PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mikko Rourke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Dove (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rourke comes into the arena with Rolling Stones - Paint it black blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Rourke
vs
Dove

182 cm
23
196 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

190 cm
21
196 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good takedowns
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Mikko Rourke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Gary Dove!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Summer Carpenter and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rourke throws a lazy right hand but Dove sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rourke tries to clinch up but Dove circles away and keeps his distance.
Rourke is looking to land body kicks.
Rourke tries a head kick but it misses.
Dove takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Dove takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Rourke throws a shot from downtown. Dove moves away and avoids it.
Rourke misses with a straight right.
Dove ducks under a wild hook from Rourke.
Rourke looks to land a right hand but Dove moved out of range.
Rourke misses with a jab, cross combination.
Rourke shoots in but no luck this time.
Rourke throws a looping overhand right but Dove ducks down to avoid it.
Rourke pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dove tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rourke swivels and escapes.
Rourke throws a right and a left that Dove avoids nicely.
Dove on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke throws a jab when Dove was well out of range.
A big left from Rourke misses.
Dove slips under a jab from Rourke.

Rourke tries to sprawl but Dove drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Dove slows the pace down in half guard.
Rourke is not content to let Dove control the position.
Dove seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Rourke wants to improve his position but Dove is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rourke manages to get to full guard.
Dove looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rourke 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rourke escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dove gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dove stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rourke swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dove is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gary Dove.
Rourke tries to clinch up.
Dove lands an overhand right.

Rourke drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Dove controlling Rourke's posture.
Rourke postures up in Dove's guard and throws a big left but Dove blocks it.
Dove avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rourke throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dove works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rourke is stalling in the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rourke looks for a takedown but Dove sprawls well.
Dove throws a nice outside leg kick.
Dove looks to land a right hand but Rourke moved out of range.
Rourke misses with a wild body shot.
Dove throws a low kick but Rourke avoids it.
Rourke tries to clinch but Dove moves out of range.
Nice defenses there by Dove.
Rourke is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Dove's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rourke throws out a powerful jab.
Rourke takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rourke fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dove throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Rourke avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke tries to clinch but Dove is having none of it.
Rourke throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rourke. Dove does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dove throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Dove misses the shot to the body.
Rourke throws a jab when Dove was well out of range.
Rourke shoots in for a takedown but Dove shows good takedown defense.
Rourke checks a leg kick.
Dove bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rourke's head backwards.
Dove looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Rourke keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dove throws an overhand right that lands on Rourke's shoulder, as Rourke tries to avoid the shot.
Dove darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rourke lands with an uppercut that bounces Dove off the cage and back into rage.
Dove keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Rourke.
Rourke misses with a head kick.
Dove lands a two punch combo.
Dove misses with a body kick.
Rourke throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Dove throws a body punch but Rourke moves out of range.
Dove uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Rourke.
Dove misses with a hook.
Rourke takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Rourke throws out a loose jab but Dove uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mikko Rourke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rourke misses with an uppercut.
Dove defending well as Rourke loads up on a big left hand.
Rourke looks to land a left hand but Dove moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dove thuds his shin into the meat of Rourke's side.
Rourke throws a body punch but Dove moves out of range.
Dove closes the distance and clinches up with Rourke, looking for a takedown. Dove pushes Rourke against the cage but Rourke circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rourke throws a head kick that misses.
Dove moves out of range as Rourke strikes.
Dove misses with a hook.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rourke. Dove does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rourke misses with a takedown attempt - Dove sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikko Rourke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rourke getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
The fighters circling - Dove throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rourke thows a body shot but no joy.
Rourke throws a looping overhand right but Dove ducks down to avoid it.
Dove fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Dove slips under a jab from Rourke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Dove.
Rourke misses with a straight left.
Dove misses with a body kick.
Rourke tries to clinch but Dove moves out of range.
Rourke misses with a body shot.
Dove tried to score with a low kick but Rourke checks it.
Dove misses with an uppercut.
Rourke fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dove manages to avoid it.
Rourke looks to land a left hand but Dove moved out of range nicely.
Nice cross by Rourke.
Rourke misses with a looping right.
Rourke misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rourke throws a body punch but Dove moves out of range.
A shot to the liver by Dove. Beautiful body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Dove showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rourke throws a push kick but Dove slaps the foot to one side.
Rourke fails with the takedown.
Rourke misses with a straight right.
Rourke misses the shot to the body.
Dove moves away from the strike by Rourke.
A combination from Rourke does no damage.
Gary Dove seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Rourke shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dove pinned against the cage. Dove gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Rourke does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rourke takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rourke takes a swing at Dove's ribcage but misses.
Dove moves out of range of the strikes.
Rourke misses with an uppercut. Dove saw that one coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rourke has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Dove finds it's way round the side to connect with Rourke's head.
Rourke lands a body shot.
Dove with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A leg kick checked by Rourke.
Rourke misses with a looping left.
Rourke changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Dove throws a jab when Rourke was well out of range.
Dove jabs Rourke to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Rourke misses with a head kick.
Rourke defending well as Dove loads up on a big left hand.
Dove clobbers Rourke with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rourke misses with a straight right.
Dove scores with a hook to the body. Rourke takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Rourke throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rourke moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dove bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Rourke throws a lazy right hand but Dove sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Dove defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Rourke.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikko Rourke. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dove throws a jab when Rourke was well out of range.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Rourke!
Rourke avoids the head kick by Dove.
Rourke misses with a shot to the body
and Dove counters with a slapping leg kick.
Rourke lands with a right hand.
Rourke throws a good cross that connects.
Dove showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rourke.
Rourke slips under a jab from Dove.
Dove scores with the left hand. Rourke knows he should have avoided that one.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rourke shoots in looking for a takedown but Dove manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Rourke's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Dove.
Rourke misses with the combination.
Rourke fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Rourke fails with the takedown

and Dove counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Rourke tries to roll over but Dove keeps him under control.
Dove not doing much here.
Rourke is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dove is trying to control the action in half guard but Rourke is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Dove stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Dove fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Dove throws a low kick but Rourke moves out of range easily.
Rourke avoids the body shot from Dove.
Dove shoots in for a double leg but Rourke sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rourke tries to bum rush Dove with a series of wild strikes but Dove uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rourke misses with an uppercut.
Rourke looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rourke misses with a jab, cross combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gary Dove comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dove has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Mangel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Summer Carpenter scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gary Dove!