PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Dover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Monsour Belcher (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.

Dover
vs
Belcher

200 cm
23
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
245 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ben Dover!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Monsour Belcher!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dover shoots in looking for a takedown. Belcher tries to sprawl out of it but Dover keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Belcher manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Belcher tries for a takedown but Dover circles away easily

and Dover counters with a single leg into guard. Belcher didn't expect that.
Belcher preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Belcher looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dover is looking to work some ground and pound but Belcher has wrist control.
Dover thows a big elbow that misses.
Dover stops Belcher from standing up.
Belcher throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Dover is looking to work some ground and pound but Belcher has wrist control.
Belcher has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dover won't allow Belcher to sweep him here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Belcher tries a head kick but it misses.
Dover swats away the attempt to clinch by Belcher.
Belcher wants to clinch but Dover slips to the side

and Dover counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dover with a nice head shot there.
Belcher preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dover has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dover accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dover in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dover with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dover postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Belcher avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dover stops Belcher from standing up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dover's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Dover postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Belcher 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.
Dover with a flurry of punches that miss.
Belcher is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dover is controlling him.
Belcher controlling the position.
Belcher looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Dover's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belcher preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dover shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Belcher counters with a single leg into guard. Dover didn't expect that.
Belcher has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dover is proving hard to escape from.
Dover tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Belcher stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Belcher throws a head kick but Dover moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belcher tries a head kick but it misses.
Belcher with a lazy takedown attempt

and Dover counters with a single leg into guard. Belcher didn't expect that.
Dover is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Dover is looking to work some ground and pound but Belcher has wrist control.
Belcher wants to sweep here but Dover controlling him for the moment.
Dover scoring with some ground and pound.
Dover throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Belcher works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dover cracks Belcher with a solid left hand.

Belcher working for a triangle but Dover defends it easily.
Dover trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dover missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dover postures up.

Belcher looking for a guillotine here but Dover defends easily.
Belcher trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Dover looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Belcher is fending him off so far but Dover persists. Nope, Belcher circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Dover. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Belcher bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Belcher tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Dover tries to buck Belcher off but Belcher is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Belcher has his takedown stuffed

and Dover counters with a nice double leg into side control. Belcher won't be happy with that.
Dover scores with punches from side control.

It looks like Monsour Belcher has been cut.
Belcher on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Belcher is trying to get back to half guard.
Dover lands a decent elbow from side control.
Dover working away.
Dover works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dover working the head with strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dover working away.
Dover cracks Belcher with a big elbow.
Belcher on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belcher is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Dover is controlling him well.
Belcher tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dover looks up at the clock and then as Belcher takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Dover smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Belcher on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Dover landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Belcher is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Belcher is looking for a sweep.
Dover lands some shots froms side control.
Belcher is trying to get back to half guard.
Ben Dover overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Belcher is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Dover cracks Belcher with a big right hand but Belcher just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dover tries to score with some ground and pound. Belcher controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Dover creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Belcher sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Dover working away.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Belcher with a poor takedown

so Dover counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Dover missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dover landing some decent shots from guard.
Belcher bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dover's guard.
Belcher looking to sit in guard and control but Dover gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Dover is looking to work some ground and pound but Belcher has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover is looking to work some ground and pound but Belcher has wrist control.
Belcher wants to stand and escape but Dover is having none of it.
Dover wants to pass the guard but Belcher is keeping the position.
Dover postures up and lands a big shot to Belcher's brow.
Dover stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Belcher swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dover throwing strikes but missing.

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

Belcher fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dover, pushing him back against the cage.

Dover lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belcher makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Belcher.
Dover loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Belcher throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Dover is looking to work some ground and pound but Belcher has wrist control.
Dover working some strikes from top position.
Dover looking to pass the guard.
Belcher lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Dover!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Belcher trying to control but Dover is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Dover dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Monsour Belcher's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Belcher tries to clinch but Dover is having none of it.

Dover bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Belcher holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Dover fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Belcher manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Belcher is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dover's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dover's back!
Belcher trying to control.
Belcher keeps control of the position as Dover tries to break free.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dover trying to control the hands but Belcher won't let him.
Dover is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Belcher.
Belcher struggling to keep hold of the position.

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.
Dover tries to roll but Belcher sticks to his back.
Dover controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Dover trying to control the hands but Belcher won't let him.
Belcher is landing with strikes from the back.

Dover preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Belcher.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover tries to escape but Belcher has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
A lull in the action here.
Dover turns into Belcher and is now in his guard.
Dover throws a big right hand that misses.

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.
Dover is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Belcher 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.
Dover working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Belcher pushes Dover off and scrambles back to his feet.
Belcher will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Dover changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Belcher looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dover works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Dover working away.
Monsour Belcher has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ben Dover is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Belcher misses with an elbow from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ben Dover.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dover, 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ben Dover!