PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Rico Dominguez (ranked 727 p4p, 33 weight class) and Oskar Friman (ranked 725 p4p, 31 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dominguez
vs
Friman

162 cm
27
145 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

170 cm
27
139 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rico Dominguez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Oskar Friman!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dominguez throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Friman throws a body shot but no joy.
Dominguez scores with a jab to the head.
Friman lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Dominguez at a distance.
Dominguez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Friman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Friman misses with a wild body shot.
Friman misses with a body punch
and Dominguez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A big right from Friman misses.
Friman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dominguez pinned against the cage. Dominguez gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dominguez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Friman steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Dominguez.

Friman instigates a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Friman lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Friman stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Friman lands with a left to the head.
Friman fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Friman.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Friman misses with a short punch on the inside.
Friman is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friman lands with a short shot to the head.
Friman will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Dominguez up against the cage.
Dominguez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Dominguez scores with a hook to the body.
Friman stalling.
Friman working aggressively here.
Dominguez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Friman stalls.
Friman looking to stall.
Dominguez is trying to drag Friman to the mat but Friman just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rico Dominguez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dominguez prevents a body shot from Friman.
Dominguez is trying to force a seperation but Friman has the dominant position.
Dominguez blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Friman dodges an elbow strike from Dominguez.
Dominguez prevents a body shot from Friman.
Dominguez is struggling to control the position.
Dominguez misses with the head strike.
Friman lands with a light punch inside.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Friman content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Dominguez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Friman avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Friman digs a right hand into Dominguez's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Dominguez's gas tank.
Dominguez misses with a hook to the ribs.
Friman lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Friman lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Dominguez breaks the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dominguez misses with an uppercut. Friman saw that one coming.
Friman drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Dominguez takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Dominguez fails to land with a series of punches.
Friman avoids the body shot from Dominguez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Friman gets a clinch.
Friman has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Dominguez seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Friman can turn it around.
Dominguez goes for a takedown attempt but Friman pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Friman stuns Dominguez with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Friman lands with an overhand left.
Friman lands a right hook to the body.
Dominguez fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Friman is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Dominguez rather than just go for the knockout.
Dominguez misses with a left hand
and Friman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Dominguez drops his hands momentarily and Friman takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Friman doesn't manage to clinch there - Dominguez circles away.
Friman's jab looks to have found its range, popping Dominguez under the eye.
Dominguez misses with a series of wild punches.
Friman swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
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!

Friman moves into the clinch.
Friman controlling the action here for a moment.
Dominguez pushes Friman back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dominguez lands an uppercut.
Friman managing to block the knees to the body from Dominguez.

Dominguez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Friman lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Friman swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Friman fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dominguez avoids it really well and circles away.
Dominguez appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Dominguez keeps the fight on the outside.
Dominguez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Friman circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice uppercut there from Friman.
A swing and a miss from Friman.
It looked like Dominguez was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Friman lands a nice looking body shot.
Friman misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Dominguez counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Friman tests Dominguez's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Friman takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oskar Friman dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

No joy there for Dominguez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Friman instigates a clinch.
Friman keeps control of Dominguez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A right hand to the body from Dominguez.
Friman misses with a punch on the inside.
Dominguez dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Friman.
Dominguez misses with a short punch on the inside.
Friman lands a shot to the body.
Oskar Friman seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Friman misses with a punch on the inside.

Dominguez gets control of Friman's arms and successfully pulls guard. Dominguez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Friman controlling from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dominguez lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dominguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Friman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dominguez passes into half guard.
Dominguez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Friman moves into full guard.
Dominguez preventing the sweep.
Dominguez trying to control but Friman is working from the bottom.
Friman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dominguez.
Friman is trying to control the position but Dominguez postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Dominguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Friman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Friman has his hands on Dominguez's head, controlling the position.
Friman is trying to keep Dominguez in close.
Dominguez with a nice head shot there.
Dominguez postures up.
Dominguez throwing strikes from guard but Friman blocks nicely.
Dominguez forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Dominguez.
Friman preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Friman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dominguez seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Friman does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Friman wants to improve his position but Dominguez is controlling well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Friman manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Friman wants to sweep here but Dominguez controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Dominguez trying to control the position from guard on top but Friman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dominguez won't allow Friman to sweep him here.
Friman wants to hit a switch here but Dominguez passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Friman there!
Dominguez has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Friman's face.
Dominguez unloading with bombs!
Dominguez throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dominguez dominating with strikes here.
Rico Dominguez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dominguez lands a big elbow.
Friman is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rico Dominguez dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Friman misses with an uppercut. Dominguez saw that one coming.
Friman moves out of range as Dominguez strikes.
Oskar Friman seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dominguez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Friman swivels and escapes.
Friman lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Friman forces Dominguez back against the cage and clinches.

Dominguez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dominguez works Friman's body with a nice hook.
Dominguez looks to land a left hand but Friman moved out of range nicely.
Friman has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Dominguez moves forwards but Friman connects with a nice, crisp jab.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Friman.
Dominguez tries to bum rush Friman with a series of wild strikes but Friman uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dominguez connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Friman tries to move into range but Dominguez moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Dominguez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Friman lands a nice hook to Dominguez's body. Dominguez takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Dominguez throws a body punch but Friman moves out of range.
Friman is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dominguez.
Dominguez swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friman walks into a jab.
Friman takes a swing at Dominguez's ribcage but misses.
Dominguez tests Friman's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Friman digs a good hook to Dominguez's body.
Friman looks to throw the jab but Dominguez is out of range.
Dominguez slips a straight right by Friman.

Friman rushes Dominguez and presses him up against the cage.
Friman just leaning against Dominguez, taking a breather.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dominguez.
Friman throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Dominguezs head.
Dominguez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Dominguez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Friman blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Friman softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Dominguez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Friman throws a body punch but Dominguez moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Friman drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Dominguez is working to avoid the ground and pound but Friman connects with a decent elbow.
Dominguez sneaks back into half guard.
Friman seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Dominguez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Friman's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Friman's back!
Dominguez avoiding Friman 's attempts to control his hands.
Friman tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dominguez is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Friman has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Dominguez is throwing strikes but Friman counters by rolling into a better position. After a scramble, Friman regains half guard.
Dominguez winds up and cracks Friman with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Friman is trying to maintain the position but Dominguez is very close to passing his half guard.

Dominguez is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Friman regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Dominguez.
Dominguez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Friman is pulling down on Dominguez's head. It's preventing any offense from Dominguez, at least for the moment.
Friman wants to sweep here but Dominguez controlling him for the moment.
Dominguez pushing down on Friman's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Dominguez is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Oskar Friman.
I think Friman has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Oskar Friman!
Oskar Friman seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.