PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stephen Dodson (ranked 5272 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cody Kapaun (ranked 5246 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dodson
vs
Kapaun

159 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Stephen Dodson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cody Kapaun!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Alan Glass and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kapaun stuns Dodson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Cody Kapaun seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kapaun bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Dodson struggling a bit here.
Dodson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Dodson wants to control but Kapaun postures up.

Kapaun stands up.
Dodson really is a fat lump.

Kapaun closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kapaun lands in his opponent's guard.
Dodson has a closed guard, preventing Kapaun from standing up.
Dodson pulls Kapaun in close to his closed guard and prevents Kapaun from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kapaun must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kapaun trying to stand up but can't free himself from Dodson's guard.
Dodson has control of Kapaun's left arm, preventing Kapaun from doing any damage.

Kapaun is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Dodson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Dodson has escaped and now he's on top!

Kapaun pushes Dodson off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Kapaun uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dodson.
Dodson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kapaun.
Dodson is trying to improve his position.

Kapaun decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Dodson gets caught flat footed, as Kapaun shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

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

Kapaun closes the distance and clinches.
Dodson wants to take the fight to the mat but Kapaun manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Kapaun has had enough of the clinch but Dodson keeps him there for the moment.

Dodson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson misses the jab.
Kapaun tries to clinch there but Dodson circles away.

Kapaun closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Kapaun is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Dodson sees it coming and defends easily.
Kapaun wants to stand but Dodson has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Dodson is pressing down on Kapaun's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Dodson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kapaun is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dodson is controlling him.
Kapaun looks winded!
Kapaun is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Dodson dives into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kapaun is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Dodson tries to score with some ground and pound. Kapaun controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Kapaun is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Dodson taking a breather here.
Dodson in side control, throwing shots but Kapaun defends.

Kapaun bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Dodson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Kapaun dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kapaun tries a low kick but Dodson avoids it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Dodson wants to take the fight to the mat but Kapaun manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Dodson missing with knees to the body.
Dodson wants to take the fight to the mat but Kapaun manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Kapaun is trying to force a seperation but Dodson has the dominant position.
Dodson has Kapaun pressed against the cage, preventing Kapaun from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kapaun wants to get back to striking at distance but Dodson won't allow it.

Dodson manages to break the clinch.

Kapaun drives through with a takedown into Dodson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kapaun trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kapaun wants to control from the top but Dodson keeps moving.
Dodson is pulling down on Kapaun's head to control his posture.
Kapaun would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Dodson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Dodson keeping moving, preventing Kapaun from controlling successfully.
Dodson pulls Kapaun in close to his closed guard and prevents Kapaun from doing any damage or advancing position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

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.

Kapaun closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cody Kapaun has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dodson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Dodson wants to stand up but Kapaun is controlling him.
Dodson 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.
Kapaun working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kapaun stands up and waves to Dodson to follow him.

Kapaun closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Dodson quickly recovers to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kapaun missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kapaun wants to pass the guard but Dodson is defending well.
Dodson is concentrating on defense, preventing Kapaun from advancing position.
Kapaun tries to pass the half guard into mount. Dodson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kapaun wants to take a breather but Dodson is having none of it.
Dodson trying to control from the bottom.
Dodson pushes Kapaun off looking to stand but Kapaun dives back in and keeps control.

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.
Kapaun is thwarting Dodson's attempts to control the position.
Kapaun content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Dodson keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

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

Kapaun gets the takedown into side control.
Kapaun working away.

Kapaun stands up and beckons Dodson to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dodson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Kapaun looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kapaun is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cody Kapaun 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! And we move into the final round!

Kapaun throws a head kick but Dodson moves out of range.
Kapaun throws a sloppy head kick and Dodson moves out of range easily.

Kapaun shoots in and bounces Dodson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Dodson working a defensive guard here.
Kapaun wants to control from the top but Dodson keeps moving.
Kapaun trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dodson is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kapaun takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kapaun in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dodson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kapaun passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Kapaun trying to control the action but Dodson is working from the bottom.
Kapaun is thwarting Dodson's attempts to control the position.
Dodson is holding on to half guard well.
Dodson is trying to control but can't.
Kapaun looks to land a strike but Dodson avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Kapaun stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Kapaun scores with a takedown into Dodson's guard.

Dodson is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Kapaun presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kapaun tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kapaun has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Dodson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kapaun goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
As Kapaun backs away, Dodson returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

Kapaun drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
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!
Dodson holds on to Kapaun's head and controls the position momentarily.
Kapaun working away.
Kapaun tries to stand but Dodson is controlling his head.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.

Kapaun has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kapaun tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Dodson throws a body kick that misses.
Kapaun tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Dodson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Dodson moves into range and clinches up with Kapaun.
Dodson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kapaun pulls his leg out and moves away.

Kapaun fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dodson to the ground. Kapaun is now in Dodson's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Dodson holds on and takes a little breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kapaun stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dodson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kapaun has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dodson is proving hard to escape from.
Kapaun trying to control but Dodson is working from the bottom.
Dodson has Kapaun pulled in close to control his posture.
Kapaun is looking to stand up but Dodson won't let him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Dodson pulls Kapaun in close to his closed guard and prevents Kapaun from doing any damage or advancing position.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Cody Kapaun comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kapaun 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cody Kapaun!