PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tyson Freeman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Dover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tyson Freeman has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Freeman
vs
Dover

214 cm
24
162 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

189 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Tyson Freeman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ben Dover!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Paul Aken and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Freeman fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ben Dover seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Freeman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dover's waist but Dover gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Freeman off to one side.
Dover fails with the takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Freeman.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson Freeman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freeman dives in for a single leg takedown but Dover sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Dover is pushing Freeman up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Dover pulls guard.

Dover throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dover utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freeman distracts Dover with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dover is trying to control the position but Freeman postures up.
Dover preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dover trying to control the position here.
Dover trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Freeman preventing the sweep.
Dover utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Freeman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Freeman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Dover looking for a guillotine here but Freeman defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Freeman postures up in Dover's guard and throws a big left but Dover blocks it.
Freeman preventing the sweep.

Dover has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Freeman has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Dover is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Dover pressing his opponent against the cage.
Freeman tries to pull guard but Dover forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman is looking for a takedown.

Dover pulls guard successfully.
Dover is wriggling around but Freeman manages to pass to half guard.
Freeman not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Dover works his way to full guard. Good work.
Freeman lands a couple of elbows.
Freeman has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Freeman postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Freeman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dover looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Freeman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Let's hope that Dover 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Freeman 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.
Freeman has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dover is proving hard to escape from.
Freeman throws a big elbow that misses.
Dover 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.
Dover controls Freeman momentarily but Freeman frees himself.

Dover throws his legs up looking for a submission but Freeman uses it to pass to side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dover wants to control but Freeman postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ben Dover will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Freeman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dover avoids it really well and circles away.
Dover throws out a loose jab but Freeman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tyson Freeman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Dover has closed the distance and engaged Freeman in a clinch.
Dover lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Dover fails to pull guard.
Freeman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Freeman jumps guard but Dover stands there with Freeman around his waist. Freeman gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Freeman manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Dover stops Freeman from standing up.
Freeman wants to hit a switch here but Dover passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Freeman there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dover controlling the position easily from mount.

Dover has hold of Freeman's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Freeman manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Dover trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Freeman suckers Dover into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Freeman is now in Dover's guard!
Dover is trying to control the position but Freeman postures up.
Freeman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Freeman accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ben Dover has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dover is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Freeman dives into side control.

Freeman working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Dover manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Freeman is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Dover defends it well.
Dover keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Freeman throws a strike but Dover avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Dover escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Freeman gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman is looking to work some ground and pound but Dover has wrist control.
Freeman wants to stand but Dover has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Freeman with a flurry of punches that miss.

Freeman got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dover has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Freeman has managed to get both his arms back between Dover's legs - danger averted.

Freeman decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Freeman shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dover as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson Freeman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Dover moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ben Dover will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Freeman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Freeman has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Dover.

Dover gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dover wants a takedown.
Freeman tries to pull guard but Dover holds him up against the cage and eventually Freeman drops back down to his feet.
Freeman fails to pull guard.
Freeman looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Freeman wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson Freeman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Freeman jumps guard but Dover turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Freeman is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Dover to keep the fight standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Freeman is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Dover manages to pull guard.
Dover wants to control the position but Freeman says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dover wants to get back to his feet.
Dover has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Freeman is working away from the top position though.
Freeman prevents Dover from improving his position.
Dover is trying to maintain the position but Freeman is very close to passing his half guard.
Dover is trying to stand.

Dover actively working from the bottom here.

Freeman seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Dover has recovered full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freeman throwing strikes but missing.
Freeman won't allow Dover to sweep him here.
Freeman works over Dover with some ground and pound from guard.
Freeman lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Dover preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Freeman missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Freeman with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dover trying to keep a closed guard but Freeman is proving a slippery customer.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Freeman throwing strikes but missing.
Dover looking to hit a scissor sweep but Freeman is one step ahead there.
Freeman throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dover works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Dover is looking for a triangle but Freeman pushes his legs off easily.
Dover is controlling Freeman's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freeman throwing strikes but missing.
Dover looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dover wants to control but Freeman passes easily into half guard.
Freeman thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Freeman scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Freeman is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Freeman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ben Dover.
I've got Dover winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ben Dover!