PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dave Dahlquist (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rob McArthur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dave Dahlquist has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dahlquist
vs
McArthur

185 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dave Dahlquist!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rob McArthur!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Reed Andrews and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dahlquist looks for a takedown but McArthur sprawls well.
Dahlquist shoots for a double leg takedown but McArthur sprawls well. He's pushed Dahlquist's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dave Dahlquist seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dahlquist shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McArthur sprawls well. McArthur wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dahlquist gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Dahlquist. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dahlquist looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dahlquist tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McArthur paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McArthur tries to clinch but Dahlquist moves out of range.
McArthur swats away the attempt to clinch by Dahlquist.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dahlquist has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Dave Dahlquist has been cut.
McArthur wants to clinch.
Dahlquist lands a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McArthur has taken the fight to the clinch.
McArthur looking to throw knees to the head but Dahlquist is blocking nicely.

McArthur escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
McArthur tries to clinch but Dahlquist moves out of range.
McArthur pulls out of a head kick attempt.
McArthur slaps away a takedown attempt from Dahlquist, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Dahlquist checks a leg kick.
Dahlquist avoids the head kick by McArthur.
The fight stays on the outside here - McArthur looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dahlquist fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Dahlquist looks for a takedown but McArthur sprawls well.
Some wild striking there from McArthur.
McArthur throws a looping overhand right but Dahlquist ducks down to avoid it.
Dahlquist bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
McArthur throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Dahlquist sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A left and a right from McArthur both land. Nice combination.
Dahlquist closes this distance looking for a takedown but McArthur circles away.
Dahlquist throws a shot from downtown. McArthur moves away and avoids it.
McArthur darts in trying to clinch

and Dahlquist counters with a shoot takedown. McArthur fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McArthur wants to stand and escape but Dahlquist is having none of it.

McArthur is working an open guard so Dahlquist takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Dahlquist circles away from the clinch attempt
and Dahlquist counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Dahlquist fails with a takedown attempt.
Dahlquist is breathing heavily.
McArthur fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dahlquist fails with a takedown attempt.
McArthur leaves Dahlquist with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dahlquist closes this distance looking for a takedown but McArthur circles away.
McArthur throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Dahlquist makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Rob McArthur is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dahlquist looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dahlquist avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick misses from McArthur.
Dahlquist avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McArthur dips to his left and cracks Dahlquist with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob McArthur dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dave Dahlquist's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

McArthur will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

McArthur rushes Dahlquist and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
McArthur lands a knee to the head.
McArthur stops a takedown attempt from Dahlquist.
Dahlquist fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Dahlquist has McArthur pressed against the cage, preventing McArthur from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dahlquist trying to land knees to the body.
Dahlquist is trying to break the clinch but McArthur is controlling him.
Dahlquist misses with an elbow over the top.
McArthur connects with a nasty looking knee right to Dahlquist's face.
Dahlquist using the Thai plumb to throw knees but McArthur has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
McArthur is trying to break the clinch but Dahlquist has him pressed against the cage.
McArthur is trying to break the clinch but Dahlquist has him pressed against the cage.
Dahlquist takes an elbow to the forehead.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McArthur tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Dahlquist just stands there and leans against the cage.
McArthur tries to break the clinch but Dahlquist is controlling the position.
Dahlquist keeps control of McArthur as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Dahlquist is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Dahlquist. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McArthur pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McArthur misses with a kick to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McArthur tries to clinch up but Dahlquist circles away and keeps his distance.
McArthur throws a sloppy head kick and Dahlquist moves out of range easily.
McArthur swinging wilding here.
Dahlquist looks for a takedown but McArthur sprawls well.
McArthur cracks Dahlquist with an open hand slap.
McArthur stuffs the takedown attempt from Dahlquist. Dahlquist gets slowly back to his feet.
McArthur misses the jab.
Dahlquist works McArthur's body with a nice hook.

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.
Dahlquist throws a sloppy head kick
and McArthur counters with a left to the body.
McArthur moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Dahlquist circles away from the clinch attempt.
McArthur tries to clinch there but Dahlquist circles away.
McArthur doesn't manage to clinch there - Dahlquist circles away.
McArthur wants to clinch.
McArthur misses with an uppercut. Dahlquist saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dahlquist has a takedown stuffed.
McArthur fails to land with a series of punches.
A solid leg kick lands there for McArthur.
McArthur throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dahlquist.
Some wild striking there from McArthur.
Dahlquist wants to clinch up but McArthur keeps it at a distance.
McArthur doesn't manage to clinch there - Dahlquist circles away.
Dahlquist tries a low kick but McArthur avoids it.
No luck for Dahlquist with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McArthur looks to land a combination but Dahlquist avoids it well.
McArthur is looking to clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - McArthur looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dahlquist throws a right and a left that both miss.
Dahlquist shoots for a takedown but McArthur saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
McArthur doesn't manage to clinch there - Dahlquist circles away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Dahlquist prevents McArthur from breaking the clinch.
McArthur misses with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rob McArthur showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dave Dahlquist's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

McArthur looks to clinch
and Dahlquist counters with a two punch combo.
Dahlquist tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but McArthur paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McArthur takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
McArthur tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dahlquist swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rob McArthur seems to be getting the better of the standup.
McArthur slaps away a takedown attempt from Dahlquist, before circling back to the center of the mat.
McArthur throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
McArthur tries to close the distance and clinch but Dahlquist swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McArthur tries to clinch but Dahlquist moves out of range.
Dahlquist shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. McArthur defends it nicely.
Dahlquist lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as McArthur backs up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dahlquist shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McArthur sprawls well. McArthur wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dahlquist gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave Dahlquist. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McArthur tries to close the distance and clinch but Dahlquist swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dahlquist circles away from the clinch attempt.
McArthur fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dahlquist fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dahlquist misses with a leg kick
and McArthur cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Dahlquist doesn't manage to clinch there - McArthur circles away.
McArthur rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dahlquist moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McArthur lands a big head kick that sends Dahlquist tumbling to the mat! McArthur takes a step backwards and waves Dahlquist back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Dahlquist is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McArthur tries to clinch there but Dahlquist circles away.
McArthur throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
McArthur tries to clinch but Dahlquist moves out of range.
Dahlquist will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
McArthur wants to clinch up but Dahlquist keeps it at a distance.
Dahlquist is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
McArthur wants to clinch.
McArthur is looking to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dahlquist keeps the fight on the outside.
McArthur tries to clinch up.
McArthur throws a combination that misses
and Dahlquist counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
McArthur looks to land a right hand but Dahlquist moved out of range.
McArthur misses with an uppercut.
Dahlquist tries for a takedown but McArthur sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dahlquist throws a sloppy head kick
and Dahlquist takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
McArthur tries to clinch but Dahlquist moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from McArthur. No joy for Dahlquist on that attempt.
McArthur has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
McArthur tries to clinch up.
McArthur lands a jab-cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dahlquist fails with a takedown attempt.
McArthur explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
McArthur tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dahlquist paws at him with a jab and circles away.
McArthur is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
McArthur connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Dahlquist momentarily.
Dave Dahlquist is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dahlquist keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Dave Dahlquist has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rob McArthur is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Dahlquist scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

And that's the end of the fight!
Rob McArthur comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got McArthur winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rob McArthur!