PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Javan Gavial (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kareem Dennis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kareem Dennis has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Javan Gavial's chin.

Gavial
vs
Dennis

181 cm
25
172 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

194 cm
26
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Javan Gavial!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kareem Dennis !
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Bart Greer and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dennis shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gavial pinned against the cage. Gavial gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Gavial moves out of range as Dennis throws a body kick.
Gavial is looking to counter punch.
Gavial shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dennis defends it nicely.
Dennis tries to counter with a clinch but Gavial shakes him off and moves away.
Gavial shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dennis pinned against the cage. Dennis gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Javan Gavial seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dennis is defended easily by Gavial.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dennis is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Dennis closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gavial struggling a bit here.
Gavial regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dennis wants to stand up but Gavial manages to regain full guard.
Gavial controls Dennis momentarily but Dennis frees himself.
Dennis has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gavial is proving hard to escape from.
Gavial trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Dennis working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Dennis trying to control the position from guard on top but Gavial is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dennis throws a big right hand that misses.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Dennis wants to stand but Gavial is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dennis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Javan Gavial has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kareem Dennis .

Dennis clinches up against the cage.
Dennis 's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Gavial is fighting off a takedown attempt but Dennis is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Gavial to the mat. Gavial regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dennis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gavial tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dennis is looking to work some ground and pound but Gavial has wrist control.
Dennis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dennis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Let's hope that Dennis has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Dennis wants to control from the top but Gavial keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.

Gavial gets a double leg takedown into Dennis 's guard.
Dennis 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.
Dennis has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Gavial postures up in Dennis 's guard and throws a big left but Dennis blocks it.

Dennis looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Gavial makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dennis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Dennis looking for a guillotine here but Gavial defends easily.
Gavial is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kareem Dennis dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dennis stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dennis wants it to stay on the feet.

Dennis shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Dennis showed some decent athleticism there.
Dennis thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dennis thows a huge punch but Gavial dodges it nicely.
Dennis is trying to control. Gavial wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dennis is controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dennis thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Gavial's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gavial manages to get to full guard.
Dennis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Dennis postures up.
Gavial being controlled here, momentarily.

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.

Gavial gets caught flat footed, as Dennis shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gavial working a defensive guard here.
Gavial knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dennis on the ground.
Gavial on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gavial tries to get out of the position.

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

Gavial shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Gavial was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Gavial scoring with punches and elbows.
Dennis takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Dennis is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dennis is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Dennis looks like he's trying to stand up.
Gavial thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dennis holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Gavial prevents Dennis from improving his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gavial thows a huge punch but Dennis dodges it nicely.
Dennis trying to control here.
Gavial is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Dennis is rocked!
Gavial drops an elbow to the side of Dennis 's head.
Dennis is still in real trouble! Can Gavial finish him?
Dennis gets back to full guard.
Dennis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dennis trying to control the position.
Gavial postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dennis is trying to keep Gavial in close.
Gavial working some strikes from top position.
Dennis is trying to control the position but Gavial postures up.
Gavial postures up in Dennis 's guard and throws a big left but Dennis blocks it.
Dennis being controlled here, momentarily.
Gavial scoring with some ground and pound.
Dennis tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dennis wants to stand up but Gavial is controlling him.
Gavial is fighting to break Dennis 's control of his arms but Dennis is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Dennis is trying to keep Gavial in close.
Gavial works over Dennis with some ground and pound from guard.
Dennis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gavial is looking to work some ground and pound but Dennis has wrist control.
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 Javan Gavial will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Gavial shoots for a takedown but Dennis saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dennis defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gavial.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dennis .

Dennis manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Gavial on his heels. He'll look to pass Gavial's guard now, I'm sure.
Dennis seems to have recovered his senses.
Dennis won't allow Gavial to sweep him here.
Gavial looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Dennis is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dennis wants to pass the guard but Gavial is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gavial trying to keep a closed guard but Dennis is proving a slippery customer.
Gavial is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dennis is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Gavial can't keep his opponent in guard - Dennis advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Dennis missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Gavial wants to get back to full guard.
Gavial might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Gavial trying to control but Dennis postures up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Dennis clinches up with Gavial and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dennis pulls guard.
Gavial landing some decent shots from guard.
Gavial throws a big right hand that misses.
Gavial with a flurry of punches that miss.

Dennis kicks Gavial off and gets to his feet.
No luck for Dennis with that takedown attempt.
Gavial looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Javan Gavial. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gavial fails to land the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dennis feints and as Gavial raises his hands in defense, Dennis changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gavial working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dennis .
Dennis is looking to stand up but Gavial won't let him.
Dennis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gavial looking for a sweep. Not yet Gavial, not yet.
Gavial throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Dennis wants to stand and escape but instead Gavial has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Gavial scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dennis is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dennis throws a big right hand that misses.
Dennis looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Dennis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gavial is keeping the position for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Gavial trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Dennis wants to stand and escape but instead Gavial has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kareem Dennis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dennis 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 Santiago Holmes scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bart Greer scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kareem Dennis !