PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ben Dover (ranked 5979 p4p, 273 weight class) and Dylan Lapidus (ranked 8211 p4p, 330 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Dover
vs
Lapidus

190 cm
26
144 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

175 cm
19
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Dover!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dylan Lapidus!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Joseph Jones and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dover goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Lapidus throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Lapidus takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dover slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Dover circles away from the clinch attempt
and Dover counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Lapidus throws a big shot that misses.
Dover misses with a few strikes there.
Dover throws a body shot but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dover defending well as Lapidus loads up on a big left hand.
Dover really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Dover lands a body shot.
Dover swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dover definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapidus throws a series of punches but Dover avoids them all with ease.
Dover seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Dover punishes Lapidus's body with a nice straight punch.
Lapidus lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Dover misses with a few strikes there.
Dover displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lapidus throws out the jab.
Lapidus throws an off balance right hand
and Dover counters with a two punch combo.
Dover misses with a wild body shot.
A nice side step and Lapidus releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Lapidus swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Dover counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lapidus throws an off balance right hand
and Dover counters with a nice uppercut.
Dover scores with a punch to the head.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dover keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lapidus.
Dover appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dover looks to score with a jab to the body but Lapidus is just out of range.
Lapidus throws a right hand that misses
and Dover counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Dover swings away with a body shot that misses
and Lapidus counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Dover stuns Lapidus with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A shot to the body from Dover misses
and Lapidus cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Lapidus lands the left hand.
Dover moves out of range as Lapidus strikes.
Dover looks to score with a jab to the body but Lapidus is just out of range.
A little jabbing left from Lapidus on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lapidus lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Dover bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dover with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Lapidus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dover swats him away and circles back towards the center.
It looked like Dover was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Lapidus.
Dover will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lapidus misses with an uppercut
and Dover counters with a left to the body.
Lapidus tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Dover counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Dover just misses with a punch to the body.
Dover lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dover throws a right hand that Lapidus ducks under and follows up with a left that Lapidus also avoids with ease.
Dover misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Lapidus counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lapidus misses with a hook. Dover ducked under it nicely.
It looked like Dover wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Dover swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lapidus.
Dover is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Lapidus throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A jab from Lapidus misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dover misses with a jab to the body
and Lapidus counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Dover catches Lapidus with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Dover uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lapidus.
Dover looks to score with a jab to the body but Lapidus is just out of range.
Lapidus throws out a counter right but Dover avoids it with no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Dover dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Dover uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lapidus.
Dover throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dover misses with a series of wild punches.
Lapidus ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dover moves away.
Lapidus darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Dover takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Dover is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lapidus drives through and clinches with Dover against the cage.
Dover letting Lapidus take a breather here.
Lapidus tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Dover.
Lapidus lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Dover backwards.
Lapidus is trying to pull guard but Dover has him pressed against the cage.
Lapidus has a couple of punches blocked by Dover.
Dover blocks an uppercut.
Dover is trying to force a seperation but Lapidus has the dominant position.
Lapidus jumps guard but Dover stands there with Lapidus around his waist. Lapidus gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lapidus tries to pull guard but Dover won't allow it.
Ben Dover has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dylan Lapidus.
Lapidus swings wildly with an uppercut but Dover uses good head movement to avoid it.
Lapidus throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dover wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Lapidus taking a breather.
Lapidus misses with the head strike.
Lapidus swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lapidus goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lapidus tries to pull guard but Dover forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Lapidus tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Dover smiles and moves away.
Dover swings for the body but Lapidus moves out of range.
Dover misses with a body shot.
Lapidus swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Dover misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lapidus.
Dover misses with a body punch
and Dover takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapidus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Lapidus! But no joy.
Dover cracks a nice hook into Lapidus's ribs.
Dover looks to score with a jab to the body but Lapidus is just out of range.
Dover's corner calls for a 1-2. Dover obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Dover circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dover swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Lapidus might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Lapidus takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Dover fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lapidus manages to avoid it.
Lapidus throws a combination that misses
letting Dover counter with a right hand.
A left and a right from Dover both land. Nice combination.
Dover connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Lapidus's hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lapidus gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lapidus misses with a punch on the inside.
Lapidus tries to pull guard but Dover holds him up against the cage and eventually Lapidus drops back down to his feet.
Dover blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Lapidus holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Lapidus fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lapidus throws a punch but it's blocked by Dover.
Lapidus tries to pull guard but Dover forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Lapidus throws a head punch that misses.
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 Ben Dover will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Lapidus misses with a straight left.
Lapidus changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dover tries to avoid it but Lapidus manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dover to the ground. Dover escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dover ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lapidus moves away.
Dover works Lapidus's body with a nice hook.
Lapidus moves in looking to clinch but Dover pushes him off.
Dover is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A punch combination from Dover misses.
Dover is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lapidus can do to turn this around?
Dover swats away the attempt to clinch by Lapidus.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lapidus misses with a wild body shot.
Dover drops his hands momentarily and Lapidus takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Lapidus throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Dover counters with a left to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapidus darts in trying to clinch
and Dover counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Lapidus thinking.
Dover throws a predictable looking body shot
and Dover takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lapidus throws a hook but Dover avoids it easily.
Dover was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Dover lands with a right hand.
Dover ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lapidus moves away.
No joy there for Dover, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lapidus uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dover.
Lapidus tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dover throws a body shot but no joy.
Dover bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Lapidus's head.
Dover throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Dover scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lapidus just misses with a punch to the body.
A quick step to the side and Dover tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dover looks to land a combination. Lapidus sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lapidus doesn't manage to clinch there - Dover circles away.
Lapidus swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A quick step to the side and Dover tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Dover ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
As Lapidus looks to move away, Dover throws a big counter combo but Lapidus just gets out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapidus takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Dover bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lapidus's head backwards.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Dover throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Dover misses with a body shot
and Lapidus counters with a stiff right hand.
Lapidus looks to land a right hand but Dover moved out of range.
Dylan Lapidus has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dover keeps the fight on the outside.
Dover is looking to wear down Lapidus with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Lapidus doesn't manage to clinch there - Dover circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Dover misses the target.
Ben Dover is winning the standup battle so far.
Lapidus keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lapidus takes a swing at Dover's ribcage but misses.
Dover ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lapidus moves away.
Lapidus wants to counter with a clinch but Dover pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dover throws a body shot but no joy.
Dover sets himself, and Lapidus steps forward looking for the clinch! Dover avoids it this time.
Dover swats away the attempt to clinch by Lapidus.
Lapidus tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dover paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dover lands with a shot to the body.
A big right from Lapidus misses.
Lapidus closes the distance looking to clinch
and Dover counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lapidus throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Dover counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben Dover showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Dover, 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight for Ben Dover!
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight for Ben Dover!
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight for Ben Dover!

Ben Dover wins by unanimous decision!
A victorious Ben Dover thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.