PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Antoine Dodson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anthony Cerrone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dodson comes into the arena with Bed Intruder blaring out of the sound system. Antoine Dodson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dodson
vs
Cerrone

173 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

179 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Antoine Dodson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Anthony Cerrone!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cerrone throws a nice outside leg kick.

Cerrone shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dodson's guard.
Dodson is trying to keep Cerrone in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dodson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Cerrone is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Cerrone controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Cerrone scores with a nice head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cerrone changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Dodson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Cerrone just content to control the position.
Let's hope that Cerrone has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Cerrone scoring with punches and elbows.
Dodson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cerrone wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Cerrone decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Dodson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cerrone as he avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dodson.
Anthony Cerrone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Cerrone 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.
Cerrone seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Cerrone trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dodson being controlled here, momentarily.
Cerrone wants to get up but he can't break Dodson's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Anthony Cerrone wasn't active enough on the ground.
Dodson fails with the takedown

and Cerrone counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Cerrone.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antoine Dodson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Cerrone gets control of Dodson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cerrone will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Cerrone working for a triangle but Dodson defends it easily.
Cerrone pulls Dodson in close to his closed guard and prevents Dodson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Dodson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodson wants to control from the top but Cerrone keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dodson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dodson throwing strikes but missing.
Dodson works over Cerrone with some ground and pound from guard.
Cerrone working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dodson.
Dodson throwing strikes from guard but Cerrone blocks nicely.
Dodson throws a big right hand that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cerrone is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Dodson wants to control from the top but Cerrone keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Cerrone dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cerrone looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dodson tries for a takedown but Cerrone circles away easily

and Cerrone moves into the clinch.

Cerrone ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Cerrone no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Anthony Cerrone has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cerrone wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Dodson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dodson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Dodson throwing strikes from guard but Cerrone blocks nicely.
Dodson 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.
Dodson pushes down on Cerrone's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Cerrone keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cerrone works his way to full guard. Good work.
Cerrone is controlling Dodson's posture.

Dodson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Dodson won't allow Cerrone to sweep him here.
Dodson trying to control the position from guard on top but Cerrone is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dodson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cerrone swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dodson is working hard here to advance position.
Dodson wants to stand but Cerrone is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone pulls Dodson in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dodson shoots in for a takedown but Cerrone shows good takedown defense.
Dodson stuffs the takedown.

Cerrone shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dodson is trying to defend but Cerrone finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Cerrone is breathing heavily.
Dodson is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson pushes Cerrone off looking to stand but Cerrone dives back in and keeps control.
Cerrone is pressing down on Dodson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dodson is holding on for now.
Dodson wants to improve his position but Cerrone is controlling well.
Cerrone works his way into side control.
A lull in the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Cerrone wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Cerrone stands up and beckons Dodson to his feet.
Dodson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Cerrone counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antoine Dodson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cerrone is looking to advance position but Dodson won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Cerrone is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anthony Cerrone showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

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

Cerrone is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Dodson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Cerrone.
Dodson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cerrone is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson is looking to improve his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Cerrone's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Cerrone lands with a punch from half guard.
Dodson is trying to get back to full guard.
Cerrone throwing shots but Dodson is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Cerrone seems content to control.
Cerrone throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dodson trying to hold on to Cerrone's head to control him but Cerrone postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Anthony Cerrone.
Dodson shoots in and drives through. Cerrone sprawls well.
Dodson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Cerrone counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Cerrone really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dodson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
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!
Cerrone trying to mount his opponent but Dodson defends it.
Dodson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cerrone slows the pace down in half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Cerrone is thwarting Dodson's attempts to control the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Anthony Cerrone wasn't active enough on the ground.
Cerrone misses with a body kick.
Dodson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cerrone as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Antoine Dodson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cerrone swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Cerrone changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Dodson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Cerrone remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Antoine Dodson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cerrone takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dodson tries to improve position but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cerrone remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Anthony Cerrone is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Cerrone stands up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anthony Cerrone comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Cerrone 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Cerrone!