PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Dixon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Paul Bales (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dixon
vs
Bales

190 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Behold The Beast

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Dixon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Paul Bales!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Steven Brown and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dixon will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Bales has eaten all the pies!
Bales tries to clinch up.

Dixon rushes Bales and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dixon keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bales's efforts to push away.
Bales lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Bales gets underhooks to prevent Dixon's takedown attempt.
A short right from Dixon on the inside.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Bales just misses with a elbow thrown towards Dixon's brow.
Bales with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dixon tries to pull guard but Bales holds him up against the cage and eventually Dixon drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Dixon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Dixon has Bales pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Dixon pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Bales tumbling to the mat - Dixon dives into Bales's guard.
Dixon looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bales utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bales can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dixon controls the pace.
Dixon sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bales's guard.
Well, if Dixon 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 two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bales is trying to stand up here but Dixon is controlling him well.
Dixon trying to control the action but Bales is working from the bottom.
Dixon thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bales is trying to stand.
Ground and pound from Dixon.

Dixon is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bales has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dixon is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bales is just riding it out for now. Dixon eventually gives up the hold.

Dixon decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Dixon is looking to clinch but Bales is avoiding it.

That's four 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.

Bales closes the distance and clinches.
Dixon drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dixon blocks the elbow strike.
Bales using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dixon has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Bales holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Bales prevents Dixon from breaking the clinch.
Bales with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Dixon has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Bales is trying to keep an underhook but Dixon manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Dixon is taking a breather. Bales 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.
Bales tries to kick Dixon off but Dixon keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Dixon connects with a nice short shot to Bales's temple.

Dixon decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Dixon dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bales has taken the fight to the clinch.
Dixon can't break the clinch.
Dixon has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bales is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bales throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dixon blocks it with crossed arms.
A body shot lands from Dixon.
Dixon drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bales gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Dixon lands a right hand.
Dixon tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Dixon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Bales wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bales tries a knee to the head but Dixon blocks it.
Bales is looking to control Dixon's arms but Dixon gets an underhook and turns him. Now Bales has his back to the cage.
Dixon wants a takedown but no success here.
Bales wants to break the clinch but can't.
Dixon dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Dixon gets control of Bales's arms and successfully pulls guard. Dixon will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Bales wants to stand but Dixon is controlling his posture from full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dixon manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bales manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dixon sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bales really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dixon. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Dixon wants to control from the top but Bales keeps moving.
Dixon controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Dixon trying to control but Bales is working from the bottom.
Dixon throwing strikes from guard but Bales blocks nicely.

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.
Bales is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Dixon landing some decent shots from guard.
Dixon missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bales keeping moving, preventing Dixon from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dixon's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bales keeping moving, preventing Dixon from controlling successfully.
Dixon will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bales preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bales working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dixon.
Dixon forces his way into half guard.

Dixon gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bales is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bales scores with a push kick.
Matt Dixon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dixon fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A combination from Bales does no damage.
Bales is looking to clinch.
Dixon looks for a takedown but Bales sprawls well.
Dixon shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bales as he avoids it easily.
Dixon swats away the attempt to clinch by Bales.
Bales is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Matt Dixon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dixon fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bales avoids it really well and circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Dixon avoids a punch combination nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Dixon dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bales misses with a series of wild punches.
Dixon scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

Dixon moves into the clinch successfully.
Dixon goes for a takedown attempt but Bales pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Bales tries to close the distance and clinch but Dixon swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dixon wants to clinch.
Dixon scores with a nice right hand.
Bales displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dixon.
Bales stuffs the takedown attempt from Dixon. Dixon gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Dixon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dixon looks to score with a jab to the body but Bales is just out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bales looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Dixon fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bales, pushing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bales with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Dixon has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bales avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bales tries a knee to the head but Dixon blocks it.
Bales tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dixon avoiding damage as Bales throws knees to the body.
Bales is trying to force a seperation but Dixon has the dominant position.
Bales tries to circle away but Dixon has him pinned against the cage.
Dixon has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bales is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bales wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Dixon tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bales just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bales tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A knee to the head by Bales.
Bales landing knees to the head.

Dixon has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Bales clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Bales covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Dixon trying to control momentarily.
Paul Bales has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dixon gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

Bales is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Dixon gets his way!
Bales is trying to stand back up.
Matt Dixon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dixon tries to keep control of the position but Bales is staying busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bales is trying to stand back up.
Bales is taking damage to the body and head.
Matt Dixon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Bales is trapped and Dixon is scoring with shots to the head and body.

Bales fending off the submission attempt from Dixon.

Dixon has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Bales! Can he survive? No! He's out! Dixon gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Matt Dixon!