PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joey Dixon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Finch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dixon comes to the cage accompanied by Dark Tranquillity - Iridium. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Dixon
vs
Finch

187 cm
23
210 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

188 cm
25
223 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ace of Spades Clothing

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joey Dixon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kenny Finch!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, David Schapiro and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Dixon fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Finch sprawls well initially but Dixon persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Finch trying to control but Dixon postures up.
Finch keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dixon working Finch over with strikes.

Finch pushes Dixon off and gets back to his feet.
Finch tries to clinch but Dixon moves away
letting Dixon counter with a right hand.
Dixon defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Finch.

Finch drives through with a takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dixon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dixon is trying to control the position but Finch postures up.
Finch's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Finch postures up and lands a big shot to Dixon's brow.
Finch pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dixon is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finch trying to control the position from guard on top but Dixon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Finchis looking to pass into half guard but Dixon pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Dixon is in guard.
Dixon working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Finch looking to control.
Finch has control of Dixon's left arm, preventing Dixon from doing any damage.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Kenny Finch wasn't active enough on the ground.
Finch tries to clinch but Dixon is having none of it.
Dixon shoots in looking for a takedown. Finch tries to sprawl out of it but Dixon keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Finch manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Dixon 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finch tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Finch pulls Dixon in to control the position.
Dixon stays in close to Finch's body and controls the position.
Finch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dixon throwing strikes from guard but Finch blocks nicely.
Dixon trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dixon preventing the sweep.
Finch working a defensive guard here.
Dixon throws an elbow that misses. Finch uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Dixon's guard. Nice move by Finch!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dixon striking from the bottom here.
Dixon looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Dixon wants to stand up but Finch is controlling him.
Finchis looking to pass into half guard but Dixon pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Dixon is in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dixon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Finch manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Dixon is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Finch tries to control but Dixon wriggling away.
Finch punishing his opponent with strikes.
Finch lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Finch has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Dixon's face.
Dixon taking shots to the head.
Dixon manages to control the position for a moment.
Finch fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

It looks like Joey Dixon has been cut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Finch sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Finch looking to control but Dixon 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.
Finch thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Finch dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Joey Dixon's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Finch dives in and grabs Dixon's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dixon pushes down on Finch's head and hops out.

Dixon moves into range and clinches up with Finch.
A short uppercut from Dixon.

It looks like Kenny Finch has been cut.
Finch tries to throw a body punch but Dixon avoids it by throwing Finch back against the cage.
Dixon works on Finch's body with a couple of short punches.
Dixon taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Finch scores with a nice hook to the head.
Dixon is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Dixon has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Finch is trying to keep an underhook but Dixon manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Finch blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dixon.
Dixon is looking to take a break and control but Finch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Finch moves into full guard.
Dixon being controlled here momentarily.
Dixon with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dixon lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Dixon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dixon has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Finch keeping moving, preventing Dixon from controlling successfully.
Dixon loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Finch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dixon trying to control the position from guard on top but Finch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dixon postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kenny Finch has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finch keeping moving, preventing Dixon from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Finch scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Dixon regains half guard.

Finch is looking for a kimura here.
Dixon blocking the ground and pound attempt from Finch.
Finch is looking to take a break and control but Dixon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Finch trying to mount his opponent but Dixon defends it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dixon taking some punishment here, with Finch in his half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Finch sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dixon defending well though.
Dixon trying to control from the bottom.
Dixon gets back to full guard.
Dixon wants to sweep here but Finch controlling him for the moment.
Finch tries to free his leg and advance position but Dixon is retaining full guard.
Dixon trying to keep a closed guard but Finch is proving a slippery customer.
Dixon has control of Finch's left arm, preventing Finch from doing any damage.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Finch tries to free his leg and advance position but Dixon is retaining full guard.
Finch must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dixon 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.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joey Dixon wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Finch tries to clinch but Dixon moves out of range.

Dixon shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Finch manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Finch lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Dixon!
Finch lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Finch sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dixon is trying to escape the mount.
Finch punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joey Dixon will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Dixon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Finch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Finch throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dixon's waist but Dixon gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Finch off to one side.
Dixon fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Finch will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Joey Dixon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Dixon shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Dixon showed some decent athleticism there.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Dixon connects with a nice short shot to Finch's temple.
Finch looks like he's trying to stand up.
Dixon slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dixon thows a huge punch but Finch dodges it nicely.
Dixon throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dixon prevents Finch from improving his position.
Dixon is trying to control. Finch wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Finch wants to get back to full guard.
Dixon is trying to control. Finch wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Joey Dixon wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Finch avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dixon.

Dixon drives through with a takedown into guard.
Finch is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dixon landing some decent shots from guard.
Dixon trying to control the position from guard on top but Finch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dixon landing with the ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Finch trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dixon throwing strikes but missing.
Dixon trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dixon makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Dixon controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Dixon lands a couple of digs.
Finch wants to sweep but no luck.
Dixon postures up and lands a big shot to Finch's brow.
Finch is trying to control the position but Dixon postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dixon throws a big elbow that misses.
Finch lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Dixon!
Dixon manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Dixon, under a barage of strikes from Finch.
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!
Finch trying to control from half guard but Dixon is working away.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Finch lands a nice short elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Finch missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dixon is looking for a sweep. Finch is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Finch not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joey Dixon showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dixon has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Joey Dixon!
During a confident post fight interview, Joey Dixon thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.