PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Eric Cabbat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Buff Dickens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Cabbat
vs
Dickens

180 cm
28
185 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

187 cm
25
192 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Brute

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Eric Cabbat!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Buff Dickens!
The judges for this bout are Eliza Hachem, Steve Erwin and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dickens wants to clinch.
Cabbat uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Dickens.

Cabbat clinches up against the cage.
Cabbat prevents a body shot from Dickens.
Dickens scores with a shot to the side of Cabbat's head.
Cabbat wants a takedown.
Dickens is pushing Cabbat up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Dickens tries to throw a body punch but Cabbat avoids it by throwing Dickens back against the cage.
A short right from Dickens on the inside.
Dickens swings wildly with an uppercut but Cabbat uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dickens scores with a nice hook to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Dickens.
A head punch on the inside from Dickens fails to land.
Dickens throws a punch but it's blocked by Cabbat.
Cabbat lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dickens goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dickens leaning against his opponent.
Dickens lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cabbat or not.
Dickens misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dickens swings wildly with an uppercut but Cabbat uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dickens gets underhooks to prevent Cabbat's takedown attempt.
Dickens works on Cabbat's body with a couple of short punches.
Cabbat blocks a body shot from Dickens.
A short body shot lands from Dickens as the two fighters clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dickens pushes Cabbat back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Dickens lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Cabbat blocks a body shot from Dickens.
Dickens tries a body shot but Cabbat blocks it.
Cabbat tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dickens smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Cabbat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good leg kick by Dickens there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabbat drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Dickens misses with a body shot.
Dickens works Cabbat's body with a nice hook.
Dickens is looking to land body kicks.
Dickens moves away from the strike by Cabbat.

Dickens closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Cabbat to the mat! Cabbat manages to get full guard.
Dickens wants to control from the top but Cabbat keeps moving.
Dickens is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Buff Dickens wasn't active enough on the ground.
Good work by Cabbat as he checks the leg kick.
Dickens throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A nice inside leg kick there by Dickens. That's going to slow Cabbat down.
Dickens fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cabbat manages to avoid it.

Cabbat closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Cabbat lands in his opponent's guard.
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!
Cabbat won't allow Dickens to sweep him here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cabbat stands and throws Dickens's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Dickens wants to control but Cabbat postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buff Dickens dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A lazy left from Cabbat finds it's target.
Cabbat lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Cabbat.
Dickens with a nice cross.
Cabbat swats away the attempt to clinch by Dickens.
Dickens doesn't manage to clinch there - Cabbat circles away.
Cabbat rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Dickens counters with a nice body kick.
Cabbat throws a series of punches but Dickens moves out of range.
Dickens looks to land a left hand but Cabbat moved out of range nicely.
Eric Cabbat is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cabbat shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dickens defends it nicely.
Dickens slips a straight right by Cabbat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dickens shoots in looking for a takedown but Cabbat manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dickens's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Cabbat blocks a head kick by Dickens.
Dickens fails with the takedown
and Cabbat counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dickens throws a hook but Cabbat blocks it.
Cabbat misses with a leg kick.
Cabbat walks into a jab.
Cabbat throws a poor cross that misses
and Dickens counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A combination from Dickens does no damage.
Dickens has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Cabbat throws a hook to the side of Dickens's head but Dickens sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Dickens looks to score with a jab to the body but Cabbat is just out of range.

Dickens gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Buff Dickens seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dickens lands a right hand.
Dickens lands with a right to the head.
Dickens stalling against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cabbat can't find room to land a body shot as Dickens controls the action.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Dickens creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Dickens lands an uppercut.
Dickens tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cabbat's elbow.
Cabbat tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dickens smiles and moves away.
Cabbat shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Cabbat. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dickens throws a leg kick
and Cabbat counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice sprawl there from Dickens as Cabbat shoots in.
Cabbat throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dickens buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Dickens lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cabbat's sensitive parts.
Dickens is looking to clinch.
Dickens scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Dickens dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Cabbat missing with a left hand there. Dickens was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Cabbat looks for a takedown but Dickens sprawls well.
Dickens tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Dickens checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cabbat misses with a leg kick
and Dickens counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nice jab there from Cabbat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cabbat misses with a hook to the body
and Cabbat takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dickens throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Cabbat thows a body shot but no joy.
Dickens avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Buff Dickens seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dickens fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cabbat manages to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cabbat throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Dickens counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Dickens lands with a left to the head.
Dickens lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cabbat backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buff Dickens showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dickens has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Dickens there as he acknowledges the shot.
Cabbat lands a two punch combo.
Dickens turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Dickens on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Cabbat swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Cabbat is looking to clinch but Dickens is avoiding it.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Dickens.
Dickens looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Dickens lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cabbat's sensitive parts.
Cabbat moves out of range of the body kick.
Dickens connects with a looping right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cabbat walks into a straight right hand from Dickens.
Dickens shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cabbat as he avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabbat stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Good exchange - Dickens coming out on top.
Dickens thuds a left hand into Cabbat's body.
Cabbat moves out of range as Dickens throws a body kick.
Cabbat tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dickens.
Cabbat checks a leg kick.
Dickens keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Cabbat is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Cabbat misses with an uppercut. Dickens saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dickens is looking to land body kicks.

Dickens rushes Cabbat and presses him up against the cage.
A short left from Dickens.
Dickens goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dickens displaying some good clinch control by pressing Cabbat up against the cage.
Cabbat wants to stall.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dickens fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dickens throws a head punch that misses.
Dickens tries to throw a body punch but Cabbat avoids it by throwing Dickens back against the cage.
Dickens swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dickens misses with a body punch.
Dickens misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Cabbat throws a punch but it's blocked by Dickens.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Dickens blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dickens tries to throw a body punch but Cabbat avoids it by throwing Dickens back against the cage.
Cabbat is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Dickens to keep the fight standing.
Cabbat blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dickens misses with a hook to the ribs.
Cabbat tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Cabbat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dickens misses with a punch on the inside.
Dickens misses with a body punch.
Dickens lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cabbat backwards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head punch on the inside from Dickens fails to land.
Cabbat is working for takedown but Dickens is calmly controlling the position for now.
Dickens lands a left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buff Dickens really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A shot to the liver by Dickens. Beautiful body shot.
Cabbat throws a jab but it's blocked by Dickens.
Cabbat avoids the head kick by Dickens.
A big right from Cabbat misses.
The fighters circling - Dickens throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cabbat keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dickens.
Cabbat changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dickens tries to avoid it but Cabbat manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dickens to the ground. Dickens escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dickens connects with a nice looking jab.
Cabbat looks to throw the jab but Dickens is out of range.
Cabbat looks to throw the jab but Dickens is out of range.
Dickens throws a shot to the body.
Dickens is looking to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dickens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Cabbat drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Dickens fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Cabbat on the side of the head.
Cabbat fails with the takedown
and Dickens counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Cabbat throws a sloppy head kick and Dickens moves out of range easily.
Dickens cracks Cabbat with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Cabbat is rocked!

Dickens moves into the clinch.
Oh Cabbat is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Dickens can't find room to land a body shot as Cabbat controls the action.
Dickens tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Cabbat seems to have got his legs back now.
Dickens lands with a short shot to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dickens struggles to land a body shot inside as Cabbat controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dickens goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Cabbat blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Dickens throws a punch but it's blocked by Cabbat.
Dickens pushes Cabbat back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dickens can't find room to land a body shot as Cabbat controls the action.
Dickens lands a body shot in the clinch.
Dickens has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dickens misses with a hook to the ribs.
Dickens is leaning against Cabbat and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Cabbat pressing his opponent against the cage.
Dickens tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Cabbat's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabbat blocks a body shot from Dickens.
Dickens lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Dickens digs a right hand into Cabbat's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Cabbat's gas tank.
Cabbat blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dickens lands a hook that snaps the head of Cabbat backwards.
Dickens fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Cabbat blocks an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dickens lands a body shot.
Still in the clinch, Dickens scores with a nice short uppercut.
Cabbat blocks a body shot from Dickens.
Cabbat tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Cabbat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Dickens.
Dickens stalling the fight.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dickens tries to throw a body punch but Cabbat avoids it by throwing Dickens back against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cabbat blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dickens lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Dickens misses with a hook to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buff Dickens dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A solid leg kick lands there for Dickens.
Cabbat misses with a body shot.
Dickens misses with a takedown
and Cabbat counters with a series of strikes. Dickens will be more careful next time no doubt.
Nice sprawl there from Cabbat as Dickens shoots in.
Cabbat doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Dickens counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cabbat's knee momentarily.
Cabbat throws a right and a left that Dickens avoids nicely.
Dickens misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dickens misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nice sprawl there from Cabbat as Dickens shoots in.
Eric Cabbat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Buff Dickens.
Cabbat doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Dickens counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cabbat misses with a lunging right hand
and Dickens counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Dickens throws a right hand that Cabbat ducks under and follows up with a left that Cabbat also avoids with ease.

Dickens shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Cabbat manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Dickens trying to control the position from guard on top but Cabbat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dickens 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Buff Dickens.
Cabbat lands a jab-cross combination.
Cabbat throws a series of strikes that have Dickens backpedaling.
Cabbat misses with a right hand
and Dickens connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dickens looks to land a right hand but Cabbat moved out of range.
Cabbat throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dickens's waist but Dickens gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cabbat off to one side.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Cabbat throws a leg kick
and Dickens counters with a nice low kick that buckles Cabbat's knee momentarily.
Dickens lands with a hook. Cabbat tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
A good leg kick by Dickens.
Dickens goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dickens is defended easily by Cabbat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cabbat swinging wildly here.
Dickens has a takedown stuffed.
Dickens lands with a nice body punch.
Cabbat tries to clinch
and Dickens counters with a nice body shot.

Dickens shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cabbat's guard.
Dickens trying to control the position from guard on top but Cabbat is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Buff Dickens.
Cabbat walks into a jab.
Cabbat fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Dickens looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Cabbat throws a head kick that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dickens attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Cabbat tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dickens sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cabbat somewhat.
Dickens misses with a hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buff Dickens comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dickens 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 45:50
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 45:50
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buff Dickens!
Buff Dickens is the new middleweight champion!
After the fight, Buff Dickens was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.