PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nicolas Refn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Dagger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicolas Refn could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Jim Dagger's chin.

Refn
vs
Dagger

178 cm
29
174 lbs
18 - 17 - 1

180 cm
22
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Syndicate Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Nicolas Refn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jim Dagger!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Alec Ball and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Refn is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dagger sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Nicolas Refn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Dagger gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Refn is trying is best to control the position here.
Refn blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dagger.
Dagger is keen to just control but Refn is a slippery customer.
Refn moves into full guard.
Refn working a defensive guard here.
Dagger postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dagger has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dagger in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Refn has control of Dagger's left arm, preventing Dagger from doing any damage.
Refn is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Nicolas Refn just wasn't active enough.
Refn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dagger fails to land the takedown.
Dagger tries to close the distance and clinch up but Refn swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dagger keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dagger tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Refn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Refn is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dagger sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicolas Refn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Refn misses with a takedown

and Dagger counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Dagger.
Dagger stalling in the clinch.
Refn has Dagger pressed against the cage.
Dagger wants to take the fight to the mat but Refn manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Refn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Refn gets a clinch.
Dagger is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Refn is keeping busy.
Dagger looking for a takedown.
Dagger is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Refn lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Dagger keeps control of Refn as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Refn lands a shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Refn scores with a shot to the side of Dagger's head.
Dagger tries to throw a body punch but Refn avoids it by throwing Dagger back against the cage.
Dagger has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Refn after a bit of a struggle.
Refn looking to slow down the pace here.
Dagger trying to stall but Refn improves his position.
Refn stalling in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dagger is looking for a takedown.
Refn lands a shoulder strike.
Refn lands with a light punch inside.
Refn lands a body punch in the clinch.
Dagger looks winded!
Dagger lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Refn backwards.
Refn is trying to push Dagger away but Dagger has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Refn cracks Dagger with a nice body shot.
Refn is stalling here.
A shot in the inside from Refn.
Refn lands a nice shot to the body.

Refn breaks the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Refn rushes Dagger and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dagger has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Refn after a bit of a struggle.
Refn wants to stall.

Refn breaks from the clinch.

Dagger closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Refn to the mat! Refn manages to get full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Refn looking for a sweep. Not yet Refn, not yet.
Refn seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Refn striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Refn is trying to keep Dagger in close.
Dagger throws a big right hand that misses.
Refn working a defensive guard here.
Refn wants to stand up but Dagger is controlling him.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Refn is pulling down on Dagger's head. It's preventing any offense from Dagger, at least for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nicolas Refn dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Refn is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dagger.
Dagger is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dagger moves in looking to clinch but Refn pushes him off.
Dagger is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Dagger fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Refn sprawls well initially but Dagger persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Dagger slips a nice elbow through Refn's hands, connecting with Refn's forehead.
Refn is holding on to half guard well.
Refn gets back to full guard.
Dagger throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Refn works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dagger with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dagger wants to control from the top but Refn keeps moving.
Refn controls Dagger momentarily but Dagger frees himself.
Dagger wants to control from the top but Refn keeps moving.
Dagger landing with the ground and pound.
Dagger loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dagger throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Refn wants to get back to his feet but Dagger is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Dagger preventing the sweep.
Refn is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Dagger postures up in Refn's guard and throws a big left but Refn blocks it.
Refn is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Dagger pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Refn is keeping the position for now.
Dagger sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nicolas Refn wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Refn shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Dagger as he avoids it easily.
Refn keeps the fight on the outside.
Refn looks for a takedown but Dagger sprawls well.
Refn fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicolas Refn. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dagger fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Refn, pushing him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Refn's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Dagger missing with knees to the body.
Refn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Refn tries to throw a body punch but Dagger avoids it by throwing Refn back against the cage.
Dagger is trying to stall.
Refn doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Dagger throws a head punch that misses.

Refn manages to break the clinch.
Refn fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dagger tries to close the distance and clinch up but Refn swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Refn fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dagger avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Refn misses with a knee to the head.
Dagger tries to throw a body punch but Refn avoids it by throwing Dagger back against the cage.
Dagger content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Refn is trying to force a seperation but Dagger has the dominant position.
Dagger misses with some punches.
Dagger is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Refn tries a body shot but Dagger blocks it.
A shot in the inside from Refn.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dagger is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Refn pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Refn digs a right hand into Dagger's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Dagger's gas tank.
Dagger has Refn pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Refn manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dagger is breathing heavily.
Refn throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Daggers head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jim Dagger will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Dagger walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Dagger avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Refn fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dagger avoids it really well and circles away.
Dagger stuffs the takedown attempt from Refn. Refn gets slowly back to his feet.
Dagger keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Refn keeps the fight on the outside.
Dagger fails with an attempt to clinch.

Refn rushes Dagger and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Dagger tries to stall but Refn uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
A short body shot lands from Refn as the two fighters clinch.
Dagger takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dagger is trying to break the clinch but Refn has him pressed against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Refn.
Nicolas Refn has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Refn scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Refn lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Dagger backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Refn is leaning against Dagger and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Refn lands a body punch.

Refn breaks from the clinch.
Refn fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Dagger avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nicolas Refn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Refn shoots in looking for a takedown. Dagger tries to sprawl out of it but Refn keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dagger manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dagger stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dagger wants it to stay on the feet.
Refn tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dagger sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Refn somewhat.

Refn forces Dagger back against the cage and clinches.
Refn lands a right hand that snaps the head of Dagger backwards.
A short right from Refn on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Refn wants to get back to striking at distance but Dagger won't allow it.
Dagger has Refn pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Refn manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Dagger tries for a takedown. No joy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Refn blocks an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Refn.
Refn holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Dagger is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Refn is keeping busy.
Refn tries to throw a body punch but Dagger avoids it by throwing Refn back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Refn.
Dagger struggles to land a body shot inside as Refn controls his hands.
Dagger can't find room to land a body shot as Refn controls the action.
Refn is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Dagger is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dagger has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Refn is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Refn tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Dagger's elbow.
Dagger looking to slow down the pace here.

Dagger has picked Refn up - he's going for a ride! Dagger dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Refn is trying to get back to full guard.
Refn throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Jim Dagger has got the better of the ground game so far.
Refn wants to control but Dagger is keeping busy.
Refn makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Refn.
Dagger throws a big elbow that misses.
Dagger looking to sit in guard and control but Refn gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Refn throws an elbow that misses. Dagger uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Refn's guard. Nice move by Dagger!
Refn pulls Dagger in close to his closed guard and prevents Dagger from doing any damage or advancing position.
Refn looking for a sweep. Not yet Refn, not yet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Refn working a defensive guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicolas Refn showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Refn has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:28
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nicolas Refn!
A victorious Nicolas Refn thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.