PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benjamin Dodd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sandro Ssmanetti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Dodd
vs
Ssmanetti

177 cm
21
181 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Benjamin Dodd!
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, Sandro Ssmanetti!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Gwen Towbar and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ssmanetti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dodd was well out of range. Poor timing from Ssmanetti.
Ssmanetti scores with a head kick.

Ssmanetti rushes Dodd and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dodd wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Ssmanetti breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ssmanetti 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.
Ssmanetti trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ssmanetti is looking to stand up but Dodd won't let him.
Ssmanetti tries to free his leg and advance position but Dodd is retaining full guard.

Dodd working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ssmanetti doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ssmanetti manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ssmanetti stops Dodd from standing up.
Dodd is trying to control the position but Ssmanetti postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ssmanetti decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Dodd, up you get!
Dodd tries to clinch up.

Ssmanetti pushes Dodd up against the cage in a clinch.
Ssmanetti changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dodd fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dodd comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ssmanetti looks winded!
Dodd moves in looking to clinch but Ssmanetti pushes him off.

Dodd rushes Ssmanetti and presses him up against the cage.
Dodd working hard to break the clinch.
Ssmanetti is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Dodd gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dodd can't break the clinch.
Ssmanetti drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Benjamin Dodd has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sandro Ssmanetti.
Dodd wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ssmanetti has had enough of the clinch but Dodd keeps him there for the moment.
Dodd wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Ssmanetti works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dodd striking off his back but it's not causing Ssmanetti any problems.

Dodd is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ssmanetti is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Ssmanetti stands and steps away. Dodd gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Ssmanetti takes one on the chin but seems OK.

Ssmanetti has Dodd up against the cage in a clinch.
Dodd has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Dodd gets through Ssmanetti's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ssmanetti is pressed up against the cage. Dodd has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ssmanetti down to the mat. Ssmanetti avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodd throws a leg kick

and Ssmanetti counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Dodd looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Ssmanetti drops back, looking for a kneebar! Dodd looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Dodd looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Dodd!
Ssmanetti really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dodd. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ssmanetti trying his best to control but Dodd has mounted him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dodd looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Ssmanetti tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ssmanetti wants to control but Dodd is having none of it.

Dodd wants to finish this one by submission but Ssmanetti is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Dodd.
Ssmanetti working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ssmanetti is trying to reverse the position but instead Dodd has taken his back - oops!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sandro Ssmanetti will probably get the nod.
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.

Ssmanetti swats away the attempt to clinch by Dodd.
Benjamin Dodd seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ssmanetti avoids a kick to the body.
Ssmanetti avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Ssmanetti drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ssmanetti throws a strike but Dodd rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Dodd looking to pass the guard.
Ssmanetti wants to improve his position but instead Dodd has moved into half guard.
Dodd tries to stand but his arm is trapped.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ssmanetti manages to get to full guard.
Ssmanetti looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ssmanetti is breathing heavily.

Ssmanetti is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dodd forces his way into half guard.

Ssmanetti looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Dodd thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Dodd is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Ssmanetti has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ssmanetti wants to improve his position but Dodd is controlling well.
Dodd thows a huge punch but Ssmanetti dodges it nicely.
Dodd prevents Ssmanetti from improving his position.
Ssmanetti trying to hold on to Dodd's head to control him but Dodd postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodd frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Dodd trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Dodd lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Dodd stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Dodd dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Dodd lands with a nice combination. Ssmanetti backs away looking to recover.
Ssmanetti avoids a punch combination nicely.

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

Ssmanetti is defending against the submission attempts here by Dodd.
Ssmanetti moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ssmanetti not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ssmanetti wants to improve his position but instead Dodd has moved into half guard.
Ssmanetti is controlling Dodd's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dodd wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ssmanetti keeps working.

Dodd stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Dodd lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ssmanetti circles away quickly and effectively.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dodd is defended easily by Ssmanetti.
Ssmanetti throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Dodd.
Ssmanetti tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dodd swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dodd misses with a few strikes there.

Ssmanetti shoots in and bounces Dodd off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ssmanetti makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ssmanetti controlling from the top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ssmanetti accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dodd wants to improve his position but instead Ssmanetti has moved into half guard.
Dodd pushes Ssmanetti off looking to stand but Ssmanetti dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodd tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Ssmanetti has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

Dodd defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Ssmanetti.
Dodd tries to buck Ssmanetti off but he can't manage it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dodd is desperately trying to improve his position but Ssmanetti has a good base and remains in mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benjamin Dodd showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dodd 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benjamin Dodd!