PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dudley Dawson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorik Vartanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Dawson might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Lambda Lambda Lambda Song. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Dawson
vs
Vartanov

185 cm
32
248 lbs
16 - 36 - 0

190 cm
28
265 lbs
9 - 13 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 16 - 36 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dudley Dawson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jorik Vartanov!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dawson shoots in looking for a takedown. Vartanov tries to sprawl out of it but Dawson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vartanov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Vartanov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Dawson lands a nice looking body shot.
Vartanov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dawson.

Vartanov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Dawson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Vartanov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Vartanov creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Dawson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Vartanov working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vartanov in side control lands a decent elbow.
Dawson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Dawson taking a bit of punishment here - Vartanov scoring with strikes.
Vartanov cracks Dawson with a big right hand but Dawson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Vartanov off and has taken his back!

Vartanov preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Dawson.
Dawson softening up his opponent with strikes here.
I really don't envy Vartanov right now.
Vartanov has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Vartanov looks gassed!

Dawson tightening his grip on Vartanov, looking for the choke.
Vartanov can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vartanov defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Dawson's arms.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Vartanov preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Dawson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vartanov tries to break free.
Dawson doesn't have the hooks in and Vartanov manages to turn into his guard.

Dawson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vartanov is aware though and is defending well.
Vartanov is looking to work some ground and pound but Dawson has wrist control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vartanov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Dawson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Vartanov cracks Dawson with a solid left hand.

Vartanov gets to his feet. Dawson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vartanov tries to clinch up but Dawson circles away and keeps his distance.

Vartanov takes the fight into the clinch.
Dawson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Vartanov to keep the fight standing.

Vartanov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Dawson can't fight it off and eventually Vartanov manages to take the fight to the floor. Dawson looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Vartanov throws a big right hand that misses.
Vartanov lands a couple of digs.
Vartanov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Vartanov gets to his feet. Dawson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Vartanov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dawson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Vartanov to the mat! Vartanov manages to get full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Vartanov has an active guard here but Dawson has managed to pass into half guard.

Dawson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Vartanov is looking to improve his position.

Vartanov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dawson pulls his head out easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Vartanov is defending against the submission attempts here by Dawson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorik Vartanov 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.

Vartanov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dawson's guard.

Dawson has his foot on Vartanov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vartanov works his way back into a safe position though.
Vartanov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Vartanov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dawson's head.

Vartanov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Vartanov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Dawson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Vartanov tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Dawson is in Vartanov's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vartanov has momentary wrist control but Dawson slips an elbow through the middle.

Vartanov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dawson defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vartanov looking for subs off his back but Dawson has passed one foot through into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Vartanov misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Vartanov wants to improve his position but Dawson is controlling well.
Vartanov is refusing to be controlled, as Dawson sits in half guard.

Dawson escapes and gets back to his feet.

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

Vartanov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Dawson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawson cracks Vartanov with a solid left hand.

Vartanov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Dawson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Vartanov's head.
Dawson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vartanov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dawson distracts Vartanov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Vartanov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

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

Dawson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dawson postures up in Vartanov's guard and throws a big left but Vartanov blocks it.
Dawson trying to control the position from guard on top but Vartanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Vartanov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dawson defends it easily.

Vartanov looking for a guillotine here but Dawson defends easily.
Dawson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Dawson landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vartanov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Dawson advances to half guard.
Dawson lands strikes from half guard.
Vartanov misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Vartanov tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Dawson has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Dawson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dawson lands a nice shot to the head.
Vartanov sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Vartanov with the active half guard here but Dawson passes nicely into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dudley Dawson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Dawson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Dawson lands in his opponent's guard.

Vartanov looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Dawson has picked Vartanov up and slammed him! Vartanov can't keep hold of the triangle and Dawson manages to pass to side control!
Dawson working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Vartanov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Dawson seems to be looking for submissions.

Dawson wants to work for an arm triangle but Vartanov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Vartanov manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Jorik Vartanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vartanov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dawson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vartanov closes the distance and clinches up with Dawson, looking for a takedown. Vartanov pushes Dawson against the cage but Dawson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dawson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Vartanov eats them both and turns towards Dawson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Vartanov enables Dawson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Vartanov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Dawson stops Vartanov from standing up.
Dawson wants to control from the top but Vartanov keeps moving.

Vartanov working for a triangle but Dawson defends it easily.
Jorik Vartanov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vartanov keeping moving, preventing Dawson from controlling successfully.
Vartanov looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vartanov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dawson forces his way into half guard.
Vartanov is staying active underneath Dawson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Vartanov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Dawson is looking for a kimura here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vartanov is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dawson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Vartanov manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Vartanov misses with a head kick.
Vartanov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Dawson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Vartanov!
Dawson with the ground and pound from mount.
Vartanov is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Vartanov tries to improve his position but Dawson has taken his back! Dawson has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Vartanov tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Dawson pushes Vartanov away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Dudley Dawson!