PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sven Dufva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Flavio Sandoval (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Dufva
vs
Sandoval

189 cm
30
177 lbs
19 - 8 - 0

182 cm
34
178 lbs
34 - 18 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Hellbent

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 19 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sven Dufva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 34 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Flavio Sandoval!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, William Gold and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dufva tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sandoval throws a series of strikes that have Dufva backpedaling.
A punch combination from Sandoval misses.
Dufva misses with a wild body shot.
Sandoval checks a low kick from Dufva.
Dufva bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Sandoval defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dufva.
Sandoval throws a shot from downtown. Dufva moves away and avoids it.

Dufva fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Sandoval to the ground. Dufva is now in Sandoval's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Dufva stays in close to Sandoval's body and controls the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sandoval is looking for a triangle but Dufva pushes his legs off easily.
Sandoval looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Dufva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sandoval controls Dufva momentarily but Dufva frees himself.
Dufva has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Dufva preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandoval manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dufva manages to get himself to full guard.

Dufva working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sandoval doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sandoval manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Sandoval preventing the sweep.

Dufva looking for subs off his back but Sandoval has passed one foot through into half guard.
Sandoval is thwarting Dufva's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dufva actively working from the bottom here.
Dufva has hold of Sandoval's hands but Sandoval slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Dufva actively working from the bottom here.
Dufva is trying to get back to full guard.

Sandoval is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Dufva moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dufva has an active guard here but Sandoval has managed to pass into half guard.
Dufva tries to roll over but Sandoval keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval is nestled in close to Dufva, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Dufva is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sandoval's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sandoval's back!
Sandoval tries to escape the position.
Sandoval prevents Dufva from getting a body triangle.
Sandoval covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
You can see the frustration on Sandoval's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Sandoval avoids the strikes from Dufva.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dufva softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Sandoval trying to control the hands but Dufva breaks the grip.
Will Dufva go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Dufva punches Sandoval on the ear.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Dufva dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sandoval swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Sandoval blocks the body kick.
Sandoval takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sandoval finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Dufva throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dufva misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sandoval.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dufva. Sandoval does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sandoval connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Sandoval swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Sandoval fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sandoval catches Dufva with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Sandoval misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sandoval throws a hook but Dufva avoids it easily.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Dufva - that will leave a mark!
Dufva slips under a jab from Sandoval.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandoval pivots, looking for a leg kick but Dufva is out of range and Sandoval settles back down.
Sandoval chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Dufva can pounce on him.
Flavio Sandoval is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sandoval dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sandoval throws a series of punches but Dufva moves out of range.
Sandoval throws a series of punches but Dufva moves out of range.
Sandoval takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Dufva scores with the left hand. Sandoval knows he should have avoided that one.
Dufva thows a body shot but no joy.
Dufva tries to clinch but Sandoval moves out of range.
A lazy left from Dufva finds it's target.
Sandoval checks the leg kick nicely there.
Sandoval throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sandoval lands a nice shot that snaps Dufva's head back.
Sandoval sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A lazy left from Sandoval finds it's target.
Dufva tries to clinch but Sandoval moves out of range.
Dufva feints and then cracks Sandoval's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Sandoval down.
Sandoval cracks Dufva with a good jab.
Dufva throws a head kick but Sandoval moves out of range.
Sandoval misses with an uppercut.
Sandoval lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Sandoval jabs at Dufva's body.
Dufva is looking to wear down Sandoval with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Nice defenses there by Dufva.
Sandoval throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dufva tries a head kick but it misses.
Dufva throws a series of punches but Sandoval avoids them all with ease.

Dufva fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sandoval, pushing him back against the cage.
Dufva lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sandoval backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dufva pressing his opponent against the cage.
Sandoval managing to block the knees to the body from Dufva.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Dufva creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Dufva misses with some punches.
A short uppercut from Dufva.
Sandoval blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sandoval blocking some punches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Dufva.
Sandoval tries to circle away but Dufva has him pinned against the cage.

Dufva pulls guard.
Sandoval trying to control but Dufva is working from the bottom.

Dufva throws his legs up looking for a submission but Sandoval uses it to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dufva sneaks back into half guard.
Dufva is looking to improve his position.

Dufva looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sandoval sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dufva defending well though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dufva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sandoval is working away from the top position though.
Sandoval tries to pass the half guard into mount. Dufva knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Dufva dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Dufva just misses with a punch to the body.
Dufva thows a body kick. Sandoval tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Sandoval lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Dufva closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Dufva connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Sandoval lands with a cross.
Sandoval misses with a hook to the body

and Dufva counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sandoval's guard now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dufva landing some decent shots from guard.
Dufva postures up in Sandoval's guard and throws a big left but Sandoval blocks it.
Dufva preventing the sweep.
Sandoval is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dufva is working Sandoval over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sven Dufva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Sandoval looking for a guillotine here but Dufva defends easily.
Dufva throws a big right hand that misses.
Dufva chips away with some ground and pound.
Sandoval working a defensive guard but Dufva manages to pass into side control anyway.
Dufva working the head with strikes.
Dufva trying to control the position but Sandoval is working away.
Dufva scores with punches from side control.
Sandoval is not content to let Dufva control the position.
Flavio Sandoval has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dufva looks up at the clock and then as Sandoval takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Dufva smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Dufva in side control, throwing shots but Sandoval defends.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dufva lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Dufva lands a nice forearm strike.
Dufva working the ground and pound from side control.
Sandoval tries to bench press Dufva off him but Dufva keeps the position.
Sandoval sneaks back into half guard.
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. Dufva connects with a nice short shot to Sandoval's temple.
Sandoval is refusing to be controlled, as Dufva sits in half guard.
Sandoval moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval keeping moving, preventing Dufva from controlling successfully.

Sandoval working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Dufva doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Dufva manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Dufva content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Sven Dufva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sandoval can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dufva controls the pace.
Dufva trying to control but Sandoval is working from the bottom.
Dufva controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sandoval is trying to control the position but Dufva postures up.

Sandoval looking for a guillotine here but Dufva defends easily.
Sandoval is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sandoval can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dufva controls the pace.

Sandoval is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Dufva defends well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dufva 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sven Dufva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dufva, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sven Dufva!
A very excited looking Sven Dufva made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.