PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rajja Khan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Dingdown (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khan comes to the cage accompanied by tubular bells. Dingdown is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Baggy Trousers. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Khan
vs
Dingdown

179 cm
28
160 lbs
13 - 1 - 2

177 cm
28
160 lbs
22 - 15 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 1 - 2, fighting out of London, Rajja Khan!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ben Dingdown!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dingdown takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rajja Khan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khan throws a leg kick but Dingdown sees it coming and moves out of range.
Dingdown jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Khan closes the distance and clinches.
Dingdown dodges an elbow strike from Khan.
Khan lands a hook to the side of the head.

Dingdown breaks from the clinch.
Khan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A telegraphed right hand from Khan misses the target.
A big left from Dingdown misses.
Khan throws a shot from downtown. Dingdown moves away and avoids it.
Khan turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Dingdown attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Dingdown digs a good hook to Khan's body.
A combination from Dingdown does no damage.
Dingdown throws a hook but Khan avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dingdown is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Dingdown throws the kick towards the body but Khan avoids it.
A head kick misses from Dingdown.
Khan avoids the body shot from Dingdown.
Khan misses with an attempted mid kick.
Khan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dingdown moves away.
Khan blocks a head kick by Dingdown.
Khan throws a jab but it's blocked by Dingdown.
Khan shoots for a double leg takedown but Dingdown sprawls well. He's pushed Khan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Dingdown stalks Khan and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Khan's face. Khan staggers backwards, shaken.
Khan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dingdown circles away.
Khan moves out of range of the strikes.
Khan throws a sloppy head kick and Dingdown moves out of range easily.
Dingdown throws a jab but it's blocked by Khan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dingdown ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Dingdown looks to land a right hand but Khan moved out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dingdown throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Khan stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Khan lands a lovely overhand right.
Dingdown throws a hook but Khan avoids it easily.
Khan takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Khan throws a lazy right hand but Dingdown sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Dingdown throws a nice inside leg kick.

Khan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Khan missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Khan is pressing down on Dingdown's thigh, looking to free his foot. Dingdown is holding on for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dingdown defending well though.
Dingdown is looking to control Khan's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dingdown avoid being mounted?
Khan thows a huge punch but Dingdown dodges it nicely.
Khan trying to control the action but Dingdown is working from the bottom.
Khan thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Khan lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Dingdown avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Khan.
Khan trying to mount his opponent but Dingdown defends it.
Khan prevents Dingdown from standing back up.
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.
Khan thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dingdown's head.
Khan missing with the ground and pound from 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. Khan connects with a nice short shot to Dingdown's temple.

Khan is looking for a kimura here.
Khan wants to pass the guard but Dingdown is defending well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dingdown wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Khan trying to control from Dingdown's half guard. Dingdown has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rajja Khan will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Khan blocks a head kick by Dingdown.

Khan drives through with a takedown into Dingdown's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Khan wants to pass the guard but Dingdown is keeping the position.
Khan has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Dingdown can't keep his opponent in guard - Khan advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Dingdown looks like he's trying to stand up.
Khan trying to pass the guard but Dingdown defending well.
Khan is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Khan with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khan throwing strikes but missing.
Khan in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Khan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dingdown tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Khan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dingdown swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dingdown looking to hit a scissor sweep but Khan is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Khan has gone for a leg lock! Dingdown slips out almost immediately though and dives into Khan's guard.
Dingdown wants to stand but Khan is controlling his posture from full guard.
Khan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Rajja Khan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dingdown scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Khan has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Dingdown is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Khan.
Khan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Dingdown seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Khan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dingdown thows a huge punch but Khan dodges it nicely.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Khan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Dingdown trying to mount his opponent but Khan defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khan regains full guard. Nicely done.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dingdown accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dingdown trying to control but Khan is working from the bottom.

Khan looking for a guillotine here but Dingdown defends easily.
Dingdown missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Khan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dingdown is looking to work some ground and pound but Khan has wrist control.

Khan has his foot on Dingdown's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Dingdown works his way back into a safe position though.
Khan tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Khan working for submissions but it's allowed Dingdown to get to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Khan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Khan taking some punishment here, with Dingdown in his half guard.
Khan works his way to full guard. Good work.
Khan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Dingdown tries to lock up and control but Khan gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Khan misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Khan checks a leg kick.
Ben Dingdown is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Khan is looking to clinch but Dingdown is avoiding it.

Khan throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Dingdown was covering up waiting for the punch and Khan finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Khan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Khan trying to control but Dingdown is working from the bottom.
Khan is really struggling to control Dingdown but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Dingdown not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Khan gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Khan tries to score with a low kick but Dingdown moves his leg out of the way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dingdown throws a big shot that misses.
Khan displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dingdown throws out the jab.
Ben Dingdown seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Khan.
No joy there for Dingdown, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Khan throws a leg kick but Dingdown sees it coming and moves out of range.
Dingdown moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Khan takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Khan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dingdown misses with a body shot.
Khan will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Khan ducks under a wild hook from Dingdown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dingdown misses with a combination
and Khan counters with a three punch combo that has Dingdown backing up. Dingdown nods at Khan to acknowledge the strikes.
Khan takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Dingdown swings for the body but Khan moves out of range.
Dingdown moves out of range as Khan strikes.
Khan slips under a jab.
Khan throws a lazy body kick
and Dingdown counters with a left to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Khan scores with a punch to the head.

Khan tries to keep at a distance but Dingdown has taken the fight into the clinch.
Khan throws a head punch that misses.

Khan breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dingdown displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Khan.

Khan darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Dingdown is trying to stand back up but Khan is controlling him
Dingdown tries to roll over but Khan keeps him under control.
Dingdown pushes Khan off looking to stand but Khan dives back in and keeps control.
Khan thows a huge punch but Dingdown dodges it nicely.
Dingdown is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Khan scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khan trying to control from half guard but Dingdown is working away.
Khan stops Dingdown from getting back to his feet.
Khan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dingdown avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Khan.
Dingdown tries to roll over but Khan keeps him under control.
Khan drops an elbow to the side of Dingdown's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Khan is keen to just control but Dingdown is a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Khan not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Khan missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Khan seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rajja Khan clearly takes that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A nice leg kick lands there from Khan.
Khan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dingdown misses with a few strikes there.
Khan scores with a sloppy right hand. Dingdown should have avoided that one.
Khan lands a lovely overhand right.
Khan on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Khan feints and then cracks Dingdown's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Dingdown down.
Dingdown misses with a low kick as Khan jumps back.
Khan misses with a low kick.
Khan misses with a takedown attempt - Dingdown sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A big left from Dingdown misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dingdown tries to sprawl but Khan drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Khan is keen to just control but Dingdown is a slippery customer.
Khan working Dingdown over with strikes.
Dingdown won't allow Khan to pass to mount.
Dingdown tries to kick Khan off but Khan keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Khan works his way into full mount!
Dingdown is in all sorts of trouble here.
Khan landing punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Khan cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dingdown is trying to escape the mount.
Khan raining down shots from the mount!
Khan prevents Dingdown from getting the reversal.
Khan cracks Dingdown with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Dingdown really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Dingdown is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Dingdown is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Khan lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Khan looking to finish Dingdown with some ground and pound. This is bad for Dingdown!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khan connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Khan has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Dingdown's face.

Dingdown is rocked!
Khan connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Dingdown is still in real trouble! Can Khan finish him?
Khan working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Khan cracks Dingdown with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Rajja Khan!
Rajja Khan retains his featherweight title!
Rajja Khan gave a mention to GTI - 1337 sponsors VERSUS in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).