PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Robert Dawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Webster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Dawson
vs
Webster

177 cm
19
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Robert Dawson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Webster!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dawson instigates a clinch.
Webster drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A left hand lands to the body for Dawson.
Webster tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dawson smiles and moves away.

Dawson has Webster up against the cage in a clinch.
Dawson pressing his opponent against the cage.

Dawson breaks from the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Dawson lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Dawson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice takedown defense from Dawson. No joy for Webster on that attempt.
Robert Dawson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Webster.
Webster shoots in and drives through. Dawson sprawls well.

Webster gets a takedown into half guard.
Webster really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dawson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Webster is trying to work for a kimura but Dawson is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Webster is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Dawson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Dawson trying to hold on to Webster's head to control him but Webster postures up.

Webster is working for a kimura but Dawson is defending it quite comfortably.
Webster is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Webster prevents Dawson from improving his position.
Dawson wants to control but Webster is keeping busy.
The fighters are battling for position here. Dawson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Dawson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dawson lands a two punch combo.
Webster shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Webster shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dawson as he avoids it easily.
Webster misses with a takedown attempt - Dawson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Webster looks gassed!

Dawson closes the distance and clinches.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Dawson breaks from the clinch.
James Webster seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Webster fails with a takedown attempt.

Webster scores with a takedown into Dawson's guard.

Webster drops back looking for a leg! Dawson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Dawson manages to kick Webster off! Webster jumps back into Dawson's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.
Dawson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Webster!
Dawson lands with some strikes.
Dawson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Dawson raining down shots from the mount!
Webster is working to get back to half guard.

That's four 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.
Dawson lands a heavy elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dawson lands a big elbow.
Dawson cracks Webster with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Webster is desperately trying to improve his position but Dawson has a good base and remains in mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Webster is squirming around, avoiding Dawson's attempts to control the action.
Webster can't escape the position.
Dawson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Webster is bucking up trying to escape but Dawson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Dawson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Webster shoots in and drives through. Dawson sprawls well.
Webster looks for a takedown but Dawson sprawls well.

Dawson closes the distance and pushes Webster back into the cage.
Webster tries to pull guard but Dawson holds him up against the cage and eventually Webster drops back down to his feet.
Robert Dawson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Webster.
Dawson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like James Webster has been cut.

Dawson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nice takedown defense from Dawson. No joy for Webster on that attempt.

Dawson clinches.
Dawson is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Webster jumps guard but Dawson stands there with Webster around his waist. Webster gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Dawson works on Webster's body with a couple of short punches.

Dawson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Dawson looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Webster has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dawson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Webster throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawson is pushing down on Webster's leg trying to pass to half guard. Webster is fighting to maintain full guard but Dawson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Dawson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Webster looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Dawson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Dawson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Dawson 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.
Dawson is looking to take a break and control but Webster is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Webster keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Dawson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Webster keeps working.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Webster shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Dawson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Dawson.
Dawson can't find room to land a body shot as Webster controls the action.
Dawson leaning against his opponent.
Webster tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Dawson just stands there and leans against the cage.

Webster is trying to trip Dawson. He has hold of a leg but Dawson is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Webster persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Dawson 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.

Webster thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Webster drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Dawson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Webster has Dawson in his guard.
Dawson forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Webster looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Webster looking for submissions off his back.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Dawson in particular looking to stall.

Webster looking for submissions off his back.

Webster actively working from the bottom here.
Dawson lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

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.
Dawson is trying to control the action in half guard but Webster is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dawson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Webster is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Dawson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Dawson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Webster drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Dawson dives on top into guard.

Dawson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Dawson trying to control the position from guard on top but Webster is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Robert Dawson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on James Webster's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Webster shoots and misses

and Dawson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Webster!

Dawson has control of Webster's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Webster regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Poor strikes thrown by Dawson there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Webster is wriggling around trying to escape.
Dawson wants to control the pace but Webster is squirming around nicely.
Webster tries to reverse the position but Dawson maintains control.
Webster regains half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Dawson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Webster wants to improve his position but Dawson is controlling well.
Webster is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawson is trying to control the action in half guard but Webster is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Webster is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Webster actively working from the bottom here.
Robert Dawson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Webster looking for submissions off his back.
Dawson lands with a punch from half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Webster shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Dawson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Dawson.
Dawson looking to stall.
Webster jumps guard but Dawson stands there with Webster around his waist. Webster gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Robert Dawson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Webster.

That's two 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.
Webster fails to pull guard.
Webster fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Webster tries to pull guard but Dawson holds him up against the cage and eventually Webster drops back down to his feet.
Dawson slowing the pace effectively.
Webster tries to pull guard but Dawson won't allow it.

Dawson wants the takedown. Webster is fighting it off but Dawson persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Webster's guard against the cage.
Dawson throws a big right hand that misses.
Webster keeping moving, preventing Dawson from controlling successfully.

Webster working for a triangle but Dawson defends it easily.
Dawson sitting in guard here, content to control.

Webster working for a triangle but Dawson defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dawson pushing down on Webster's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Dawson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Webster looking for submissions off his back.

Webster is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Dawson pulls his head out easily.
Robert Dawson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Dawson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Webster is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Dawson pulls his head out easily.
Dawson is figuring out what he wants to do next.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Webster shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Dawson counters with a head kick. That will keep Webster thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Dawson tries to clinch up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Dawson.
Webster is not content to let Dawson control the position.
Webster tries to improve position but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Robert Dawson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Dawson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Robert Dawson!