PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Patill (ranked 1740 p4p, 5829 weight class) and Dominick Poirier (ranked 202 p4p, 448 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Patill might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Soldiers eyes. John Patill has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Patill
vs
Poirier

178 cm
26
151
6 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
145
2 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

SpeeDee BBQ

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Patill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dominick Poirier!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poirier shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Patill but Patill pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Poirier closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Patill tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Poirier's elbow.

Patill ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Patill no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Poirier is fighting to break Patill's control of his arms but Patill is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Poirier got a little sloppy there for a moment and Patill has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Poirier has managed to get both his arms back between Patill's legs - danger averted.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Patill trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poirier stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Patill swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Patill pulls Poirier in close to his closed guard and prevents Poirier from doing any damage or advancing position.
Patill looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Poirier avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Poirier gets to his feet - Patill follows without any prompting.
No luck for Poirier with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Poirier darts in looking for a takedown but Patill gets double underhooks and turns Poirier into the cage.
John Patill has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dominick Poirier.
Poirier throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Poirier fails with the takedown.
Patill changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Patill throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Poirier.
Patill misses with a head kick.

Patill clinches with his opponent.

Patill has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Poirier regains guard immediately.
Poirier wants to get back to his feet but Patill is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Patill showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poirier is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Patill makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Patill postures up and lands a big shot to Poirier's brow.
Patill postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Patill is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Patill 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.
Patill looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Patill postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Patill controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Patill looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Poirier!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Poirier stops Patill from passing to mount.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Patill dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Poirier is trying hard to land a takedown here. Patill sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Patill clinches.
Patill jumps guard but Poirier turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Poirier breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Patill lands a head shot.
Patill leaves Poirier with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Patill attempts a counter takedown but Poirier avoids it well and moves away.

Poirier drives through and clinches with Patill against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Patill blocks an uppercut.
Patill is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Patill changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Poirier fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Patill. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poirier misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Patill changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Patill takes the fight into the clinch.

Poirier decides to pull guard.
Poirier has momentary wrist control but Patill slips an elbow through the middle.
Poirier working a defensive guard but Patill passes into half guard.
Poirier is looking to escape.
Patill frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Poirier wants to hold on but Patill pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Patill looking to control and managing it successfully.
Patill lands a nice shot to the head.
Poirier is in all sorts of trouble here.
Patill content just to control the position here.
Patill raining down hammerfists from mount.
Patill avoids the attempt from Poirier to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Patill lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Patill punishing his opponent with strikes.
Patill working the ground and pound effectively.
Patill tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Poirier is working to get back to half guard.
Poirier is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Patill with the ground and pound from mount.
Poirier is working to get back to half guard.
Patill landing punches.
Patill lands a heavy elbow.
Patill is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Poirier can do to turn this around?
Patill is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Poirier is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Patill has hold of Poirier's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Poirier manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Poirier is still in real trouble! Can Patill finish him?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Patill controlling his opponent.
Patill is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Poirier can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Patill dominated that second round.
That's time! Patill's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Poirier avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Poirier seems to have recovered his senses.

Patill darts in and clinches Poirier up against the cage.
Patill drops down looking for an ankle pick but Poirier pulls his leg out and moves away.

Poirier closes the distance and clinches.
Patill working hard to break the clinch.
Patill goes for a takedown attempt but Poirier pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poirier moves out of range of the leg kick from Patill.
Poirier misses with a jab to the body

and Patill counters by clinching up.
Patill goes for a takedown attempt but Poirier pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for John Patill. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Poirier has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Poirier jumps into guard, dragging Patill to the mat.
Poirier is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Poirier might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Patill haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Patill's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Patill pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Poirier is keeping the position for now.
Patill is looking to work some ground and pound but Poirier has wrist control.
Patill not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Poirier closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Patill works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Patill stands up over Poirier, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Poirier can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Patill controls the pace.

Poirier working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Patill has passed into half guard!
Poirier wants to control but Patill is keeping busy.
Patill with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Poirier moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Patill wants to pass the guard but Poirier is keeping the position.
Patill passes Poirier's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Patill is taking a breather. Poirier says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Patill is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Poirier sees it coming and defends easily.
Dominick Poirier has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
John Patill is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Poirier looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Patill showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Patill, 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Patill!
John Patill decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.