam to get the leverage.
Dignam wants to pass the guard but Tachia is defending well.
Tachia looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's two 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.
Dignam takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Dignam looks to land a strike but Tachia avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Tachia has his feet on Dignam's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Tachia connects with a body shot.
Tachia tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tachia goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Dignam shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Tachia is trying to defend but Dignam finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Dignam is working for a kimura but Tachia is defending it quite comfortably.
Tachia blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dignam.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dignam moves into full mount! Tachia won't be happy about that!
Dignam throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Tachia because Dignam loaded up on that one.
Dignam can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tachia is looking to escape.
Tachia wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Dignam unloading with bombs!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tachia is squirming around, avoiding Dignam's attempts to control the action.
Tachia trying desperately to get to his feet.
Dignam connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

Tachia defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Dignam.
Dignam sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Lyoto Tachia has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tachia wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Sean Dignam is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dignam punishing his opponent with strikes.
Tachia is trying to stand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sean Dignam comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dignam 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sean Dignam!