PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cup Tea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antoine Dodson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dodson has chosen Antoine Dodson - Bed Intruder as his entrance music. 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.

Tea
vs
Dodson

186 cm
26
196 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

175 cm
28
190 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Determined

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cup Tea!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Antoine Dodson!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tea scores with a nice head shot.

Tea drives through with a takedown into guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Tea looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tea advances to half guard.
Tea seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dodson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Tea trying to mount his opponent but Dodson defends it.
Dodson is not content to let Tea control the position.
Tea is really struggling to control Dodson but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tea not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tea tries to pass the half guard into mount. Dodson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Tea will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dodson is trying to stand.
Dodson is in trouble now - Tea has advanced to mount!
Tea fails to advance to Dodson's back.
Tea looking to control but Dodson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Dodson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tea. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tea sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Tea is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Dodson is surviving well by controlling Tea's body position as best he can.
Dodson is trying to stand up.

Tea looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Tea wants to control the pace but Dodson is squirming around nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tea throws some wild stikes that Dodson manages to avoid easily.
Tea trying to control but Dodson is having none of it.
Dodson stops Tea from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.

Tea is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Dodson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Dodson shrugs it off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tea misses with a head shot.
Tea unloads with some shots from mount but Dodson bucks and avoids them well.
Tea wants to control the pace but Dodson is squirming around nicely.
Tea is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dodson is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Dodson is controlling an arm, preventing Tea from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cup Tea dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tea throws out a powerful jab.
Dodson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tea tries a low kick but Dodson avoids it.
Dodson swinging wildly here.
Cup Tea seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dodson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nice takedown defense from Dodson. No joy for Tea on that attempt.
Tea throws a series of punches but Dodson avoids them all with ease.
Sloppy strikes from Dodson. Those never looked like landing.
A lazy left from Tea finds it's target.
Dodson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dodson wants it to stay on the feet.
Tea shoots in looking for a takedown. Dodson tries to sprawl out of it but Tea keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dodson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cup Tea. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dodson tries a head kick but it misses.
Tea looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dodson is fending him off so far but Tea persists. Nope, Dodson circles away and we're back to standing.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Dodson.
Dodson throws a half hearted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tea scores with a shot to the body.
Tea is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A shot to the liver by Tea. Beautiful body shot.
Tea shoots in for a takedown but Dodson shows good takedown defense.
Dodson throws a right and a left that both miss.

Tea manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Dodson on his heels. He'll look to pass Dodson's guard now, I'm sure.
Tea advances position into side control!

Tea tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tea has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Dodson is not content to let Tea control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.
Dodson is not content to let Tea control the position.

Tea thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tea tries for a kimura but Dodson is defending well.
Tea trying to control the position but Dodson is working away.
You can see the frustration on Dodson's face as Tea controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodson is not content to let Tea control the position.

Tea thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Tea thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cup Tea dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Dodson throws a sloppy head kick and Tea moves out of range easily.
Tea misses with a body shot.
Tea tries for a takedown but Dodson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Tea shoots in and drives through. Dodson sprawls well.
Dodson throws a hook but Tea blocks it.
Tea blocks the body kick.
Tea throws a big shot that misses.
Dodson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Dodson throws a nice looking combination but Tea bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Tea works over Dodson's head and body with a nice combination.
Tea lands with a good body shot.
Tea misses with a wild combination.
A big left from Tea misses.
Dodson misses with a body kick.
Dodson slips a jab and a cross from Tea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dodson walks into a stiff left hand from Tea.
Dodson misses with a head kick.
Dodson swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Dodson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tea circles away quickly and effectively.
Tea misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dodson.
Tea fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cup Tea. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dodson misses with a straight left.
Cup Tea is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tea misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
An inside leg kick from Tea misses.
Tea throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Nice takedown defense from Dodson. No joy for Tea on that attempt.
Dodson dodges the punch combination from Tea.
Sloppy strikes from Dodson. Those never looked like landing.
Antoine Dodson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tea jabs Dodson to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Tea shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dodson's guard.
Dodson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tea is controlling him.
Tea passes Dodson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Dodson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tea moves nicely into side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tea trying to control the action but Dodson is working from the bottom.
Tea advances nicely into full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tea trying to control but Dodson is having none of it.
Tea controlling the pace for now.

Tea with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tea controlling the pace for now.
Cup Tea is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tea throwing strikes here but Dodson is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tea fails to take his opponent's back.
Dodson is squirming around, avoiding Tea's attempts to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cup Tea showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tea has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cup Tea!