PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ben Dover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franco Belluci (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Dover could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Franco Belluci's chin.

Dover
vs
Belluci

189 cm
19
167 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

165 cm
23
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Heavy handed

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, 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 Rio de Janeiro, Franco Belluci!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Seu Braga and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Belluci moves into range and clinches up with Dover.
Belluci fails to pull guard.
Dover is trying to break free.
Dover is trying to break the clinch but Belluci is controlling him.
Belluci is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Dover is defending well.
Dover wants to break the clinch but can't.
A short left from Belluci.
Dover has had enough of the clinch but Belluci keeps him there for the moment.
Belluci is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dover is defending well for now.
Belluci missing with knees to the body.
Dover blocks an elbow strike from Belluci.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Belluci.
Dover is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Ben Dover has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franco Belluci.

Belluci pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Belluci had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dover defends it easily.
Dover wants to control from the top but Belluci keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dover is looking to stand up but Belluci won't let him.
Belluci keeping moving, preventing Dover from controlling successfully.

Belluci looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dover wants to stand and escape but instead Belluci has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Dover wants to sweep here but Belluci controlling him for the moment.
Dover keeping full guard, as Belluci tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dover wants to sweep here but Belluci controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Belluci forces his way into half guard.
Belluci content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Dover won't allow Belluci to pass to mount.
Belluci has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dover regains half guard.
Belluci not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover is trying to get back to full guard.
Dover moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Belluci trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Dover manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Dover in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dover wants to control from the top but Belluci keeps moving.

Belluci working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Dover doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Dover manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Dover really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Belluci looks winded!
Dover wants to control from the top but Belluci keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dover gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Belluci tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dover sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Belluci somewhat.
Belluci tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Dover defends well and Belluci ends up having to push Dover into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Dover feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Dover has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Belluci is proving hard to escape from.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dover trying to control but Belluci is working from the bottom.
Dover throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Belluci works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Franco Belluci will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Dover looking to score a takedown here. Belluci is defending well but Dover drives through and ends up in Belluci's guard.
Dover is looking to stand up but Belluci won't let him.
Dover postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Belluci trying to control the position.

Belluci looking for a guillotine here but Dover defends easily.
Dover will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Belluci working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dover.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belluci working a defensive guard here.

Dover decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Belluci, up you get!
Belluci is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dover will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Belluci fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dover, pushing him back against the cage.
Belluci fails to pull guard.
With the fighters up against the cage, Belluci throws an elbow but misses.
Dover wants to get back to striking at distance but Belluci won't allow it.
Belluci is looking for a takedown.
Dover wants to take the fight to the mat but Belluci manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Belluci tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Belluci struggles to land a body shot inside as Dover controls his hands.
Dover has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Belluci is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Belluci lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Dover's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Belluci successfully pulls guard.
Ben Dover overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dover gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
A head kick misses from Dover.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dover looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dover feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Bellucis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Dover scores with a push kick.

Dover scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dover throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Belluci wants to improve his position but Dover is controlling well.
Nice strikes from Dover there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover is trying to control. Belluci wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dover uses his free foot to push down on Belluci's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Belluci.

Dover is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Belluci has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Dover has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Belluci's face.
Dover unloading with bombs!
Dover trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dover landing shots from mount.
Dover landing punches.
Dover lands a heavy elbow.
Dover controlling the pace for now.
Dover wants to control the pace but Belluci is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Dover dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! 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.

Dover shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Belluci but Belluci pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Belluci throws a fast counter high kick but Dover manages to duck under it in time.

Belluci takes the fight into the clinch.
Belluci goes for a takedown attempt but Dover pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Belluci misses with a takedown attempt - Dover sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Dover lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Ben Dover is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Belluci clinches with his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belluci is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Dover to keep the fight standing.
Ben Dover has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franco Belluci.
Belluci lands a hook that snaps the head of Dover backwards.
Dover has had enough of the clinch but Belluci keeps him there for the moment.
Dover is trying to drag Belluci to the mat but Belluci just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Belluci takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dover has Belluci pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Belluci manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belluci is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Dover has picked Belluci up - he's going for a ride! Dover dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Belluci makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Belluci tries to close the distance and clinch but Dover swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Dover manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Belluci on his heels. He'll look to pass Belluci's guard now, I'm sure.
Dover content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dover postures up and lands a big shot to Belluci's brow.
Belluci wants to sweep but no luck.
Dover wants to control from the top but Belluci keeps moving.

Belluci escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dover gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dover content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Dover trying to control the position from guard on top but Belluci is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belluci is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dover has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Belluci keeping moving, preventing Dover from controlling successfully.
Dover won't allow Belluci to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover working some strikes from top position.
Dover lands a couple of digs.
Dover wants to control from the top but Belluci keeps moving.
Dover postures up in Belluci's guard and throws a big left but Belluci blocks it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Dover closes the distance and clinches.
Dover has Belluci pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Belluci manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dover is trying to drag Belluci to the mat but Belluci just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Dover is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Belluci gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
With the fighters up against the cage, Belluci throws an elbow but misses.
Dover prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dover drops down looking for an ankle pick but Belluci pulls his leg out and moves away.
Dover looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Belluci is fending him off so far but Dover persists. Nope, Belluci circles away and we're back to standing.
Dover misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Belluci lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Dover closes the distance looking to clinch
and Belluci counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Belluci fails in his attempt to clinch.
A head kick misses from Dover.

Dover shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Dover showed some decent athleticism there.
Belluci is trying to maintain the position but Dover is very close to passing his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ben Dover.
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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 28:29
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 28:29
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Franco Belluci!