PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dynamite Dave (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tapak Utara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dave comes to the cage accompanied by https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79Y-EHqZNQA. Utara has chosen Goyang Dumang as his entrance music. The key to victory for Dynamite Dave has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Dave
vs
Utara

202 cm
25
202 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

205 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Experienced

Leviathan Clothing
Sully's Bar & Grill

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dynamite Dave!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tapak Utara!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Michael Johnstone and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Utara shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Utara scoring with some ground and pound.

Utara avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Dave 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.
Dave is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dave is on top in guard.

Dave got a little sloppy there for a moment and Utara has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dave has managed to get both his arms back between Utara's legs - danger averted.

Utara is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Utara working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Dave has passed into half guard!
Dave definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Utara really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dave. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Dave decides to stand and escape the position.
A big left from Dave misses.
Dave looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Good work by Utara as he checks the leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Utara. No joy for Dave on that attempt.

Dave gets tackled into the cage by Utara. Utara maintains the clinch.
Utara blocks the elbow strike.
Utara tries to score a body lock takedown but Dave shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Utara has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Dave avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Dave gets underhooks to prevent Utara's takedown attempt.
Dynamite Dave has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tapak Utara.
Utara is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Dave is defending well.
Utara is working for takedown but Dave is calmly controlling the position for now.

Utara is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Dave can't fight it off and eventually Utara manages to take the fight to the floor. Dave looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Dave pushes Utara off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dave chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Dave misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Utara.
Dave really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Dave fails with the takedown.
Utara drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Dave defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Utara is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Dave's half guard.
Utara looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Dave trying to hold on to Utara's head to control him but Utara postures up.

Utara looking for a submission but Dave manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.
Dave preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
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.
Utara is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Utara throws a strike but Dave rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Dave wants to control from the top but Utara keeps moving.
Dave content to stall in guard here.
Utara looking for a sweep. Not yet Utara, not yet.
Utara is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Dave postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dynamite Dave dominated that round.
That's time! Dave's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Utara wants to clinch up but Dave keeps it at a distance.
Utara looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Utara shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dave defends it nicely.
Utara takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Utara dodges the punch combination from Dave.
Utara steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Dave.
Utara changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Utara has closed the distance and engaged Dave in a clinch.

Utara has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dave uses from the top position.
Dave is pushing down on Utara's leg trying to pass to half guard. Utara is fighting to maintain full guard but Dave has managed to sneak the leg through.

Utara with the active half guard here but Dave passes nicely into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Utara is throwing a few token shots, despite Dave being in side control.
Dave wants to control but Utara is keeping him busy.
Utara struggling a bit here.

Dave tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Utara can do anything to dispel that myth.
Dave scores with a couple of short elbows.

Dave wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Utara, who protects the arm well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Utara tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dave wants to lay and pray for a moment but Utara keeps working.
Dave working the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Utara is not content to let Dave control the position.
Dave grinds an elbow into Utara's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Utara is looking to regain half guard here but Dave keeps moving and retains side control.
Dave wants to control but Utara is keeping him busy.
Dave lands some shots froms side control.
Utara is looking for a sweep.
Utara trying his best to control but Dave has mounted him.
Dave cracks Utara with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Dave trying to control but Utara is having none of it.
Dave is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Utara can do to turn this around?
Dave connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Utara is wriggling around trying to escape.
Utara wants to control but Dave is having none of it.
Dave is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Utara can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Dave trying to control but Utara is having none of it.
Utara working to try and regain half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dave trying to control but he's not successful this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dynamite Dave dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Dave looks to score with a jab to the body but Utara is just out of range.

Utara closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Dave kicks Utara off and gets back to his feet.
Utara ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The fighters circling - Dave throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Utara tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Nice straight punches there by Dave. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Dave.

Utara clinches up against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dave takes an elbow to the temple.
Utara prevents a takedown attempt there.
Dave working hard to break the clinch.

Dave breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Utara tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dave swivels and escapes.
Utara closes the distance and clinches up with Dave, looking for a takedown. Utara pushes Dave against the cage but Dave circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Utara blocks the body kick.
Dave misses with a body shot.

Dave gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Dave pushes Utara off and scrambles back to his feet.
Utara dives in and grabs Dave's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dave pushes down on Utara's head and hops out.
Dave half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Dynamite Dave has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tapak Utara.
Dave throws a chopping leg kick but Utara manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Dave throws a head kick but Utara moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Utara drives through with a takedown into Dave's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Dave working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Utara doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Dave is tightening it up a little... Utara has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Utara reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Utara taps out! Nice BJJ there by Dave!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Dynamite Dave!
In his post fight interview, Dynamite Dave started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.