PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between John Dodson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Austin Worner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Dodson
vs
Worner

167 cm
36
130 lbs
23 - 26 - 0

170 cm
33
146 lbs
23 - 27 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 26 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Dodson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 27 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Austin Worner!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Worner shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dodson as he jumps to the side.

Dodson moves into the clinch.
Dodson keeps control of Worner as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Dodson has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Worner is trying to keep an underhook but Dodson manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Dodson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Worner is defending against the submission attempts here by Dodson.

Dodson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Worner is just riding it out for now. Dodson eventually gives up the hold.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Worner is refusing to be controlled, as Dodson sits in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Worner knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Well, if Dodson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dodson tries to stand but can't do so whilst Worner controls his leg.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Dodson gets a clinch.
Worner jumps guard but Dodson turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Worner successfully pulls guard.
Dodson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Worner working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dodson.
Worner is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dodson wants to get up but he can't break Worner'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.
Dodson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Worner wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Dodson wants to pass the guard but Worner is keeping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Dodson misses with a hook.
Worner tries for a takedown but Dodson circles away easily

and Dodson counters by clinching up.
John Dodson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Austin Worner.
Worner has a couple of punches blocked by Dodson.

Dodson has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Worner uses from the top position.

Worner postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Dodson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Worner, into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodson wants to pass the guard but Worner is keeping the position.
Worner being controlled here, momentarily.
Dodson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Dodson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dodson gets a double leg takedown into Worner's guard.
Dodson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Worner is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Worner pulls Dodson in close to prevent any damage.
Dodson tries to free his leg and advance position but Worner is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Worner utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dodson trying to control the position from guard on top but Worner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Dodson dives in and scores a takedown into Worner's guard.
Dodson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Dodson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Worner pulls Dodson in close to prevent any damage.
Worner has a closed guard, preventing Dodson from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dodson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Worner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dodson throws a big elbow that misses.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Dodson trying to control but Worner is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Worner fails with the takedown.
Worner shoots for a double leg takedown but Dodson sprawls well. He's pushed Worner's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worner shoots and misses

and Dodson counters with a single leg into guard. Worner didn't expect that.
John Dodson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Austin Worner.
Dodson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Dodson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Worner for as long as he can get away with.
Worner is trying to control the position but Dodson postures up.
Dodson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodson is looking to stand up but Worner won't let him.
Dodson wants to control from the top but Worner keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Dodson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Worner shoots for a double leg takedown but Dodson sprawls well. He's pushed Worner's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Worner shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Dodson counters by clinching up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A head punch on the inside from Worner fails to land.
Worner wants to take the fight to the mat but Dodson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Dodson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Dodson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Worner can do to turn this around?
Worner is looking to break free of the clinch but Dodson has double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Dodson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Worner with a lazy takedown attempt
and Dodson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Worner closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dodson circles away.
Worner with a lazy takedown attempt

and Dodson moves into the clinch.
John Dodson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Austin Worner.

Dodson is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Worner can't fight it off and eventually Dodson manages to take the fight to the floor. Worner looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Dodson is pushing down on Worner's leg trying to pass to half guard. Worner is fighting to maintain full guard but Dodson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Dodson passes to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dodson lands some shots froms side control.
Worner dodges the ground and pound from Dodson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Worner keeps working.
Dodson taking a break here but Worner is having none of it and regains half guard.
Dodson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Dodson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Worner trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Worner is not content to let Dodson control the position.
Dodson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Dodson controlling the action here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Worner shoots in looking for a takedown but Dodson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Worner's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Worner misses with a takedown

and Dodson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Dodson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Dodson 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.

Dodson seems to be working for a kimura but Worner defends the submission attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Dodson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Worner won't allow Dodson to pass to mount.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Austin Worner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Dodson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dodson controlling the action here.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Dodson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Dodson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:25
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:25
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Dodson!
A pretty intense looking John Dodson took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.