PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Dalton (ranked 5296 p4p, 5562 weight class) and Francisco Tovar (ranked 479 p4p, 495 weight class). Francisco Tovar will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Dalton
vs
Tovar

172 cm
25
160
0 - 3 - 0

199 cm
25
149
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gabriel Dalton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Francisco Tovar!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tovar avoids the body shot from Dalton.
Tovar stuffs the takedown.
Dalton lands a head kick!
Tovar closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dalton circles away.

Tovar moves into range and clinches up with Dalton.

Tovar gets control of Dalton's arms and successfully pulls guard. Tovar will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Dalton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Tovar working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Dalton doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Dalton manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dalton trying to control but Tovar is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dalton controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Dalton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tovar is keeping the position for now.

Dalton decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Tovar displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dalton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dalton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Horrible takedown attempt by Dalton or perhaps it was just good defense by Tovar, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Dalton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dalton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tovar swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dalton throws a half hearted mid kick.
Dalton shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tovar sprawls well. Tovar wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dalton gets slowly back to his feet.
Dalton slaps away a takedown attempt from Tovar, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dalton's corner calls for a 1-2. Dalton obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tovar drives through with a takedown into Dalton's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Dalton is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Tovar controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tovar wants to stand but Dalton has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Tovar is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dalton not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Tovar's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Tovar looking to pass the guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tovar tries to clinch up.

Tovar closes the distance and clinches.
Dalton is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Tovar is defending well.

Tovar breaks from the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dalton throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The fighters circle momentarily. Tovar darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Dalton fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Dalton shoots for a takedown but Tovar saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dalton tries to clinch but Tovar is having none of it.

Dalton closes the distance and clinches.
Dalton prevents the takedown attempt.

Tovar breaks the clinch.
Dalton scores with a shot to the body.
Dalton tries to clinch there but Tovar circles away.
Dalton with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tovar holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Dalton is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tovar to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Dalton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tovar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Tovar clinches up with Dalton and pushes him back against the cage.
Dalton has had enough of the clinch but Tovar keeps him there for the moment.

Dalton has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Tovar uses from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dalton is trying to keep Tovar in close.

Dalton looking for subs off his back but Tovar has passed one foot through into half guard.
Tovar is looking to take a break and control but Dalton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Tovar gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Dalton lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tovar circles away quickly and effectively.

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.
Tovar is looking to clinch but Dalton is avoiding it.
Dalton shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Tovar sprawls well. Tovar wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dalton gets slowly back to his feet.
Tovar looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dalton closes the distance and clinches up with Tovar, looking for a takedown. Dalton pushes Tovar against the cage but Tovar circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Tovar steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Dalton.
Tovar looks for a takedown but Dalton sprawls well.
Dalton throws a push kick but Tovar slaps the foot to one side.
Tovar is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tovar keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Tovar changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Dalton looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Dalton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Dalton tries to buck Tovar off but Tovar is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Tovar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dalton keeps working.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Tovar. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Tovar is breathing heavily.
Tovar tries to advance to mount but can't.
Dalton is looking to reverse the position.

Tovar stands up.

That's four 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.
Tovar defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dalton.
Tovar tries to clinch
and Dalton counters with a stiff right hand.
Tovar lands a jab-cross combination.
Tovar shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dalton pinned against the cage. Dalton gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dalton changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Tovar shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dalton as he avoids it easily.
Dalton takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dalton.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tovar closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dalton circles away.
As Tovar looks to move away, Dalton throws a big counter combo but Tovar just gets out of the way.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Tovar enables Dalton to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Tovar manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Francisco Tovar will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Dalton clinches with his opponent.
Tovar prevents a body shot from Dalton.
Dalton tries to break free but Tovar pushes him back against the cage.
Dalton tries to break the clinch but Tovar is controlling the position.
Tovar is looking to control Dalton's arms but Dalton gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tovar has his back to the cage.
Dalton changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Tovar fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dalton shoots for a takedown but Tovar saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Dalton closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Tovar breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tovar throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dalton's waist but Dalton gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tovar off to one side.
Dalton is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Tovar.
Nice takedown defense from Tovar. No joy for Dalton on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Dalton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tovar shoots in for a takedown but Dalton shows good takedown defense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dalton keeps the fight on the outside.
Tovar takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dalton tries to score with a low kick but Tovar moves his leg out of the way.
Dalton takes a swing at Tovar's ribcage but misses.
A head kick misses from Dalton.
Dalton lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Dalton shoots for a double leg takedown but Tovar sprawls well. He's pushed Dalton's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Both fighters circling a little - Tovar finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Dalton misses with a double jab

and Tovar counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Tovar taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Tovar drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Tovar breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tovar shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dalton sprawls well. Dalton wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Tovar gets slowly back to his feet.
Dalton fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Tovar avoids it really well and circles away.
Dalton feints a jab promting Tovar to slip. Dalton then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Tovar slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dalton throws a head kick but Tovar moves out of range.
Dalton lands the left hand.
Dalton misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice takedown defense from Dalton. No joy for Tovar on that attempt.
Tovar circles away from the clinch attempt.
A head kick misses from Dalton.
Dalton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dalton tries to score a power double leg takedown but Tovar sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dalton somewhat.
Tovar shapes to counter with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tovar drives through and clinches with Dalton against the cage.

Tovar manages to pull guard.
Francisco Tovar has got the better of the ground game so far.

Dalton stands up from Tovar's guard - Dalton perhaps looking for a knockout.
Dalton fails with a takedown attempt.

Tovar fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Dalton to the ground. Tovar is now in Dalton's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tovar is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Gabriel Dalton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Francisco Tovar is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Dalton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gabriel Dalton.
I think Tovar has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!