PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lino Dodson (ranked 24325 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Ganja (ranked 4719 p4p, 449 weight class). Gary Ganja has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dodson
vs
Ganja

199 cm
19
214 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lino Dodson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gary Ganja!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Anthony Taglia and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dodson tries to bum rush Ganja with a series of wild strikes but Ganja uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Ganja moves into the clinch successfully.

Ganja jumps guard.
Ganja 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.
Ganja controlling the position.

Dodson stands up and waves to Ganja to follow him.
Ganja throws the kick towards the body but Dodson avoids it.

Dodson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Ganja explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
This has been an exciting period of action!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Dodson crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Ganja - the referee stops the clock and Dodson gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Ganja. Dodson manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Ganja slaps away a takedown attempt from Dodson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dodson shoots in but Ganja avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ganja swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lino Dodson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ganja looks for a takedown but Dodson sprawls well.
Ganja jabs Dodson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Dodson leaves Ganja with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ganja throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It looked like Dodson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Ganja feints a jab promting Dodson to slip. Ganja then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Dodson slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

It looks like Lino Dodson has been cut.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Dodson crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Ganja - the referee stops the clock and Dodson gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Ganja. Dodson manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dodson blocks a head kick by Ganja.
Dodson dives in and grabs Ganja's left leg, looking for a takedown. Ganja pushes down on Dodson's head and hops out.
Gary Ganja seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ganja throws a sloppy head kick and Dodson moves out of range easily.

Ganja fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dodson, pushing him back against the cage.

Ganja escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ganja closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dodson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Dodson misses with a short punch on the inside.

Dodson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Dodson pushes Ganja up against the cage in a clinch.
Ganja tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dodson smiles and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ganja fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Dodson is looking to counter punch.
Ganja tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dodson was well out of range. Poor timing from Ganja.
Dodson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ganja is defended easily by Dodson.
Ganja looks winded!
Dodson blocks a head kick by Ganja.
Dodson is looking to counter punch.
Dodson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ganja delivers a nice body kick.
Ganja displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dodson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ganja throws a nice looking combination but Dodson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ganja lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

Dodson pushes Ganja up against the cage in a clinch.
Dodson fails to pull guard.
Ganja holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Dodson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Ganja has Dodson pressed against the cage, preventing Dodson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Stalling in the clinch from Ganja.

Ganja jumps guard and drags Dodson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Dodson with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Ganja dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Lino Dodson's cut.
That's time! Dodson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ganja throws a head kick that misses.
Dodson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ganja throws a head kick but Dodson moves out of range.
Dodson goes for a double leg but Ganja avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ganja continues to drive forward.
Lino Dodson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dodson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ganja.
Dodson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Dodson wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ganja throws a head kick but Dodson moves out of range.
Ganja will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dodson appears to be looking for a big counter.
Dodson throws a series of punches but Ganja moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Ganja instigates a clinch.

Ganja breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dodson slaps away a takedown attempt from Ganja, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ganja lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Ganja is breathing heavily.
Nice uppercut there from Dodson.
Ganja scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Dodson doesn't seem bothered though.
Dodson fails with the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ganja throws a shot to the body.

Dodson gets tackled into the cage by Ganja. Ganja maintains the clinch.
Dodson stops a takedown attempt from Ganja.
Lino Dodson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Ganja.
Dodson working hard to break the clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
A nice left hand lands by Dodson.
Ganja tries to pull guard but Dodson holds him up against the cage and eventually Ganja drops back down to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Dodson breaks from the clinch.
Ganja digs a good body shot into Dodson's ribs.

Ganja closes the distance and clinches.
Ganja has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson can't break the clinch.
Ganja tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dodson smiles and moves away.
Dodson has his takedown stuffed
and Ganja counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Dodson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ganja.
Dodson blocks the body kick.
Ganja fails to land the takedown.
No joy there for Dodson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ganja misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ganja throws a body shot but no joy.
It appears Dodson was looking to counter with a kick there.
Dodson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ganja but Ganja pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gary Ganja seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick misses from Ganja.

Dodson clinches.
Dodson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Dodson.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ganja breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Dodson tries to clinch but Ganja moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Ganja showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Lino Dodson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ganja circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dodson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ganja lands a front kick.
Dodson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ganja sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dodson somewhat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ganja slaps away a takedown attempt from Dodson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dodson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lino Dodson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ganja lands a head shot.
Ganja has a takedown stuffed.
Ganja bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ganja looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Ganja fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dodson, pushing him back against the cage.
Ganja is trying to drag Dodson to the mat but Dodson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Dodson throws a punch but it's blocked by Ganja.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ganja escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Dodson has managed to clinch.

Ganja's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dodson throws a head kick that misses.
Ganja tries to counter with a clinch but Dodson shakes him off and moves away.
Dodson shoots for a double leg takedown but Ganja sprawls well. He's pushed Dodson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A punch combination from Ganja misses.
Dodson blocks a head kick by Ganja.
Dodson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ganja as he jumps to the side.
Dodson on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Ganja moves into the clinch.
Dodson is pressed up against the cage. Ganja has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Dodson down to the mat. Dodson avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Ganja takes the fight into the clinch.

Ganja pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ganja looks for a takedown but Dodson sprawls well.
Dodson wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Dodson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ganja is trying to defend but Dodson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Dodson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Dodson is looking for a kimura but Ganja is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Dodson to get the leverage.
Gary Ganja has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodson seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Dodson scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Dodson trying to control the pace.
Ganja blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dodson.
Dodson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Dodson is keen to just control but Ganja is a slippery customer.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dodson lands strikes from half guard.
Ganja trying to hold on to Dodson's head to control him but Dodson postures up.
Lino Dodson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gary Ganja is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ganja moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gary Ganja comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ganja 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 John Roberts scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gary Ganja!