PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dan Dinklage (ranked 1074 p4p, 3206 weight class) and Arthur Fleck (ranked 148 p4p, 406 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Dinklage
vs
Fleck

160 cm
27
210
8 - 3 - 0

188 cm
27
207
3 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite 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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dan Dinklage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Arthur Fleck!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Daniel Franklin and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dinklage looks for a takedown but Fleck sprawls well.
Fleck tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Dinklage shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Dinklage was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Dinklage slows the pace down.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fleck tries to improve position but can't.
Fleck manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Dinklage definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Dinklage keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dinklage throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Well, if Dinklage is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fleck is trying to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fleck is looking to control Dinklage's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Fleck avoid being mounted?
Dinklage sitting and controlling from the half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Fleck can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dinklage is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Fleck!
Dinklage controlling the pace for now.
BOOM! Dinklage connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Fleck is working to get back to half guard.
Dinklage controlling the pace for now.
Dinklage with the ground and pound from mount.
Dinklage controlling his opponent.
Dinklage working Fleck over with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dinklage controlling from mount.
Fleck is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Dinklage takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Dinklage landing strikes from the mount and Fleck is in trouble!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fleck tries to reverse the position but Dinklage maintains control.
Dinklage sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Fleck gets back to half guard.
Dinklage sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Fleck desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dinklage is controlling the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dinklage feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Dinklage is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Fleck looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dinklage forces his way into half guard.
Dinklage not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dinklage is taking a breather. Fleck says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fleck trying to control but Dinklage postures up.
Dinklage perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Dinklage seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Fleck for as long as he can get away with.
Dinklage works his way into side control.
Dinklage is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Fleck's shoulder. That is not cool.
Fleck wants to control but Dinklage postures up.
A bit of a lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dinklage working the head and body with strikes.
Dinklage throws a strike aimed at the side of Fleck's head but Fleck avoids it well.
Fleck being controlled for a moment.
Dinklage is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fleck can do to turn this around?
Fleck tries to improve position but can't.
Dinklage controls the position from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dinklage prevents Fleck from escaping the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Fleck fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Dinklage sprawls well initially but Fleck persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fleck working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Dinklage's thigh. Dinklage counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Fleck loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Fleck lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Dinklage avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Fleck throws an elbow that misses. Dinklage uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fleck's guard. Nice move by Dinklage!

Dinklage working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dinklage engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fleck trying to keep a closed guard but Dinklage is proving a slippery customer.
Dinklage with a nice head shot there.
Fleck is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dinklage stays in close to Fleck's body and controls the position.
Dinklage missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dinklage seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Fleck is trying to control the position from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dinklage shoots in but Fleck avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Fleck gets the takedown into side control.
Fleck controls the position.
Fleck wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dinklage keeps working.
Fleck is trying to ground and pound but Dinklage uses the momentary lack of control by Fleck to regain half guard.
Dinklage preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fleck is just content to waste time from the top position. Dinklage takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fleck trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dinklage has his hands on Fleck's head, controlling the position.
Dinklage wants to stand and escape but Fleck is having none of it.
Fleck looking to sit in guard and control but Dinklage gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Dinklage slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Fleck is trying to control the position but Dinklage 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.
Dinklage wants to pass the guard but Fleck is keeping the position.
Dinklage lands a couple of elbows.
Dinklage preventing the sweep.
Dinklage showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Dinklage preventing the sweep.
Fleck has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Dinklage has passed into side control.
Fleck tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Dinklage's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Sloppy strikes there by Dinklage.
Fleck tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dinklage wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Dan Dinklage is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dinklage just content to control the position.
Dinklage continues to stall.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Dinklage instigates a clinch.

Fleck tightens his grip and picks Dinklage up, before dumping him to the ground. Dinklage manages to land in guard.

Dinklage wriggles free and stands up.
Dinklage fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fleck manages to avoid it.
And Fleck tries to counter it with a takedown but Dinklage pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Dinklage ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fleck moves away.
Fleck slips a jab from Dinklage.
Dinklage just misses with a punch to the body.
Fleck feints the counter takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dinklage throws a hook to the side of Fleck's head but Fleck sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Dinklage misses with a body shot

and Fleck counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Dinklage!
Arthur Fleck has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
You can see the frustration on Dinklage's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Dinklage showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Dinklage has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight for Dan Dinklage!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Dan Dinklage!
Judge David Hoff scores the fight for Dan Dinklage!

Dan Dinklage wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Dan Dinklage thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.