PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Denny Dixon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sammy Gatto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dixon
vs
Gatto

188 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
24
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

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 The Island, Denny Dixon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sammy Gatto!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, David Hoff and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gatto displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dixon.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dixon is defended easily by Gatto.
Gatto throws a head kick that misses

and Dixon counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Dixon takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Dixon is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denny Dixon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dixon fails to pull guard.
Gatto misses with a punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dixon is working for takedown but Gatto is calmly controlling the position for now.
Dixon controlling the action here for a moment.
Gatto gets underhooks to prevent Dixon's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dixon breaks the clinch.
Gatto looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Dixon changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Gatto misses with a body kick.
Dixon is looking to land body kicks.
Gatto loads up on a big right hand but Dixon slips the punch.
Dixon tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gatto defends well and Dixon ends up having to push Gatto into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gatto throws a nice looking combination but Dixon bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dixon misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Gatto stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gatto wants it to stay on the feet.
Gatto throws a jab when Dixon was well out of range.
Gatto on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Dixon darts in and clinches Gatto up against the cage.
Dixon jumps guard but Gatto turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dixon jumps guard.
Dixon is breathing heavily.
Dixon seems keen to control Gatto's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dixon lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Dixon controls from within his opponent's guard.
Dixon with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dixon controls from within his opponent's guard.

Dixon drops back looking for a leg! Gatto is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gatto manages to kick Dixon off! Dixon jumps back into Gatto's guard.
Dixon is in close to Gatto's body, working some short punches and elbows.

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.

Gatto is working an open guard so Dixon takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Dixon moves into range and clinches up with Gatto.
Gatto goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Dixon jumps guard but Gatto stands there with Dixon around his waist. Dixon gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
We've been informed that Gatto has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Gatto is trying to stall.
Gatto wants to stall.

Dixon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gatto blocks a head kick by Dixon.
Sammy Gatto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gatto throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dixon.
Dixon circles away from the clinch attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denny Dixon dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Dixon dives in and scores a takedown into Gatto's guard.

Dixon decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gatto, up you get!
Dixon misses with the combination.
Dixon tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Gatto defends well and Dixon ends up having to push Gatto into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Gatto slaps away a takedown attempt from Dixon, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Dixon clinches up against the cage.
Dixon goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gatto prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denny Dixon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dixon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Dixon moves into the clinch successfully.
Dixon has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gatto avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dixon escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gatto throws a nice head kick!
Gatto is breathing heavily.
Dixon shoots in and drives through. Gatto sprawls well.
Sammy Gatto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Sloppy strikes from Gatto. Those never looked like landing.
Gatto misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sammy Gatto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Dixon has Gatto up against the cage in a clinch.
Gatto looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Dixon is trying to pull guard but Gatto turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Dixon breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dixon fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dixon fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dixon shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gatto but Gatto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gatto dips to his left and cracks Dixon with an uppercut!
Dixon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gatto lets loose with a powerful body kick. Dixon will feel that in the morning.
Gatto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dixon moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dixon chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gatto can pounce on him.
Dixon shoots in for a takedown but Gatto shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Gatto chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Gatto lands a right hook to the body.
Dixon goes for a double leg but Gatto avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Gatto continues to drive forward.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gatto slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Gatto tries to clinch there but Dixon circles away.
Dixon takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Denny Dixon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gatto tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Dixon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dixon closes the distance and clinches up with Gatto, looking for a takedown. Dixon pushes Gatto against the cage but Gatto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Gatto pushes Dixon away with a front kick.
Dixon avoids a punch combination nicely.

Dixon moves into the clinch.
Gatto tries to circle away but Dixon has him pinned against the cage.
Dixon tries to pull guard but Gatto holds him up against the cage and eventually Dixon drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dixon is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Gatto to keep the fight standing.
Dixon jumps guard but Gatto turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Dixon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Dixon tries to bum rush Gatto with a series of wild strikes but Gatto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Dixon fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Gatto tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dixon swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Gatto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dixon.
A punch combination from Gatto misses.
Dixon appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Good shot there by Dixon.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dixon fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gatto avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sammy Gatto 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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Gatto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dixon is looking to counter the offense by Gatto and move into the clinch.
Dixon shoots for a takedown but Gatto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dixon avoids the head kick by Gatto.

Dixon takes the fight into the clinch.
Dixon tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gatto smiles and moves away.

Dixon clinches up with Gatto and pushes him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gatto is trying to force a seperation but Dixon has the dominant position.
Dixon tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Denny Dixon. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gatto takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gatto wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dixon lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dixon lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gatto stops a takedown attempt from Dixon.

Dixon pulls guard successfully.
Dixon striking off his back.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dixon is on top in guard.

Dixon pushes down on Gatto's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Dixon working the head and body with strikes.
Dixon takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Denny Dixon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dixon passes to side control.
Dixon cracks Gatto with a big right hand but Gatto just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

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.
Gatto takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Gatto is working to avoid the ground and pound but Dixon connects with a decent elbow.
Dixon lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Gatto taking punishment in the form of punches.

Dixon stands up and beckons Gatto to his feet.

Dixon shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gatto is trying to defend but Dixon finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Gatto wants to stand back up but Dixon manages to pass into side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sammy Gatto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. 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 Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 28:29
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sammy Gatto!