PBP Commentary

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

Dover
vs
Combo

200 cm
25
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
225 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Dover!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Neil Combo!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Richard Clark and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dover looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Combo is trying to get back to full guard.
Combo trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Dover manages to pass to mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dover can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Combo is looking to escape.
Combo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Combo is wriggling around trying to escape.

Dover looking for a guillotine from mount but Combo is having none of it.
Dover looking to control but Combo is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Combo is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dover tries to control but Combo wriggling away.
Dover content just to control the position here.
Dover prevents Combo from getting the reversal.
Combo is bucking up trying to escape but Dover cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Dover wants to control the pace but Combo is squirming around nicely.

Dover jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Combo manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Dover looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Combo manages to get back to half guard.
Combo tries to roll over but Dover keeps him under control.
Dover stops Combo from getting back to his feet.
Combo wants to sweep but Dover has passed to side control!

Dover stands up.
Combo has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Dover is landing a low percentage of strikes.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Combo enables Dover to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Combo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Combo uses the cage to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Combo tries to avoid it but Dover manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Combo to the ground. Combo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Combo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dover is fending him off so far but Combo persists. Nope, Dover circles away and we're back to standing.
Dover was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

Dover drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Combo is looking to get back to his feet here but Dover is keeping cool and he's managed to take Combo's back.
Dover trying to control momentarily.
Combo is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Dover.
Combo staying busy and making it hard for Dover to control.
Dover is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Combo. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Will Dover go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Combo tries to break free.

Dover is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Combo knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Combo for a finish.
Dover is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dover lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Combo.
Combo trying to control the hands but Dover breaks the grip.

Dover is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Dover dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Dover will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Combo shoots in but no luck this time.
Dover changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Combo tries to avoid it but Dover manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Combo to the ground. Combo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Dover closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Combo should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Combo is defending against the submission attempts here by Dover.
Combo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dover won't allow Combo to sweep him here.
Combo looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Combo wants to get back to his feet but Dover is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Dover is standing up over Combo. Combo looks to escape but Dover dives into side control.
Combo is trying to improve his position.
Combo is breathing heavily.
Dover scores with punches from side control.

Dover decides to stand up, so the ref orders Combo to his feet.
Combo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dover sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Combo somewhat.

Dover throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Combo tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Dover is in Combo's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Combo wants to sweep but no luck.
Combo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dover is controlling him.
Dover controlling from the top position.
Dover lands a couple of elbows.

Dover stands up from Combo's guard - Dover perhaps looking for a knockout.
Dover swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Combo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dover sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Combo somewhat.
Ben Dover has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Neil Combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Combo darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Dover has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Combo is working away from the top position though.
Dover is trying to stand back up but Combo is controlling him
Combo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dover is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Combo can do to turn this around?

Dover looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dover is refusing to be controlled, as Combo sits in half guard.
Dover controlling the position well.
Combo trying to control the action but Dover is working from the bottom.
Combo might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Dover haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dover moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Combo trying to control the position from guard on top but Dover is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Dover dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Dover tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Dover scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Combo looks like he's trying to stand up.
Combo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Dover is working away from the top position though.
Combo pushes Dover off looking to stand but Dover dives back in and keeps control.
Combo is looking to improve his position.
Dover controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dover is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Dover trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Combo wants to get back to his feet.
Combo is trying to maintain the position but Dover is very close to passing his half guard.
Combo is not content to let Dover control the position.
Combo wants to get back to full guard.
Combo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Combo is doing well to control the position and prevent Dover from advancing to side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dover throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Combo's waist but Combo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dover off to one side.
Dover shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Combo fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Combo shoots in but Dover avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Combo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dover.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Dover. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dover gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Combo counters with a good low kick that Dover was not able to check.
Combo shoots in and drives through. Dover sprawls well.
Dover misses with a takedown attempt - Combo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Combo misses with a takedown attempt - Dover sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Combo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dover circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dover closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Combo is fighting off a takedown attempt but Dover is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Combo to the mat. Combo regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Ben Dover overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dover tries to free his leg and advance position but Combo is retaining full guard.

Combo has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Dover off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Nice takedown defense from Dover. No joy for Combo on that attempt.

Dover moves into the clinch successfully.
Dover stalls.
Combo looking for a takedown.

Dover breaks the clinch.
Dover shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Combo defends it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dover looks to land a left hand but Combo moved out of range nicely.
A head kick from Combo lands but Dover takes it in his stride.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Combo scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Dover closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Combo's guard.

Combo uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Dover looks for a takedown but Combo sprawls well.

Dover moves into range and clinches up with Combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Neil Combo.
I think Dover has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:28
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27

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