PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Karevul Ikarus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dominic Dredd (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ikarus comes into the arena with Flight of Icarus by Iron Maiden blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ikarus
vs
Dredd

193 cm
25
200 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
217 lbs
6 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Karevul Ikarus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dominic Dredd!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Lou da Vinci and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch lands to the side of Ikarus 's head but he takes it in his stride.

It looks like Karevul Ikarus has been cut.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dredd. Ikarus does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dredd wants to land a leg kick but Ikarus is out of range.

Ikarus darts in and clinches Dredd up against the cage.

Dredd has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Ikarus is trying to keep an underhook but Dredd manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Ikarus is controlling Dredd's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Dredd has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ikarus holds on to Dredd around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Dredd avoids the attempt from Ikarus to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dredd wants to finish this one by submission but Ikarus is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Dredd.
Dredd tries to control but Ikarus wriggling away.

Dredd jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Ikarus manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Dredd working away.
Ikarus is not content to let Dredd control the position.
Dredd working away.
Ikarus prevents Dredd from improving position.
Ikarus is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dredd is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dredd tries for a kimura but Ikarus is defending well.
Dredd moves into full mount!
Dredd takes Ikarus's back.
Ikarus just trying to survive but Dredd is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Ikarus staying busy and making it hard for Dredd to control.
Ikarus trying to control the hands but Dredd breaks the grip.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ikarus manages to reverse the position and now he's in Dredd's guard. Nice work there by Ikarus.
Dredd keeping moving, preventing Ikarus from controlling successfully.
Dredd is trying to control the position but Ikarus postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dredd looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ikarus controlling from the top position.

We're going to have a standup here because Karevul Ikarus wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Dredd misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dredd tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ikarus is able to avoid easily.
Dredd loads up on a big right hand but Ikarus slips the punch.
Ikarus slips a straight right by Dredd.
Sloppy strikes from Dredd. Those never looked like landing.
Dredd jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Dredd misses with a hook. Ikarus ducked under it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dredd swings widly with a right hand

and Ikarus counters with a single leg into guard. Dredd didn't expect that.
Ikarus forces his way into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ikarus looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Ikarus is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dredd is just riding it out for now. Ikarus eventually gives up the hold.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dredd is concentrating on defense, preventing Ikarus from advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dominic Dredd will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Karevul Ikarus's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dredd fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Ikarus has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ikarus checks a leg kick.
Ikarus misses with a takedown attempt

and Dredd counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Ikarus has his foot on Dredd's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dredd works his way back into a safe position though.
Dredd wants to control from the top but Ikarus keeps moving.

Ikarus has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dredd can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dredd content to stall in guard here.
Ikarus keeping moving, preventing Dredd from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Dominic Dredd hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ikarus is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dredd sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dredd tries a head kick but it misses.

Dredd fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ikarus sprawls well initially but Dredd persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ikarus is trying to maintain the position but Dredd is very close to passing his half guard.

Dredd is trying to work for a kimura but Ikarus is defending well.
Dredd trying to control from half guard but Ikarus is working away.

Dredd is working for a submission of some sort.
Dominic Dredd has got the better of the ground game so far.

Ikarus actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dredd is looking to advance position but Ikarus won't allow it.
Ikarus tries to get to full guard but Dredd has control of the leg.
Dredd wants to take a breather but Ikarus is having none of it.
Ikarus trying to control but Dredd postures up.

Dredd is working for a submission of some sort.
Dredd is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dredd is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ikarus doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Dredd.

Ikarus actively working from the bottom here.

Ikarus looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ikarus is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dredd's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dredd's back!
Ikarus controlling well, preventing Dredd from escaping the position.
Ikarus wants to control but Dredd is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ikarus is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Dredd knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Dredd for a finish.

Ikarus looking to break Dredd's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Dredd remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Ikarus will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Dredd trying to control the hands but Ikarus breaks the grip.
Dredd is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Ikarus off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

Dredd defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Dredd is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Ikarus's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dominic Dredd showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Karevul Ikarus's cut.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ikarus ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ikarus dives in for a single leg takedown but Dredd sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Dredd is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Ikarus can't fight it off and eventually Dredd manages to take the fight to the floor. Ikarus looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Dredd wants to control from the top but Ikarus keeps moving.
Dredd must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dredd stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ikarus swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Ikarus escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dredd gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dredd wants to control from the top but Ikarus keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikarus looking to control but Dredd passes into half guard.
Dredd wants to take a breather but Ikarus is having none of it.
Dredd tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ikarus knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ikarus wants to control but Dredd is keeping busy.
Ikarus is staying active underneath Dredd, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Ikarus looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Dredd is looking to take a break and control but Ikarus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dredd might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ikarus haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Ikarus is looking to control Dredd's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ikarus avoid being mounted?
Ikarus is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dredd is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dredd tries to clinch up
and Ikarus connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Dominic Dredd seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A lazy left from Dredd finds it's target.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dredd rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ikarus moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dredd throws a shot from downtown. Ikarus moves away and avoids it.
Dredd throws an off balance right hand
and Ikarus counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dredd misses with a double jab.
Dredd throws a head kick but Ikarus moves out of range.
Dredd throws a jab but it's blocked by Ikarus.
Dredd misses with a looping right.
Ikarus will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Karevul Ikarus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ikarus looks for a takedown but Dredd sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Karevul Ikarus. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ikarus blocks a leg kick.
Dredd throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dredd misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Dredd darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Dominic Dredd is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dredd takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dredd prevents Ikarus from improving his position.
Ikarus makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ikarus.
Dredd controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Ikarus is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ikarus has his foot on Dredd's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dredd works his way back into a safe position though.
Ikarus not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Dredd trying to control but Ikarus is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dominic Dredd comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dredd 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dominic Dredd!
Dominic Dredd looked relieved post fight as he said the following; 'I'm so amazed I won, this guy should be so ashamed he lost to me, I mean, Im not even training. Thanks for the money guys!'.
Karevul Ikarus was interviewed post fight and said 'Congrats Buddy'.