PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rolando Dotson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabricio Werdum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rolando Dotson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Dotson
vs
Werdum

163 cm
18
278 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

207 cm
25
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight 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, Rolando Dotson!
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, Fabricio Werdum!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Tiny Johnson and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Werdum has taken the fight to the clinch.
Werdum lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Rolando Dotson has been cut.
Dotson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Werdum is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A short right from Werdum.
Dotson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Werdum prevents it.
Dotson tries to pull guard but Werdum won't allow it.
Werdum blocks an elbow strike from Dotson.

Werdum gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Dotson regains guard.
Werdum is standing up over Dotson. Dotson looks to escape but Werdum dives into side control.
Dotson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Dotson defending against the ground and pound.
Werdum has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Werdum working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Werdum tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Werdum has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Dotson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Werdum decides to stand up, so the ref orders Dotson to his feet.
Werdum throws a left and a right that both miss

and Dotson counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Werdum is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Dotson presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Dotson jumps guard but Werdum stands there with Dotson around his waist. Dotson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rolando Dotson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Werdum is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Dotson can't fight it off and eventually Werdum manages to take the fight to the floor. Dotson looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dotson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dotson managing to control the position.

Werdum gets to his feet. Dotson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Dotson gets caught napping as Werdum dives in and scores a takedown. Dotson manages to retain guard.
Dotson is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Werdum dives into side control.
Werdum controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dotson is trying to control Werdum's posture but Werdum avoids it.
Werdum throws a strike aimed at the side of Dotson's head but Dotson avoids it well.
Werdum is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Dotson's shoulder. That is not cool.
Werdum creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Dotson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Werdum stands up and beckons Dotson to his feet.

That's four 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.

Werdum has closed the distance and engaged Dotson in a clinch.
Dotson tries to pull guard but Werdum holds him up against the cage and eventually Dotson drops back down to his feet.
Dotson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Werdum walks away with a smile on his face. Dotson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Werdum shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Dotson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Werdum remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Dotson is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Dotson dodges the ground and pound from Werdum.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabricio Werdum dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rolando Dotson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dotson tries to sprawl but Werdum drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Dotson pushes Werdum off but Werdum dives into side control.
Fabricio Werdum has got the better of the ground game so far.
Werdum in side control, throwing shots but Dotson defends.
Dotson is trying to improve his position.
Dotson struggling a bit here.
Dotson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Werdum.

Werdum is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Dotson has escaped the position, nice work there.
Dotson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Werdum on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Dotson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werdum is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Dotson's shoulder. That is not cool.
You can see the frustration on Dotson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Werdum decides to stand back up. Werdum steps back and let's Dotson get back to his feet.

Werdum closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Werdum not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Werdum trying to pass the guard but Dotson defending well.
Dotson is trying to stand back up but Werdum is controlling him
Werdum is controlling the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dotson is defending against the submission attempts here by Werdum.
Werdum is looking to advance position but Dotson won't allow it.
Werdum throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werdum passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Dotson!
Werdum punching from mount but Dotson doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Werdum looking to ground and pound but Dotson is blocking nicely.
Dotson wants to control but Werdum is having none of it.
Dotson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Werdum throws some wild stikes that Dotson manages to avoid easily.
Dotson is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Werdum landing strikes from the mount and Dotson is in trouble!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dotson tries to reverse the position but Werdum maintains control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dotson blocking the ground and pound.
Werdum controlling his opponent.
Werdum's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Dotson wants to control but Werdum is having none of it.
Dotson holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Werdum tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Werdum controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabricio Werdum showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rolando Dotson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Werdum darts in and clinches Dotson up against the cage.

Werdum lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Werdum looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Werdum. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

Werdum is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Dotson trying to control but Werdum postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Werdum prevents Dotson from standing back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werdum thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dotson's head.

Dotson manages to escape and get back to his feet!

Werdum closes the distance and clinches.

Werdum turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Werdum manages to end up in side control.

Dotson sneaks out the side door and pushes Werdum away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Werdum scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Werdum slows the pace down in half guard.
Dotson tries to get to full guard but Werdum has control of the leg.

Werdum is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Dotson sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werdum is looking to advance position but Dotson won't allow it.
Werdum controlling the action here.
Werdum moves into full mount! Dotson won't be happy about that!
Werdum tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Werdum wants to control the pace but Dotson is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werdum sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Werdum goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Dotson turns into him and now he's in Werdum's guard.
Dotson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Werdum works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dotson throwing strikes but missing.

Dotson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Werdum looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Werdum looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Werdum!

Werdum working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Werdum controls the position.
More stalling from Werdum.
Werdum sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Dotson is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dotson parries the strikes from Werdum easily there. Werdum is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Dotson to escape.
Rolando Dotson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fabricio Werdum is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Werdum remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Fabricio Werdum.
Well Werdum 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fabricio Werdum!
Fabricio Werdum took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.