PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Amir Dunham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Caco Vera (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dunham's entrance music is Omar Khairat - Alexandria . A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dunham
vs
Vera

180 cm
30
156 lbs
15 - 11 - 0

185 cm
25
168 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Amir Dunham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Caco Vera!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Saam Ante and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vera throws a right hand that misses

and Dunham decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vera's guard.

Dunham drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dunham jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Dunham thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Dunham missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vera has control of Dunham's left arm, preventing Dunham from doing any damage.
Dunham postures up.
Vera might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Dunham kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Dunham thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Dunham drops back looking for a leg! Vera is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vera manages to kick Dunham off! Dunham jumps back into Vera's guard.
Dunham with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dunham has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Vera wants to get back to his feet but Dunham is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dunham drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Dunham jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Dunham tries to free his leg and advance position but Vera is retaining full guard.
Vera is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dunham is controlling him.
Dunham wants to control from the top but Vera keeps moving.
Vera has his hands on Dunham's head, controlling the position.
Vera is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Dunham postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Vera is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Dunham, into his guard.
Vera must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dunham looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vera trying to control the position from guard on top but Dunham is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Dunham lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Vera!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Dunham goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Vera is on top in guard.
Dunham looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vera is one step ahead there.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Dunham escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vera gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vera stands up from Dunham's guard - Vera perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Vera lands but Dunham takes it in his stride.
Dunham checks a leg kick nicely.
Vera fails to land with a series of punches.
Vera misses with the combination.
Dunham throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vera's waist but Vera gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dunham off to one side.
Dunham blocks a head kick by Vera.
Dunham dives in and grabs Vera's left leg, looking for a takedown. Vera pushes down on Dunham's head and hops out.
Vera tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vera throws a solid leg kick but Dunham takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Vera.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera throws a sloppy head kick

and Dunham counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Vera's guard now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vera is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dunham is controlling him.

Dunham thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Vera is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Vera keeping full guard, as Dunham tries to pass.
Vera tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dunham passes Vera's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Vera kicks Dunham off and gets back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vera misses with an uppercut. Dunham saw that one coming.
Vera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vera throws a leg kick

and Dunham counters with a takedown into side control.
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 Amir Dunham will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Vera misses with a right hand

and Dunham decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vera's guard.
Vera wants to stand but Dunham is controlling the position.
Dunham trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Dunham is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dunham drops back looking for a leg! Vera is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vera manages to kick Dunham off! Dunham jumps back into Vera's guard.
Dunham trying to control but Vera is working from the bottom.
Dunham with a flurry of punches that miss.

Dunham thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Dunham postures up in Vera's guard and throws a big left but Vera blocks it.
Dunham postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dunham working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Vera's head.

Dunham is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Dunham passes into half guard.

Dunham seems to be looking for submissions.
Dunham stalling away here and it's allowed Vera to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Dunham wants to control from the top but Vera keeps moving.

Dunham drops back looking for a leg! Vera is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vera manages to kick Dunham off! Dunham jumps back into Vera's guard.
Amir Dunham overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Vera pushes Dunham off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dunham avoids the body shot from Vera.
Vera throws a half hearted mid kick.
Dunham shoots in but Vera avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Vera tried to score with a low kick but Dunham checks it.
Vera with a nice cross.
Vera throws a sloppy head kick and Dunham moves out of range easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A combination from Vera does no damage.
Amir Dunham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dunham throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vera's waist but Vera gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dunham off to one side.
Caco Vera is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vera throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vera looks for the body kick but Dunham saw that one coming.
Dunham shoots in looking for a takedown. Vera tries to sprawl out of it but Dunham keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vera 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 Amir Dunham. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Vera throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Dunham counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Vera!
Vera wants to control but Dunham is having none of it.
Vera regains half guard.
Vera looks like he's trying to stand up.
Vera is looking for a sweep. Dunham is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vera is looking to escape.

Dunham is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Vera wants to control but Dunham is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vera keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Dunham is looking for a kimura here.

Dunham is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Dunham is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vera has managed to free his arm - good work.

Dunham seems to be looking for submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vera wants to get back to his feet.

Dunham is working for an americana but Vera has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Dunham was thinking about the submission.
Dunham pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vera is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Amir Dunham dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Dunham drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Dunham tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Dunham has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Vera manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Vera manages to get to full guard.
Dunham won't allow Vera to get back to his feet.

Vera is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Vera gets underhooks to prevent Dunham's takedown attempt.
Dunham has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Vera after a bit of a struggle.
Vera lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dunham tries to score a body lock takedown but Vera shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Amir Dunham. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vera breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Vera throws a head kick that misses.
Vera tries to land a body kick

and Dunham counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Dunham is working for a kimura but Vera is defending it quite comfortably.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vera makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vera.
Dunham is looking to work some ground and pound but Vera has wrist control.

Dunham drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Vera manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Dunham has Vera in his guard.
Vera won't allow Dunham to sweep him here.
Amir Dunham is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vera engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dunham is trying to keep Vera in close.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Vera not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Dunham looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Caco Vera.
Vera swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A head kick misses from Vera.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Vera lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Dunham has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Dunham and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Vera throws a left and a right that both miss

so Dunham counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dunham wants to control from the top but Vera keeps moving.
Dunham won't allow Vera to sweep him here.
Dunham trying to control the position from guard on top but Vera is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vera wants to stand but Dunham is controlling the position.
Vera is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Vera throws a leg kick that is checked

and Dunham counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Dunham is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Dunham trying to control but Vera is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dunham stops Vera from standing up.
Dunham looking to sit in guard and control but Vera gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vera would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Caco Vera has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dunham looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vera is one step ahead there.
Dunham working a defensive guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vera preventing the sweep.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Dunham is on top in guard.
Vera throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Amir Dunham showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dunham, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 30:27
Judge Saam Ante scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Amir Dunham!
During a confident post fight interview, Amir Dunham thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.