PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alan Portela (ranked 4886 p4p, 4803 weight class) and Ben Dover (ranked 0 p4p, 557 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.

Portela
vs
Dover

170 cm
22
132
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
23
180
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alan Portela!
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, Ben Dover!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck for Portela with that takedown attempt.
Portela shoots in for a takedown but Dover shows good takedown defense.
Dover with the counter takedown but Portela avoids it easily.
Portela throws a series of punches but Dover avoids them all with ease.
Portela dives in for a single leg takedown but Dover sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Dover tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alan Portela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Portela prevents a body shot from Dover.

Portela breaks from the clinch.
Portela slips under a jab from Dover.
Dover just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromPortela.

Portela moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Portela's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Portela wants to clinch.
Dover drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Portela defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dover throws a hook but Portela avoids it easily.
Portela closes the distance but Dover moves to the side

and Dover counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Dover throws a big right hand that misses.
Dover scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Dover postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Portela wants to sweep but no luck.
Dover wants to control from the top but Portela keeps moving.
Dover scoring with punches to the head and body.
Portela is pulling down on Dover's head. It's preventing any offense from Dover, at least for the moment.
Dover lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Portela trying to control the position here.
Dover postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Dover with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Dover lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Portela is rocked!
Portela keeping moving, preventing Dover from controlling successfully.
Dover really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Portela. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Dover got a little sloppy there for a moment and Portela has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dover has managed to get both his arms back between Portela's legs - danger averted.
Dover chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover lands a couple of digs.
Dover chips away with some ground and pound.
Oh Portela is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Dover trying to control the position from guard on top but Portela is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Portela is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Portela seems to have got his legs back now.
Dover landing some decent shots from guard.
Dover trying to control the position from guard on top but Portela is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dover must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Portela lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Portela stopping the sweep attempt from Dover.
Portela wants to control from the top but Dover keeps moving.
Dover is pulling down on Portela's head. It's preventing any offense from Portela, at least for the moment.
Portela advances position into side control!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Portela is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Dover is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Dover dominated that round.
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.

Portela wants to clinch but Dover slips to the side

and Dover counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dover.

Portela pushes Dover off and gets back to his feet.
Portela tries for a takedown but Dover sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Dover drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Portela defends it well.
Dover throws a jab when Portela was well out of range.
Portela tries to clinch up but Dover circles away and keeps his distance.
Dover with the counter takedown but Portela avoids it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Dover. No joy for Portela on that attempt.
Portela has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alan Portela. 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.
Portela shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dover as he jumps to the side.
Dover feints the counter takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Portela fails with a takedown attempt.
Portela will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dover tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Portela is looking to clinch.
Dover circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dover blocks a head kick by Portela.
And Dover tries to counter it with a takedown but Portela pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Portela doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Dover counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dover lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Portela down.
Dover scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Portela to see if he's OK.
Dover scores with a couple of short elbows.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dover scores with a couple of short elbows.
Dover working the ground and pound from side control.
Portela takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Dover working the head and body with strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Portela takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Portela is not content to let Dover control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Portela struggling a bit here.
Dover looks up at the clock and then as Portela takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Dover smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Portela is trying to control Dover's posture but Dover avoids it.
Dover grinds an elbow into Portela's temple.
Portela taking a bit of punishment here - Dover scoring with strikes.
Dover in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Portela sneaks back into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dover is keen to just control but Portela is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dover working Portela over with strikes.
Portela is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dover scores with a couple of nice shots.
Portela is looking to escape.
Dover is keen to just control but Portela is a slippery customer.
Portela works his way to full guard. Good work.
Dover connects with a couple of short punches.
Dover connects with a couple of short punches.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Portela looking for a sweep. Not yet Portela, not yet.
Dover trying to control but Portela is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Dover might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Portela haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Dover showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Portela closes the distance and clinches up with Dover, looking for a takedown. Portela pushes Dover against the cage but Dover circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Portela will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That kick from Portela tenderised Dover's leg. Dover is trying to keep his angry face on.
Portela misses with a takedown

and Dover counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alan Portela. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dover lands strikes from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dover 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.
Dover scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Portela is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dover scores with a couple of nice shots.
Dover working Portela over with strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Portela is trying to maintain the position but Dover is very close to passing his half guard.
Dover is nestled in close to Portela, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Dover lands with a punch from half guard.
Dover slips a nice elbow through Portela's hands, connecting with Portela's forehead.
Dover seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Portela might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Portela is refusing to be controlled, as Dover sits in half guard.
Portela is trying to stand back up but Dover is controlling him
Dover seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dover lands with a punch from half guard.
Portela is trying to control but can't.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Dover connects with a nice short shot to Portela's temple.
Dover keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Dover wants to control but Portela is keeping him busy.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ben Dover has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dover working the head and body with strikes.
Nice strikes from Dover there.
Dover seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Portela does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Portela is looking to control Dover's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Portela avoid being mounted?

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Alan Portela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Portela kicks Dover off and gets to his feet.
Portela tries to land a body kick

and Dover counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Portela has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Dover is on him like a limpet, forcing Portela back against the cage.
Dover wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Portela has him pressed against the cage.
Portela changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dover fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Portela has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Portela breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Portela wants to clinch up but Dover keeps it at a distance.
And Dover tries to counter it with a takedown but Portela pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Portela tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Portela shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dover pinned against the cage. Dover gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Portela shoots for a takedown but Dover saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dover tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Dover stuffs the takedown.
Dover changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Dover comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dover 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 George Francis scores the fight for Ben Dover!
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight for Ben Dover!
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight for Ben Dover!

Ben Dover wins by unanimous decision!