PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zach Dahl (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabricio Werdum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fabricio Werdum will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Dahl
vs
Werdum

185 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

191 cm
18
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zach Dahl!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fabricio Werdum!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Werdum throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Werdum shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Werdum showed some decent athleticism there.
Werdum seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dahl does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dahl has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Werdum is working away from the top position though.
Werdum prevents Dahl from improving his position.
Werdum wants to control but Dahl is keeping him busy.
Werdum is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Werdum not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Werdum is looking to clinch.
Werdum shoots in looking for a takedown. Dahl tries to sprawl out of it but Werdum keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dahl manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Dahl clinches.
Werdum tries to score a body lock takedown but Dahl shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Dahl missing with knees to the body.
Werdum misses with the head strike.
Werdum wants to break free but Dahl has control.
Dahl lands an elbow just above Werdum 's eye.
Dahl is breathing heavily.
Werdum is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Zach Dahl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabricio Werdum.

Dahl pulls Werdum into guard.
Werdum wants to control from the top but Dahl keeps moving.
Dahl utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werdum wants to control from the top but Dahl keeps moving.

Dahl working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Werdum doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Werdum manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Werdum is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Werdum forces his way into half guard.
Werdum tries to stand but can't do so whilst Dahl controls his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Werdum missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Dahl actively working from the bottom here.
Werdum not doing much here.

Werdum decides to stand and escape the position.

Werdum shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Werdum is tying to control. Dahl wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Werdum is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Werdum tries to stand but can't do so whilst Dahl controls his leg.
Dahl blocking the ground and pound attempt from Werdum.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Werdum trying to pass the guard but Dahl defending well.
Werdum wants to control but Dahl is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fabricio Werdum dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Werdum fails to land the takedown.
Zach Dahl seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Werdum wants to clinch but Dahl slips to the side

and Dahl counters by clinching up.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A short right from Werdum.
Werdum goes for a takedown attempt but Dahl pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Werdum gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dahl drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Werdum tries to pull guard but Dahl holds him up against the cage and eventually Werdum drops back down to his feet.
Zach Dahl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabricio Werdum.
Werdum gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dahl.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Dahl as Werdum tries to tie him up.
Dahl with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dahl drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Werdum fails to pull guard.
Werdum should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Werdum wants to get back to striking at distance but Dahl won't allow it.
Werdum tries for a takedown. No joy.
Werdum trying to control the position but instead, Dahl has worked for underhooks and has pushed Werdum into the cage.
Dahl prevents a body shot from Werdum.
Werdum trying to stall but Dahl improves his position.
Werdum looking for a takedown.
Werdum is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Werdum wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dahl misses with a knee to the head.
Werdum jumps guard but Dahl stands there with Werdum around his waist. Werdum gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Werdum fails to pull guard.
Werdum misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dahl tries to land knees in the clinch but Werdum avoids the damage to the body.
Werdum is looking to break free of the clinch but Dahl has double underhooks.
Werdum is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Dahl gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Werdum jumps guard.
Werdum keeping moving, preventing Dahl from controlling successfully.
Dahl sitting in guard here, content to control.
Werdum looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Werdum controls Dahl momentarily but Dahl frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dahl loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Werdum is trying to keep Dahl in close.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Werdum tries for a takedown but Dahl sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Werdum lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Werdum fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
No luck for Dahl with that takedown attempt.

Werdum feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Werdum trying to control but Dahl is working from the bottom.
Dahl will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Werdum stopping the sweep attempt from Dahl.
Dahl trying to keep a closed guard but Werdum is proving a slippery customer.
Werdum stays in close to Dahl's body and controls the position.
Werdum must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Werdum won't allow Dahl to sweep him here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dahl keeping moving, preventing Werdum from controlling successfully.
Werdum would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Fabricio Werdum will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Werdum tries for a takedown but Dahl sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dahl misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Werdum will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A right-left combo lands from Werdum.
Werdum shoots in and drives through. Dahl sprawls well.
Zach Dahl has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabricio Werdum.
Werdum fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Dahl takes a body punch but keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Werdum throws a leg kick

and Dahl counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Dahl misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Werdum.
Werdum tries to work over Dahl's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Werdum wants a takedown but no success here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dahl is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Werdum pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Dahl goes for a takedown in the clinch but Werdum prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werdum goes for a takedown in the clinch but Dahl prevents it.
Werdum blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Werdum is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Werdum gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Dahl.
Dahl blocks a body shot from Werdum.
Werdum can't break the clinch.
Werdum is trying to maintain a safe position but Dahl gets an underhook and turns Werdum into the cage.
Dahl tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Werdum smiles and moves away.
Werdum tries to clinch up

and Dahl counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Dahl.

Dahl pulls Werdum into guard.
Dahl is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Werdum postures up.
Werdum won't allow Dahl to sweep him here.
Dahl keeping moving, preventing Werdum from controlling successfully.
Dahl is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Werdum postures up in Dahl's guard and throws a big left but Dahl blocks it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Werdum closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dahl circles away.

Werdum scores with a takedown into Dahl's guard.
Dahl has Werdum pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dahl's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Dahl is looking for a triangle but Werdum pushes his legs off easily.

Dahl throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Werdum escapes and throws Dahl's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Werdum working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Werdum tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Werdum has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
A bit of a lull in the action here.

Werdum decides to stand up, so the ref orders Dahl to his feet.
Werdum lands a jab to Dahl's midsection.

Werdum bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Werdum wants to stand but Dahl has his arm trapped.
Dahl is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Fabricio Werdum comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Werdum 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fabricio Werdum!