PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Liko Dares (ranked 1617 p4p, 5403 weight class) and Tommy Gavin (ranked 207 p4p, 506 weight class). Dares comes to the cage accompanied by I Saw the Sign. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Dares
vs
Gavin

184 cm
27
177
9 - 5 - 0

189 cm
27
179
2 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Good knees
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Liko Dares!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tommy Gavin!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Chris Downing and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gavin takes the fight into the clinch.
Dares drops down looking for an ankle pick but Gavin pulls his leg out and moves away.
Gavin checks a leg kick.
Gavin misses with a body kick.
Gavin avoids the head kick by Dares.
Dares pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Gavin closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Dares quickly recovers to half guard.
Gavin trying to control the action but Dares is working from the bottom.
Gavin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Dares has his hands clasped together around Gavin's back. He's all about the action.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gavin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Gavin looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Dares is looking for a sweep. Gavin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dares is looking to control Gavin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dares avoid being mounted?
Dares tries to roll over but Gavin keeps him under control.
Well, if Gavin 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.
It looks like Gavin is going to stand back up.
Dares is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gavin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gavin's back!

Gavin defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
A lull in the action here.
Gavin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dares. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Dares looking for the choke from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Dares wants to control but Gavin is keeping busy.

Dares has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Gavin has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Dares patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Gavin is keeping busy.
We've been hearing good reports from Dares's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Dares missing with strikes.
Gavin is keeping busy.
Dares throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gavin is trying to get back to his feet but Dares has full control of the position and if anything, Gavin has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Dares struggling to land strikes to the head as Gavin covers up.

Gavin preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Dares.

Dares looking for the choke but no joy.
Gavin breaks Dares's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Dares tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gavin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gavin wants to control from the top but Dares keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gavin looking to sit in guard and control but Dares gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gavin keeping moving, preventing Dares from controlling successfully.
Dares prevents Gavin from getting back to his feet.
Dares 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.
Gavin keeping moving, preventing Dares from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dares wants to pass the guard but Gavin is keeping the position.
Dares trying to control the position from guard on top but Gavin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Liko Dares dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gavin swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Dares throws a sloppy head kick and Gavin moves out of range easily.
Dares with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Dares bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Gavin looks to land a combination. Dares sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Gavin throws a series of punches but Dares avoids them all with ease.
Gavin throws a wild body kick that Dares sees coming a mile off.
Gavin throws a sloppy head kick and Dares moves out of range easily.

Gavin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dares lands a knee to the body.
Gavin takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Tommy Gavin has been cut.
Dares has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Gavin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dares is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gavin misses with a body punch.
A bit of stalling here from Dares.
Dares landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Gavin is trying to break free.
Dares landing knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Dares obliges.
Gavin is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gavin takes a knee to the side of the body.

Dares ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Dares no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Dares bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gavin's guard.

Dares throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gavin 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.
Dares is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gavin can do to turn this around?
Gavin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dares trying to control the position from guard on top but Gavin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dares looking to sit in guard and control but Gavin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Gavin won't allow Dares to sweep him here.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Dares holds on and takes a little breather.
Dares bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gavin's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dares works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dares is looking to take a break and control but Gavin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gavin is trying to maintain the position but Dares is very close to passing his half guard.
Dares is trying to control. Gavin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Dares content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Gavin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Dares wants to take a breather but Gavin is having none of it.
Gavin wants to improve his position but Dares is controlling well.
Dares trying to control the action but Gavin is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gavin kicks Dares off and gets back to his feet.
Dares throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
It seemed like Gavin was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Dares scores with a push kick.
Dares scores with a kick to the body.
Liko Dares is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dares thumps Gavin with a low kick.
Gavin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dares pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dares throws a head kick that half lands.
Gavin just misses with a punch to the body.
Left hook, right uppercut from Gavin.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gavin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Dares lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Dares instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dares lands a knee to the body.

Dares gets control of Gavin's arms and successfully pulls guard. Dares will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Gavin won't allow Dares to sweep him here.
Dares pulls Gavin in close to his closed guard and prevents Gavin from doing any damage or advancing position.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Gavin wants to control from the top but Dares keeps moving.
Dares working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dares is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dares has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Liko Dares dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tommy Gavin's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Gavin rushes Dares and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dares keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gavin's efforts to push away.
Dares with a knee to the head.
Dares prevents Gavin from breaking the clinch.
Gavin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dares is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Dares can't get the takedown.
Gavin wants to break free but Dares has control.
Dares misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gavin.
Gavin is trying to break the clinch but Dares is controlling him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dares scores a nice knee to the body.
Dares lands a good knee to the midsection. Gavin won't want to take too many of those.
Gavin takes a knee to the side of the body.
Dares keeps control of Gavin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Dares lands a knee to the head.
Dares landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Gavin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dares scores a nice knee to the body.
A knee to the head by Dares.
Gavin tries to break the clinch but Dares is controlling the position.
Gavin is trying to break the clinch but Dares has him pressed against the cage.
Dares landing knees to the head.
Dares working Gavin over with knees to the body.
Dares connects with a nasty looking knee right to Gavin's face.
Dares landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Liko Dares has scored more points in the clinch so far.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Dares is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Gavin wants to break free but Dares has control.

Gavin breaks from the clinch.

Dares darts in and clinches Gavin up against the cage.
Gavin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Dares has him pressed against the cage.
Gavin tries to break the clinch but Dares is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dares jumps guard.
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!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dares is on top in guard.

Liko Dares overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gavin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dares is controlling him.
Gavin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Liko Dares is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dares not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Dares postures up.
Dares controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gavin is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four 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.
Dares engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Tommy Gavin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Dares moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Gavin throws a body punch but Dares moves out of range.
Dares wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Gavin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dares was well out of range. Poor timing from Gavin.
Gavin misses with the combination.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dares feints and then cracks Gavin's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gavin down.

Dares moves into the clinch.
Gavin tries to circle away but Dares has him pinned against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Liko Dares showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dares, 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Liko Dares!
Liko Dares 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.