PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nathan Dillard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Bartell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bartell has chosen Smasher/Devourer as his entrance music. James Bartell has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dillard
vs
Bartell

217 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
204 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Nathan Dillard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, James Bartell!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Phil Schofield and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bartell throws a sloppy head kick and Dillard moves out of range easily.

Bartell fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dillard, pushing him back against the cage.

Dillard pulls guard.
Dillard wants to sweep but no luck.

Bartell gets to his feet - Dillard follows without any prompting.
Bartell shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dillard sprawls well. Dillard wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bartell gets slowly back to his feet.
Bartell misses with a takedown attempt - Dillard sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Dillard appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dillard fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillard shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bartell but Bartell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bartell lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Bartell shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nathan Dillard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Bartell.
Dillard defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bartell.
Dillard checks a low kick from Bartell.
Bartell shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Dillard connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bartell looks winded!
Dillard throws a right and a left that both miss.
No joy there for Bartell, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Dillard shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bartell's guard.
Bartell is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Dillard dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dillard lands some shots froms side control.

Dillard tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dillard tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Dillard is trying to get an arm triangle but Bartell is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dillard looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Bartell is avoiding damage well.
Bartell is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Dillard has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Dillard has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Dillard tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bartell can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bartell is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

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.

Dillard wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bartell, who protects the arm well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Dillard misses with a straight right.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A clash of legs there as Dillard blocks the low kick.
Bartell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It looked like Dillard wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Dillard dominated that round.
That's time! Dillard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Dillard throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Bartell.
Nice takedown defense from Dillard. No joy for Bartell on that attempt.
Dillard throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Bartell is looking for the big counter here.
Dillard dives in for a single leg takedown but Bartell sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Bartell clinches up against the cage.
Dillard really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Dillard has hold of one of Bartell's legs. Bartell is fighting the takedown attempt but Dillard gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Bartell wants to get back to his feet but Dillard is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bartell is looking to stand back up but Dillard counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Bartell.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartell wants to get back to his feet.

Dillard is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dillard is trying to control. Bartell wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bartell tries to kick Dillard off but Dillard keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Dillard shoots for a takedown but Bartell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bartell raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Bartell shoots in for a takedown but Dillard shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
As Bartell looks to move away, Dillard throws a big counter combo but Bartell just gets out of the way.
Bartell is breathing heavily.
Bartell misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nathan Dillard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Bartell.
Dillard fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Dillard changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bartell tries to avoid it but Dillard manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bartell to the ground. Bartell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dillard shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bartell but Bartell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
As Dillard backs off Bartell throws a huge counter combo but Dillard manages to avoid it all.
Bartell dives in for a single leg takedown but Dillard sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartell shoots in looking for a takedown but Dillard manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bartell's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Dillard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bartell can do to turn this around?

Dillard clinches.

Dillard manages to pull guard.

Dillard has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Bartell has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

Dillard pulls guard.
Bartell wants to stand but Dillard has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Dillard is looking to stand back up but Bartell counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Dillard.
Dillard is trying to stand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bartell seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Dillard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bartell's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bartell's back!
Bartell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dillard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bartell trying to get back to his feet but Dillard is in full control for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dillard tightening his grip on Bartell, looking for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nathan Dillard dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bartell blocks a head kick by Dillard.
Nice sprawl there from Dillard as Bartell shoots in.
Bartell closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dillard circles away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Bartell or perhaps it was just good defense by Dillard, which made it look bad.
Nathan Dillard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Bartell.
Dillard shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bartell pinned against the cage. Bartell gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dillard.
Bartell takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bartell clinches up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dillard ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Dillard no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Dillard is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Dillard working a defensive guard here.
Dillard looking for a sweep. Not yet Dillard, not yet.
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.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Bartell gets to his feet - Dillard follows without any prompting.
Bartell shoots for a double leg takedown but Dillard sprawls well. He's pushed Bartell's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dillard throws a big counter combination but Bartell scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Bartell misses with the combination.
Dillard changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bartell tries to avoid it but Dillard manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bartell to the ground. Bartell escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bartell unleashes a big counter combination but Dillard bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Dillard closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bartell circles away.
Bartell tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Dillard manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bartell is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bartell shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dillard pinned against the cage. Dillard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dillard misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bartell throws a fast counter high kick but Dillard manages to duck under it in time.
Dillard misses with a takedown attempt - Bartell sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bartell lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Bartell.

Dillard has closed the distance and engaged Bartell in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dillard pulls guard effortlessly.
Bartell wants to get up but he can't break Dillard's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Dillard wants to sweep here but Bartell controlling him for the moment.
Bartell has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dillard is proving hard to escape from.
Dillard is trying to keep Bartell in close.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Bartell decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Dillard, up you get!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to James Bartell.
I think Dillard 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nathan Dillard!