PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shaquille Dublin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malachy Neill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Dublin
vs
Neill

193 cm
20
215 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

190 cm
21
219 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shaquille Dublin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Malachy Neill!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Radbod Blank and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dublin looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Neill!
Neill is wriggling around trying to escape.
Dublin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Dublin lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Dublin is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Neill has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Neill!
Neill passes Dublin's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Dublin looking for a kimura from the bottom but Neill passes into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neill has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Dublin shoots in and drives through. Neill sprawls well.

Neill shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Dublin looking for subs off his back but Neill has passed one foot through into half guard.
Dublin is breathing heavily.
Neill wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dublin keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dublin tries to roll over but Neill keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neill seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Neill thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dublin misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neill passes to side control.
Dublin is trying to improve his position.
Dublin stops Neill from passing to mount.
Neill scoring with punches from side control.
Dublin wants to control but Neill postures up.

Neill swings around for an armbar but Dublin sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Neill's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four 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.
Neill has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Dublin drops back, looking for a kneebar! Neill looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Neill looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Neill!

Neill tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Neill prevents Dublin from escaping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malachy Neill dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Neill looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Neill content to control rather than advance.
Neill not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dublin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Neill is working away from the top position though.

Dublin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dublin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Neill stands up from half guard.
Dublin shoots and misses

and Neill counters with a shoot takedown. Dublin fights it but they end up in guard.
Dublin keeping moving, preventing Neill from controlling successfully.

Neill drops back looking for a leg! Dublin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dublin manages to kick Neill off! Neill jumps back into Dublin's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dublin looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Neill has picked Dublin up and slammed him! Dublin can't keep hold of the triangle and Neill manages to pass to side control!
Dublin manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Dublin misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Neill passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dublin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Dublin slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Neill is trying to control. Dublin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Neill looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Neill is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four 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.
Dublin is pressing down on Neill's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Neill avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Dublin had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Neill is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Dublin Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Neill's back instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malachy Neill showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Dublin tries for a takedown but Neill circles away easily

and Neill counters by moving into the clinch.
Neill is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Dublin gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Neill breaks the clinch.
Dublin has his takedown stuffed

and Neill counters by clinching up.

Neill pulls guard effortlessly.
Neill wants to stand up but Dublin is controlling him.
Neill wants to sweep here but Dublin controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dublin trying to control the position from guard on top but Neill is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dublin landing some decent shots from guard.
Dublin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Neill looking for a guillotine here but Dublin defends easily.
Neill utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Malachy Neill has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dublin is in close to Neill's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Neill trying to strike off his back.
Dublin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Dublin tries to stand but Neill is controlling from the bottom.

Neill has his foot on Dublin's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dublin works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dublin throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Neill with a lazy takedown attempt

and Dublin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Neill's guard.
Dublin wants to control from the top but Neill keeps moving.

Dublin postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Neill is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dublin, into his guard.

Dublin looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Neill passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dublin wants to improve his position but Neill is controlling well.
Neill slips a nice elbow through Dublin's hands, connecting with Dublin's forehead.
Neill is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Shaquille Dublin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Malachy Neill is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Neill trying to control but Dublin is having none of it.

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 Shaquille Dublin.
Well Neill has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Saam Ante scores the fight 28:29
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malachy Neill!