PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johnny Flynn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Dover (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Johnny Flynn has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Flynn
vs
Dover

183 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
208 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johnny Flynn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ben Dover!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Robert Douchet and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Flynn throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dover's waist but Dover gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Flynn off to one side.

Dover drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dover looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Flynn looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dover is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Flynn is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dover is controlling him.
Dover passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dover is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
I looks like Dover might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Flynn blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dover.
Dover controlling the pace.
Dover throwing shots but Flynn is blocking nicely.
Dover winds up and cracks Flynn with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

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.
Dover looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Let's hope that Dover has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Despite being in the dominant position, Ben Dover just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Flynn lands with a nice combination. Dover backs away looking to recover.
Dover shoots in and drives through. Flynn sprawls well.

Dover feints and as Flynn raises his hands in defense, Dover changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dover not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Flynn escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dover gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Flynn keeping moving, preventing Dover from controlling successfully.
Dover throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Flynn works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Flynn is breathing heavily.
Flynn tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Flynn can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dover controls the pace.
Flynn looking to control.

Flynn is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Dover drops back looking for a leg! Flynn is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Flynn manages to kick Dover off! Dover jumps back into Flynn's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Flynn looking to control.

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

and Dover counters by clinching up.
Flynn prevents the takedown attempt.
Flynn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

Dover manages to pull guard.
Flynn won't allow Dover to sweep him here.
Dover keeping moving, preventing Flynn from controlling successfully.
Flynn wants to pass the guard but Dover is keeping the position.
Dover trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Dover keeping full guard, as Flynn tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Dover dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Flynn scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A combination from Flynn does no damage.
Dover throws a jab but it's blocked by Flynn.
Flynn fails to land with a series of punches.
Flynn pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Flynn misses with a takedown attempt

and Dover moves into the clinch.
Flynn fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Dover has picked Flynn up - he's going for a ride! Dover dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Dover missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Flynn taking some punishment here, with Dover in his half guard.
Flynn has a hand on Dover's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Dover takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Dover wants to control the pace but Flynn is squirming around nicely.
Flynn can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BOOM! Dover connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dover content just to control the position here.
Dover pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
A nice elbow there by Dover.
Flynn tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dover avoids the attempt from Flynn to control.
Dover connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Dover in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Dover looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Dover is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Dover controlling the pace for now.
Dover landing strikes from the mount and Flynn is in trouble!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dover avoids the attempt from Flynn to control.
Flynn is trying to escape the mount.
Dover with a couple of short strikes.
A nice elbow there by Dover.
A nice elbow there by Dover.
Dover avoids the attempt from Flynn to control.
Flynn is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flynn wants to hold on but Dover pushes him away.
Dover looking to control but Flynn is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Flynn really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Flynn tries to lock up and control but Dover gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Dover controlling the position easily from mount.
Dover lands a big shot there that rocks Flynn but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Dover is landing with some decent strikes but Flynn is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Dover is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Flynn can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Dover trying to control but Flynn is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Dover with good strikes from the mount here!
Dover landing strikes, looking to finish!
Dover tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Flynn is desperately trying to improve his position but Dover has a good base and remains in mount.
Dover postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Flynn looks a forlorn figure.
Dover landing strikes from the mount.
Dover controlling the pace for now.
Flynn is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s 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 time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Flynn doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Dover counters with a nice double leg into side control. Flynn won't be happy with that.
Dover happy to just control the position for now.

Dover is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Flynn knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Flynn stops Dover from passing to mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Dover decides to stand up, so the ref orders Flynn to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dover closes the distance and clinches.
Flynn tries to pull guard but Dover holds him up against the cage and eventually Flynn drops back down to his feet.
A short right from Dover.
Dover's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Dover has hold of one of Flynn's legs. Flynn is fighting the takedown attempt but Dover gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Ben Dover has got the better of the ground game so far.
Flynn keeping moving, preventing Dover from controlling successfully.

Dover thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Flynn looking for a sweep. Not yet Flynn, not yet.
Dover trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Dover slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Flynn looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dover wants to pass the guard but Flynn is keeping the position.
Dover pushes down on Flynn's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Dover is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Dover wants to take a breather but Flynn is having none of it.
Flynn tries to roll over but Dover keeps him under control.
Dover is thwarting Flynn's attempts to control the position.
Flynn manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Dover trying to control but Flynn is working from the bottom.
Dover content to stall in guard here.
Flynn utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dover throwing strikes from guard but Flynn blocks nicely.
Dover tries to free his leg and advance position but Flynn is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Dover passes Flynn's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Flynn is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Flynn knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Dover on the ground.
Dover perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Dover moves nicely into side control.
Flynn struggling a bit here.
Flynn is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Dover wants to lay and pray for a moment but Flynn keeps working.
Flynn is trying to control Dover's posture but Dover avoids it.
Johnny Flynn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Flynn tries to improve position but can't.

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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

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