PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between David Dickinson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Granat Xhaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dickinson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Aint No Sunshine. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dickinson
vs
Xhaka

165 cm
19
155 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

174 cm
26
146 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Lion Fightwear
Voodoo Nutrition

King of Fists

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, David Dickinson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Granat Xhaka!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Daniel Franklin and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Xhaka gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Xhaka throws a head punch that misses.
Dickinson jumps guard but Xhaka stands there with Dickinson around his waist. Dickinson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Xhaka lands a shoulder strike.
Xhaka throws a head punch that misses.
A bit of stalling here from Dickinson.
Xhaka lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Xhaka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dickinson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Xhaka softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Xhaka has a couple of punches blocked by Dickinson.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dickinson.
Xhaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Dickinson.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dickinson.
Dickinson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Xhaka pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dickinson.
Dickinson is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for David Dickinson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xhaka has a couple of punches blocked by Dickinson.
Dickinson lands a hook that snaps the head of Xhaka backwards.
Dickinson blocks an uppercut.
Xhaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dickinson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Xhaka being controlled against the cage.
Xhaka swings wildly with an uppercut but Dickinson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Xhaka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Xhaka misses with some punches.
Xhaka makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Xhaka swings wildly with an uppercut but Dickinson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dickinson blocking some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Xhaka lands a hook that snaps the head of Dickinson backwards.
Xhaka lands a nice uppercut.
Xhaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dickinson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Xhaka.
Dickinson is pushing Xhaka up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Xhaka misses with some punches.
Dickinson wants to take the fight to the mat but Xhaka manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Xhaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Dickinson.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Xhaka.
Dickinson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Xhaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Dickinson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dickinson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Xhaka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dickinson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Xhaka pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Dickinson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Xhaka blocking some punches.
Dickinson blocks an uppercut.
Xhaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dickinson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Xhaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Xhaka lands a left hand.
Dickinson scores with a shoulder strike.
Xhaka swings wildly with an uppercut but Dickinson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Xhaka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Xhaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dickinson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dickinson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Xhaka is defending well.
Dickinson blocks an uppercut.
Xhaka misses with some punches.
Xhaka pushes Dickinson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Xhaka lands a right hand.
Xhaka misses with some punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dickinson blocks an uppercut.
Xhaka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dickinson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Xhaka backwards.
Dickinson blocking some punches.
Xhaka misses with a punch on the inside.
Xhaka throws a head punch that misses.
Xhaka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Xhaka misses with the head strike.
Xhaka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Xhaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Granat Xhaka dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Dickinson moves away from the strike by Xhaka.

Xhaka forces Dickinson back against the cage and clinches.
Xhaka misses with some punches.
Dickinson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Xhaka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Xhaka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dickinson blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dickinson.
A head punch on the inside from Xhaka fails to land.
Xhaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Xhaka swings wildly with an uppercut but Dickinson uses good head movement to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dickinson tries to work over Xhaka's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch on the inside from Dickinson fails to land.
Xhaka has a couple of punches blocked by Dickinson.
Xhaka has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dickinson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xhaka working aggressively here.
Xhaka swings wildly with an uppercut but Dickinson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Xhaka working aggressively here.
Xhaka misses with a punch on the inside.
Dickinson blocks an uppercut.
Xhaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Xhaka fails to land.
Xhaka misses with a punch on the inside.
A short uppercut from Xhaka.
Xhaka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dickinson takes a shot to the head.
Xhaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dickinson takes a shot to the head.
Xhaka working aggressively here.
Dickinson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dickinson trying to control the position but instead, Xhaka has worked for underhooks and has pushed Dickinson into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dickinson blocking some punches.
Dickinson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Xhaka.
Dickinson stalling in the clinch but Xhaka improves position.
Xhaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Xhaka.
Xhaka softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dickinson misses with a hook from the clinch.

Dickinson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dickinson misses with a wild combination.

Dickinson tries to keep at a distance but Xhaka has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Xhaka lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Xhaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Xhaka gets underhooks to prevent Dickinson's takedown attempt.
Xhaka has a couple of punches blocked by Dickinson.
Xhaka throws a head punch that misses.
Xhaka pushes Dickinson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Dickinson is trying to stall.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Xhaka.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dickinson.
Xhaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Xhaka working aggressively here.
Xhaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dickinson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Xhaka is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Xhaka swings wildly with an uppercut but Dickinson uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Xhaka.
Xhaka misses with some punches.
Dickinson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Xhaka lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Dickinson backwards.
Dickinson blocks an uppercut.
Xhaka working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dickinson.
Xhaka throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dickinson.
Dickinson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Xhaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
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!
Xhaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Granat Xhaka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Xhaka rushes Dickinson and presses him up against the cage.
Dickinson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Dickinson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Xhaka working aggressively here.
Dickinson slows down the pace here.
Dickinson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Xhaka swings wildly with an uppercut but Dickinson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Xhaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dickinson blocks an uppercut.
Dickinson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Xhaka misses with the head strike.

Dickinson breaks the clinch.

Xhaka gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Xhaka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dickinson blocking some punches.
A shot in the inside from Xhaka.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Xhaka.
Xhaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Xhaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Dickinson.
Xhaka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Xhaka scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch on the inside from Xhaka fails to land.
Dickinson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Dickinson gets through Xhaka's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Xhaka throws a head punch that misses.
Xhaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Xhaka swings wildly with an uppercut but Dickinson uses good head movement to avoid it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Xhaka.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Xhaka.
Granat Xhaka seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Xhaka.
Dickinson pushes Xhaka back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
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!

Dickinson breaks the clinch.

Xhaka instigates a clinch.
Xhaka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dickinson displaying some good clinch control by pressing Xhaka up against the cage.
Xhaka misses with the head strike.
Xhaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dickinson blocks an uppercut.
Dickinson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Xhaka.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Xhaka misses with some punches.
Dickinson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Xhaka.
Xhaka misses with some punches.
Xhaka misses with a hook from the clinch.
Xhaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Granat Xhaka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dickinson is trying to maintain a safe position but Xhaka gets an underhook and turns Dickinson into the cage.
Xhaka swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Dickinson wants a takedown but no success here.
Dickinson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Xhaka tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Xhaka working aggressively here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dickinson.
David Dickinson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dickinson blocks an uppercut.
Dickinson is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Xhaka throws a punch but it's blocked by Dickinson.
Xhaka throws a head punch that misses.
Xhaka misses with a punch on the inside.
Dickinson wants to get back to striking at distance but Xhaka won't allow it.
Dickinson working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Xhaka fails to land.
Xhaka misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dickinson lands a left hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Granat Xhaka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Xhaka winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Granat Xhaka!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Granat Xhaka made sure he mentioned King of Fists, along with how happy he was to win his fight.