PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lino Dodson (ranked 5046 p4p, 0 weight class) and Best French (ranked 5734 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Dodson
vs
French

199 cm
18
214 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 New York, Lino Dodson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Best French!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, John Kavanagh and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dodson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
French misses with a body punch.

Dodson breaks the clinch.

Dodson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Dodson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
French blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dodson.
Dodson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Dodson is taking a breather. French 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.
Dodson thows a huge punch but French dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
French tries to kick Dodson off but Dodson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Dodson is taking a breather. French 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.
Dodson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson working French over with strikes.
Dodson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Dodson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
French really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dodson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
French is staying active underneath Dodson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
French is trying to get back to full guard.
Dodson not doing much here.
Dodson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Dodson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dodson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dodson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dodson with the ground and pound but French uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Dodson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Dodson trying to control the position from guard on top but French is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
French working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Dodson.
French wants to stand and escape but Dodson is having none of it.
Dodson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

French shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Dodson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dodson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. French gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
French wanted to stand there but Dodson had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dodson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

French avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Dodson working for submissions but it's allowed French to get to half guard.
French wants to stand but Dodson has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lino Dodson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dodson misses with a takedown attempt
and French counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
French tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Dodson defends well and French ends up having to push Dodson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Dodson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts French as he jumps to the side.

Dodson clinches with his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
French prevents Dodson from breaking the clinch.
French stalls.
Dodson can't break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson looking to slow down the pace here.
Dodson tries to break the clinch but French is controlling the position.
Come on Dodson - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Dodson tries a knee to the head but French blocks it.
French struggles to land a body shot inside as Dodson controls his hands.
Dodson blocks a body shot from French.
The referee is keeping an eye on Dodson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Dodson trying to stall but French improves his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dodson is stalling here.
Dodson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that French can do to turn this around?
Dodson is looking to break free of the clinch but French has double underhooks.
Dodson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dodson is trying to maintain a safe position but French gets an underhook and turns Dodson into the cage.
French tries a body shot but Dodson blocks it.
A right handed body shot lands from French.
A body shot lands from French.
Dodson has French pressed against the cage.
French struggles to land a body shot inside as Dodson controls his hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson leaning his opponent against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Lino Dodson.

Dodson clinches up against the cage.
Dodson blocks a body shot from French.
Dodson just leaning against French, taking a breather.
Dodson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
French dodges an elbow strike from Dodson.
Dodson has French pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodson throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
French lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
French is working Dodson over against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from French.
French keeps control of Dodson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Dodson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dodson dives in and grabs French's left leg, looking for a takedown. French pushes down on Dodson's head and hops out.
French is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Dodson with a body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lino Dodson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
French shoots in looking for a takedown. Dodson tries to sprawl out of it but French keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dodson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lino Dodson will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Dodson with a poor takedown
and French makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Dodson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dodson stalling in the clinch but French improves position.
Dodson looking to stall.
Dodson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Dodson pulls guard effortlessly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dodson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. French defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Dodson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. French defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson working a defensive guard here.
French not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

French stands and steps away. Dodson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

French has taken the fight to the clinch.
French struggles to land a body shot inside as Dodson controls his hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Dodson tries to pull guard but French won't allow it.
French struggles to land a body shot inside as Dodson controls his hands.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Dodson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
French goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
French tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dodson's elbow.
Dodson prevents a body shot from French.
Dodson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
French tries to throw a body punch but Dodson avoids it by throwing French back against the cage.
Dodson effectively controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson is trying to force a seperation but French has the dominant position.
French misses with a body punch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
French tries a body shot but Dodson blocks it.
Dodson lands a knee to the head.
Dodson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dodson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Dodson is trying to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
French digs a right hand into Dodson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Dodson's gas tank.
Dodson is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but French is keeping busy.

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

Dodson drives through and clinches with French against the cage.
Best French has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

French escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Dodson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lino Dodson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
French shoots in but no luck this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lino Dodson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dodson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lino Dodson!