PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bhavan Dham (ranked 4691 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Kyle (ranked 4712 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.

Dham
vs
Kyle

167 cm
25
138 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
25
137 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Bhavan Dham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Brian Kyle!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kyle wants to clinch up but Dham keeps it at a distance.
Kyle blocks a head kick by Dham.
Bhavan Dham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dham throws a leg kick that misses.
Kyle checks the leg kick nicely there.
Dham misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dham misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kyle drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Dham defends it well.
Dham throws a head kick that misses

and Kyle counters by moving into the clinch.
Dham is trying to force a seperation but Kyle has the dominant position.

Kyle pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dham keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick from Dham lands but Kyle takes it in his stride.
Dham throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kyle tries to clinch up but Dham circles away and keeps his distance.

Kyle throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Dham tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kyle is in Dham's guard.
Kyle not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dham 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.
Dham is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Dham lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Dham content to stall in guard here.
Dham throwing strikes but missing.

That's two 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.
Kyle keeping moving, preventing Dham from controlling successfully.

Kyle working for a triangle but Dham defends it easily.
Dham is looking to advance position but Kyle has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Dham is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dham blocking the ground and pound.
Dham slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Dham tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Kyle has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kyle avoids the attempt from Dham to control.
Dham is working to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kyle controlling his opponent.
Kyle looking to control but Dham is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Kyle has hold of Dham's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Dham manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Dham tries to reverse the position but Kyle maintains control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kyle goes for an armbar but Dham turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Dham.
Dham sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Bhavan Dham will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dham tries a head kick but it misses.
Kyle takes a swing at Dham's ribcage but misses.
Dham tries a head kick but it misses.
Dham lands a head kick!
A bone on bone clash there as Kyle blocks the leg kick.
Dham pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dham tries a head kick but it misses.
Dham misses with a head kick.
Kyle unleashes a big counter combination but Dham bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Dham throws a sloppy head kick

and Kyle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kyle is working for takedown but Dham is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kyle holding his opponent close, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kyle drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Dham gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kyle taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kyle tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dham's elbow.

Kyle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dham tries a head kick but it misses.

Kyle closes the distance and pushes Dham back into the cage.
Dham working hard to break the clinch.

Kyle manages to break the clinch.
Dham throws a head kick that misses.
Dham tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kyle avoids the head kick by Dham.
Kyle will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bhavan Dham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian Kyle.
Some wild striking there from Kyle.
Kyle dives in for a single leg takedown but Dham sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
No joy there for Kyle, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dham defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kyle.
A slapping leg kick lands for Dham.
Dham misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dham tries a head kick but it misses.
Dham tries a low kick but Kyle avoids it.
Kyle tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Dham manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dham wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Dham throws a nice outside leg kick.
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!
A leg kick checked by Kyle.
Dham throws a sloppy head kick and Kyle moves out of range easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dham throws a sloppy head kick and Kyle moves out of range easily.
Bhavan Dham is winning the standup battle so far.
Kyle shoots for a takedown but Dham saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dham misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kyle tries to counter by closing the distance.
Dham displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kyle.
Dham tries a head kick but it misses.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Dham.
Dham misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bhavan Dham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kyle avoids the head kick by Dham.
Kyle tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Dham defends well and Kyle ends up having to push Dham into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Dham keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dham will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A head kick misses from Dham.
Kyle is looking to clinch but Dham is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dham throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dham avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dham misses with a head kick.
Dham avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kyle.
Kyle shoots for a double leg takedown but Dham sprawls well. He's pushed Kyle's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dham is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kyle can do to turn this around?
Dham avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dham misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Dham.
Nice takedown defense from Dham. No joy for Kyle on that attempt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dham dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kyle. That did some damage!
Dham goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Dham shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bhavan Dham dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Dham misses with a head kick.
Dham throws a chopping leg kick but Kyle manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Dham misses with a head kick.

Kyle forces Dham back against the cage and clinches.
Kyle is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Dham pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Dham wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kyle has him pressed against the cage.
Kyle has Dham pressed against the cage, preventing Dham from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Kyle breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dham scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Dham finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kyle on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kyle has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Dham.
Dham throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Kyle with that takedown attempt.
Kyle shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dham but Dham pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bhavan Dham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brian Kyle.
Kyle chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Dham can pounce on him.
Dham moves out of range as Kyle strikes.
Kyle avoids the head kick by Dham.
Dham tries a head kick but it misses.
Dham throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kyle's head.
Dham stuffs the takedown attempt from Kyle. Kyle gets slowly back to his feet.
Dham is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kyle.
Brian Kyle is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kyle dives in for a single leg takedown but Dham sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Kyle misses with a double jab.
Dham misses with a head kick.
Bhavan Dham is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dham throws a sloppy head kick and Kyle moves out of range easily.
Dham pulls out of a head kick attempt.
As Dham backs off Kyle throws a huge counter combo but Dham manages to avoid it all.
No luck for Kyle with that takedown attempt.
Dham throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Nice sprawl there from Dham as Kyle shoots in.
Kyle shoots for a takedown but Dham saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dham throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick by Dham misses

and Kyle holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kyle keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dham's efforts to push away.
Kyle manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dham avoids a wild elbow strike from Kyle.

Kyle breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kyle wants to slow Dham down by chopping away at his legs.

Kyle darts in and clinches Dham up against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Kyle fails to land.
A frustrated look appears on Dham's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kyle has Dham pressed against the cage, preventing Dham from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kyle tries to pull guard but Dham holds him up against the cage and eventually Kyle drops back down to his feet.
Kyle fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Kyle escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kyle has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Dham.
Kyle wants to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dham misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Brian Kyle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kyle throws a chopping leg kick but Dham manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Dham tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Kyle manages to circle out of the way.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bhavan Dham showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dham, 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 John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bhavan Dham!