PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Javier Dodson (ranked 25328 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arunas Kerbedis (ranked 3310 p4p, 0 weight class). Arunas Kerbedis acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Dodson
vs
Kerbedis

167 cm
18
150 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

175 cm
18
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Javier Dodson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Arunas Kerbedis!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.

Kerbedis fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dodson to the ground. Kerbedis is now in Dodson's guard.
Dodson can't keep his opponent in guard - Kerbedis advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Kerbedis is looking for a kimura here.
Kerbedis prevents Dodson from improving his position.
Kerbedis trying to mount his opponent but Dodson defends it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kerbedis keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson wants to get back to full guard but Kerbedis has passed into side control.
Dodson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kerbedis controlling the position from side mount.

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.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dodson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kerbedis wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kerbedis slows the pace down.
Dodson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kerbedis on the ground.
Dodson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kerbedis happy to just control the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Dodson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Dodson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerbedis tries to improve position but can't.

Dodson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Dodson tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kerbedis is trying to improve his position.

Dodson swings around for an armbar but Kerbedis sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Dodson's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dodson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kerbedis tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Dodson is in Kerbedis's guard.

Dodson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kerbedis manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dodson has Kerbedis in his guard.

Dodson wants to sweep but no luck.
Kerbedis controlling from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dodson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kerbedis doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kerbedis manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerbedis preventing the sweep.

Dodson is looking for a triangle here but Kerbedis uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kerbedis takes a little break here. Dodson wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

Kerbedis is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Dodson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerbedis remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Kerbedis's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
More stalling from Kerbedis.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerbedis in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Dodson is trying to improve his position.
Dodson is trying to escape the position but Kerbedis is controlling the position.
Kerbedis with more of the same as he continues to hold on.
Dodson is looking to regain half guard here but Kerbedis keeps moving and retains side control.
Kerbedis slows the pace down.

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.
Dodson is looking to reverse the position.
Kerbedis slows the pace down.
Dodson is looking to reverse the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dodson is working hard here to advance position.
Kerbedis is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Dodson will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arunas Kerbedis showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kerbedis shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kerbedis prevents Dodson from standing back up.
Kerbedis content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerbedis moves nicely into side control.
Dodson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Arunas Kerbedis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dodson is in trouble now - Kerbedis has advanced to mount!
Dodson is working to get back to half guard.
Kerbedis sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Let's hope that Kerbedis 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerbedis is continuing to stall.
Kerbedis has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kerbedis lands a big shot there that rocks Dodson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kerbedis controlling his opponent.
Kerbedis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dodson is desperately trying to improve his position but Kerbedis has a good base and remains in mount.
Kerbedis controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Kerbedis.
Dodson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Arunas Kerbedis is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kerbedis takes Dodson's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Dodson is in trouble.
Kerbedis keeps control of the position easily here as Dodson tries to buck him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodson rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Arunas Kerbedis comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kerbedis 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arunas Kerbedis!
Arunas Kerbedis took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.