PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Dover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Enzo Maldini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dover
vs
Maldini

200 cm
25
225 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

196 cm
16
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 - 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Enzo Maldini!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Paul Tew and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dover.
Maldini needs to keep his hands up - Dover had a free shot at his head there.
Maldini lands a body shot.
Dover fails to land with a series of punches.
Dover slips under a jab.
Dover shoots for a double leg takedown but Maldini sprawls well. He's pushed Dover's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Maldini swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dover is defended easily by Maldini.
A little jabbing left from Maldini on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Dover. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dover shoots in looking for a takedown but Maldini manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dover's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Dover rushes Maldini and presses him up against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Dover breaks the clinch.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maldini. Dover does a little dance to reset his feet.

Dover drives through and clinches with Maldini against the cage.
Maldini goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Dover gets control of Maldini's arms and successfully pulls guard. Dover will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Dover has Maldini pulled in close to control his posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dover is on top in guard.

Dover is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maldini wants to stand and escape but Dover is having none of it.

Dover thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Dover decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Maldini rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dover moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Maldini misses with an uppercut. Dover saw that one coming.
Dover fails with a takedown attempt.

Dover moves into range and clinches up with Maldini.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maldini lands a right hand that snaps the head of Dover backwards.
Maldini tries to circle away but Dover has him pinned against the cage.

Dover pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Enzo Maldini is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dover fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Maldini avoids it really well and circles away.
Dover shoots in for a takedown but Maldini shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Maldini is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Dover with a body shot.
Dover shoots for a double leg takedown but Maldini sprawls well. He's pushed Dover's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Maldini looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ben Dover seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Maldini throws a looping overhand right but Dover ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dover ducks under a wild hook from Maldini.

Dover fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Maldini, pushing him back against the cage.
Dover blocks an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that 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.

Maldini tries to keep at a distance but Dover has taken the fight into the clinch.
Maldini goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Maldini scores with a shoulder strike.
Dover blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Dover pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Maldini takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Enzo Maldini seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Dover has taken the fight to the clinch.
Maldini lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Dover drags the fight down to the ground.

Dover has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Maldini off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A slow jab from Maldini misses its intended target.
Dover looks for a takedown but Maldini sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Maldini. Dover does a little dance to reset his feet.

Dover gets a clinch.
Maldini struggles to land a body shot inside as Dover controls his hands.
Maldini misses with a body punch.
Dover tries to pull guard but Maldini forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Maldini tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Maldini throws a punch but it's blocked by Dover.
Dover is working for takedown but Maldini is calmly controlling the position for now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Dover. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maldini lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Maldini misses with a body punch.

Dover breaks from the clinch.
Dover misses with a takedown attempt - Maldini sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Maldini misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dover slips a jab and a cross from Maldini.
Dover fails with the takedown.
Maldini let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Maldini stuffs the takedown.
Dover tries to clinch up but Maldini circles away and keeps his distance.
It seemed like Maldini was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Maldini swinging wildly here.

Dover shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Maldini manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Maldini is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dover is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldini keeping full guard, as Dover tries to pass.
Maldini really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dover. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Dover is stalling in the full guard.
Maldini is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dover is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Maldini preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dover looking to pass the guard.
Dover works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Dover 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.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dover sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ben Dover will probably get the nod.
That's time! Dover's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Maldini takes a swing at Dover's ribcage but misses.
Dover shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Maldini sprawls well. Maldini wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dover gets slowly back to his feet.
Maldini is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Dover with a body shot.
Dover keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dover feinted with a counter takedown.
A solid leg kick lands there for Dover.

Dover closes the distance and clinches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dover tightens his grip and picks Maldini up, before dumping him to the ground. Maldini manages to land in guard.
Dover passes Maldini's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Dover not doing much here.
Ben Dover overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dover not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Maldini keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dover passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Maldini!

Dover is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Maldini is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Dover rather than just go for the knockout.

That's two 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.

Maldini gets tackled into the cage by Dover. Dover maintains the clinch.
Maldini has a couple of punches blocked by Dover.
Dover prevents a body shot from Maldini.

Dover breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ben Dover is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dover throws a head kick that Maldini semi-blocks.
Dover is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Maldini can do to turn this around?
Dover with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Dover clinches with his opponent.
Maldini can't break the clinch.
Good body shot from Maldini.
Dover blocks an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maldini swings wildly with an uppercut but Dover uses good head movement to avoid it.
Maldini working hard to break the clinch.

Dover breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dover misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Enzo Maldini has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dover is trying hard to land a takedown here. Maldini sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Maldini looks like he wants to counter punch here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Dover. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Maldini throws a right and a left that both miss.

Dover has Maldini up against the cage in a clinch.
Dover blocks a body shot from Maldini.

Dover pulls Maldini into guard.
Dover throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dover avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Maldini tries to stand but Dover is controlling from the bottom.
Dover doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Maldini won't allow Dover to sweep him here.

Dover has his feet on Maldini's thighs here. He's pushed Maldini off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Maldini screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ben Dover!