PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Damien Dawson (ranked 2020 p4p, 259 weight class) and Jodi Joe Fjera (ranked 1822 p4p, 236 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Fjera's choice of entrance music: Tito & Tarantula . Jodi Joe Fjera acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Dawson
vs
Joe Fjera

186 cm
25
195 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

183 cm
27
210 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Damien Dawson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jodi Joe Fjera!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Alyssa Summers and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dawson throws a hook but Fjera avoids it easily.
Dawson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

It looks like Damien Dawson has been cut.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Fjera is defended easily by Dawson.
Fjera throws a wild body kick that Dawson sees coming a mile off.
Dawson slips under a jab.
Fjera lands a nice looking body shot.
Fjera misses with a double jab
and Dawson counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fjera gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Fjera takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Dawson ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
It looked like Dawson wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Fjera throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fjera misses with a takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Fjera looks to throw a body kick
and Dawson counters with a straight right hand.

Fjera clinches up with Dawson and pushes him back against the cage.
Dawson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dawson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Dawson misses with a punch to the body.
Dawson lands a right hand that snaps the head of Fjera backwards.
Fjera tries a body shot but Dawson blocks it.

Fjera breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fjera fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dawson manages to avoid it.
Dawson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Nice defenses there by Dawson.
Dawson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

Fjera shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Dawson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fjera throws a strike aimed at the side of Dawson's head but Dawson avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fjera trying to control the position but Dawson is working away.
A lull in the action here as Fjera stalls from top position.
Dawson is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Fjera has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Fjera stands up.
Fjera throws a half hearted mid kick.
Dawson thinks about countering with a head kick.
Fjera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Fjera lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dawson circles away quickly and effectively.
Fjera throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A counter left hand to the body from Dawson misses its target.
Fjera with a lazy takedown attempt
and Dawson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Damien Dawson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jodi Joe Fjera.
Fjera jabs at Dawson's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fjera throws a body punch but Dawson moves out of range.
Dawson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Dawson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Fjera goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Dawson cracks Fjera with an open hand slap.
Fjera missing with a left hand there. Dawson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Jodi Joe Fjera seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dawson moves out of range of the strikes.
Dawson takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Fjera rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dawson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Fjera has a takedown stuffed.
Nice straight punches there by Dawson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Dawson.
Damien Dawson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fjera misses with a two punch combination.
Fjera looks for a takedown but Dawson sprawls well.
Dawson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

Fjera closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dawson misses with some punches.

Fjera pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Fjera throws a jab but it's blocked by Dawson.
Fjera throws an overhand right that lands on Dawson's shoulder, as Dawson tries to avoid the shot.
Fjera uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Dawson.
Fjera closes the distance looking to clinch
and Dawson counters with a nice body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jodi Joe Fjera will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Damien Dawson's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Dawson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Fjera.
Fjera cracks Dawson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Jodi Joe Fjera seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jab by Dawson.
Fjera thows a left - swing and a miss!
Fjera lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dawson circles away quickly and effectively.
Fjera throws a head kick that misses.
Fjera throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Dawson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Dawson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Fjera tries a quick counter leg kick but Dawson is wise to it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fjera misses with a body kick.
Fjera jabs Dawson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Dawson lands with an overhand left.
Fjera misses with an uppercut. Dawson saw that one coming.
Dawson thinks about countering with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fjera throws a push kick but Dawson slaps the foot to one side.
Fjera is looking to land body kicks.
An attempted straight right counter from Dawson misses the target.
Dawson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Fjera throws a poor cross that misses
and Dawson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fjera bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Fjera scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Dawson doesn't seem bothered though.
Fjera tries to clinch but Dawson is having none of it.
Dawson is looking to counter with head kicks.
Fjera scores with a one two! Dawson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Dawson throws a head kick that misses.
Fjera swings for the body but Dawson moves out of range.
Fjera paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Fjera.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Fjera shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Fjera wants to pass the guard but Dawson is defending well.
Dawson is trying to stand.

Fjera is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Fjera stands up from half guard.
Fjera on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Dawson. Dawson obviously looking to wear him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Fjera moves into the clinch successfully.

Fjera breaks from the clinch.
Dawson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Fjera throws out the jab.
Fjera lands a right hook to the body.
Dawson throws out a powerful jab.
Dawson misses with the combination.
Fjera misses the shot to the body.
An attempted straight right counter from Dawson misses the target.
Fjera misses with a body kick.
Jodi Joe Fjera is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fjera throws a right hand that misses
and Dawson counters with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawson takes a swing at Fjera's ribcage but misses.
Fjera lands with an uppercut that bounces Dawson off the cage and back into range.
Fjera jabs Dawson to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Fjera misses with a jab, cross combination.
A little feinted left hand from Dawson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fjera looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dawson is fending him off so far but Fjera persists. Nope, Dawson circles away and we're back to standing.
An attempted straight right counter from Dawson misses the target.
The fighters circle momentarily. Dawson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Fjera is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fjera is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Dawson.
Dawson staying out of range there.
A big left from Dawson misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jodi Joe Fjera showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Damien Dawson's cut.
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.

Fjera takes a swing at Dawson's ribcage but misses.

Fjera has taken the fight to the clinch.
Nice body punch from Dawson - that landed with a thud.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Fjera.
Fjera lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Still in the clinch, Dawson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Nice body punch from Fjera.
Fjera lands a body shot in the clinch.
Fjera lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Dawson or not.
Fjera lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Good body shot from Fjera.
Fjera lands with a light punch inside.
A nice left hand lands by Fjera.
Fjera is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dawson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fjera connects with a nasty looking knee right to Dawson's face.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fjera tries to throw a body punch but Dawson avoids it by throwing Fjera back against the cage.
Dawson takes a shot to the head.
Fjera has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Fjera blocking some punches.

Fjera pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Fjera shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Dawson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Dawson wants to get back to his feet but Fjera is dominant here and he's now got Dawson's back!
Dawson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fjera on the ground.

Fjera tightening his grip on Dawson, looking for the choke.
Dawson trying to get back to his feet but Fjera is in full control for now.

Fjera looking to break Dawson's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Dawson remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Fjera will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Fjera is looking for the choke from the back position but Dawson is controlling his hands well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dawson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Fjera patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Dawson trying to get back to his feet but Fjera is in full control for now.

Dawson defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Fjera's arms.
Dawson wants to escape the position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Fjera's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Fjera controlling well, preventing Dawson from escaping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Well, with Fjera on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Dawson is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Dawson is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fjera controls the action.
Dawson is trying to get back to his feet but Fjera has full control of the position and if anything, Dawson has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Fjera biding his time, controlling Dawson.

Dawson is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Fjera gets his way!

Fjera has got one arm under Dawson's chin. This could be trouble... Dawson trying to control the other hand but Fjera gets it free and sqeezes tight - just a matter of time now! Yep, Dawson has tapped out! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jodi Joe Fjera!
Jodi Joe Fjera is the new light heavyweight champion!
A relieved looking Jodi Joe Fjera thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.