PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vasyl Durdynets (ranked 4147 p4p, 421 weight class) and Franklin Dong (ranked 3798 p4p, 400 weight class). Durdynets comes to the cage accompanied by Хай живе віл. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Durdynets
vs
Dong

193 cm
25
175 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

186 cm
26
175 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vasyl Durdynets!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Franklin Dong!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Durdynets is looking to clinch.
Dong moves in looking to clinch but Durdynets pushes him off.
Dong looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Dong circles away from the clinch attempt.
Durdynets swats away the attempt to clinch by Dong.

Durdynets closes the distance and clinches.

Dong drags the fight down to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dong is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Durdynets looking to sit in guard and control but Dong gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durdynets wants to stand and escape but Dong is having none of it.
Dong sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dong stops Durdynets from standing up.

Dong decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Durdynets, up you get!

Durdynets instigates a clinch.
Dong just leaning against Durdynets, taking a breather.
Dong's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Dong working hard to break the clinch.
Dong tries for a takedown. No joy.
Dong is trying to break the clinch but Durdynets is controlling him.
We've been hearing reports that Durdynets has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Dong is looking to break free of the clinch but Durdynets has double underhooks.
Durdynets throws a head punch that misses.
Durdynets missing with knees to the body.
Durdynets lands with a right to the head.
Dong wants to break free but Durdynets has control.
Durdynets misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dong looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Durdynets.
Durdynets lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Durdynets fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Dong is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Durdynets taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Dong drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Vasyl Durdynets has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franklin Dong.
Dong drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Durdynets gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Dong throws a punch but it's blocked by Durdynets.
Durdynets with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Durdynets lands a hook that snaps the head of Dong backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dong goes for a takedown in the clinch but Durdynets prevents it.

Dong turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dong is looking to take a break and control but Durdynets is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Durdynets is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Dong stands up.

Durdynets moves into the clinch.
Durdynets lands a shoulder strike.
Dong being controlled against the cage.
Dong misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dong blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Durdynets fails to land.
Dong blocks an uppercut.
Durdynets swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Durdynets misses with some punches.
Dong is trying to force a seperation but Durdynets has the dominant position.

Durdynets has picked Dong up - he's going for a ride! Durdynets dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Durdynets is keen to just control but Dong is a slippery customer.
Dong regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dong is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Durdynets trying to control the position from guard on top but Dong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Durdynets is fighting to break Dong's control of his arms but Dong is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Durdynets tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dong paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Despite the aggression on Dong's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

Durdynets forces Dong back against the cage and clinches.
Durdynets lands a nice uppercut.

Dong jumps guard and drags Durdynets to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Durdynets trying to control the position from guard on top but Dong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Durdynets throws an elbow that misses. Dong uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Durdynets's guard. Nice move by Dong!

Dong looking to sit in guard and control but Durdynets gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Durdynets wants to control from the top but Dong keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dong wants to sweep but no luck.
Durdynets really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Dong keeping moving, preventing Durdynets from controlling successfully.
Durdynets landing with the ground and pound.
Durdynets not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Dong keeping moving, preventing Durdynets from controlling successfully.
Durdynets is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dong can do to turn this around?
Durdynets working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Dong's head.
Durdynets throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dong works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Franklin Dong has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dong is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's two 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dong is on top in guard.

Durdynets has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Dong has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Durdynets is trying to drag Dong to the mat but Dong just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Dong jumps guard.
Durdynets connects with a couple of short punches.
Dong tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Durdynets tries to free his leg and advance position but Dong is retaining full guard.
Dong is trying to control the position but Durdynets postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durdynets keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dong's head.
Durdynets makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Durdynets landing some decent shots from guard.
Durdynets working some strikes from top position.
Dong is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Dong throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Durdynets has one foot on Dong's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Durdynets tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Dong manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Durdynets instigates a clinch.
Durdynets landing knees to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dong takes a knee right on the jaw!
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!
Durdynets landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Dong managing to block the knees to the body from Durdynets.
Durdynets tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Dong wants the takedown. Durdynets is fighting it off but Dong persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Durdynets's guard against the cage.
Durdynets is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Dong dives into side control.
Durdynets on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Durdynets tries to get out of the position.

Durdynets wants to get back to his feet but Dong drags him back down.
Dong staying calm.

Dong has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasyl Durdynets dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Dong tries to clinch but Durdynets is having none of it.
Durdynets is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Durdynets tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dong paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dong tries to clinch but Durdynets is having none of it.

Durdynets closes the distance and pushes Dong back into the cage.
Durdynets using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Durdynets - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dong.
Durdynets manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Durdynets.
Durdynets taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Durdynets unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durdynets has a couple of punches blocked by Dong.
Dong leaning against his opponent.
Dong avoiding damage as Durdynets throws knees to the body.
Durdynets wants to take the fight to the mat but Dong manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Durdynets is stalling here.
Durdynets misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dong is trying to break free.
Durdynets misses with a short punch on the inside.
Durdynets lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Dong has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Durdynets seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Dong can turn it around.
Dong tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Durdynets avoids it.
Durdynets displaying some good clinch control by pressing Dong up against the cage.
Dong blocks an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durdynets working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Durdynets swings wildly with an uppercut but Dong uses good head movement to avoid it.
Dong wants to break the clinch but can't.

Dong gets control of Durdynets's arms and successfully pulls guard. Dong will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Durdynets in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dong controls Durdynets momentarily but Durdynets frees himself.
Durdynets has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dong working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Durdynets.
Dong bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Durdynets's guard.

Dong prevents Durdynets from getting back to his feet.
Durdynets is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Dong dives into side control.
Dong trying to control the action but Durdynets is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dong stands up and beckons Durdynets to his feet.
Durdynets tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dong swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Durdynets closes the distance and clinches.
Durdynets takes a shot to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Durdynets.
Durdynets stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Durdynets tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dong avoids it.
Dong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dong misses with some punches.
Dong trying to land knees to the body.

Durdynets gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Durdynets is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Dong sees it coming and defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dong is refusing to be controlled, as Durdynets sits in half guard.
Durdynets not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Durdynets seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dong does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Durdynets thows a huge punch but Dong dodges it nicely.
Franklin Dong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vasyl Durdynets is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Durdynets seems to be looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vasyl Durdynets showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Durdynets, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vasyl Durdynets!
Vasyl Durdynets was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.