PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tarec Saffiedine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Dowager (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Saffiedine's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Taste of Ink by The Used. John Dowager acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Saffiedine
vs
Dowager

176 cm
21
167 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

170 cm
18
169 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Tarec Saffiedine!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, John Dowager!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Dowager moves into the clinch.

Dowager jumps into guard, dragging Saffiedine to the mat.
Dowager trying to control the position here.
Dowager working a defensive guard here.

Dowager uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Saffiedine wants to clinch but Dowager slips to the side

and Dowager moves into the clinch.
Dowager tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Dowager throws a knee to the head but misses.
Dowager tries for a takedown. No joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dowager goes for a takedown attempt but Saffiedine pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tarec Saffiedine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Dowager.
Dowager misses with the combination.

Saffiedine fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Dowager, pushing him back against the cage.
Dowager drops down looking for an ankle pick but Saffiedine pulls his leg out and moves away.

Saffiedine darts in and clinches Dowager up against the cage.
Dowager takes a knee right on the jaw!
Dowager tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Saffiedine lands a knee to the head.
Saffiedine misses with a knee strike.
Saffiedine connects with a nasty looking knee right to Dowager's face.

It looks like John Dowager has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saffiedine tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dowager can't get the takedown.
Saffiedine tries to land a knee to the head but Dowager blocks with his arms.
Saffiedine scores with a knee to the head.
Dowager jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Saffiedine walks away with a smile on his face. Dowager gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Saffiedine wants to clinch but Dowager slips to the side

and Dowager counters by moving into the clinch.
Dowager looks gassed!
Saffiedine looking to throw knees to the head but Dowager is blocking nicely.
Saffiedine tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dowager can't get the takedown.
Saffiedine tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dowager wants a takedown.
Dowager goes for a takedown attempt but Saffiedine pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Saffiedine closes the distance but Dowager moves to the side

so Dowager counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Saffiedine is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saffiedine connects with a nasty looking knee right to Dowager's face.
A knee to the head by Saffiedine.
Saffiedine looking to throw knees to the head but Dowager is blocking nicely.
A short right from Saffiedine on the inside.
Saffiedine landing knees to the head.
Saffiedine connects with a nasty looking knee right to Dowager's face.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Saffiedine.
Saffiedine tries a knee to the head but Dowager blocks it.
Saffiedine lands an elbow inside.
Saffiedine landing knees to the head.
Saffiedine lands a knee to the head.
Saffiedine misses with a knee to the head.
Saffiedine lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Saffiedine throws a knee to the head but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Saffiedine lands with a right to the head.
Saffiedine throws a knee to the head but misses.
Saffiedine creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Dowager's defenses.
Saffiedine scores with a knee to the head.
Saffiedine scores with a knee to the head.
Dowager tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Saffiedine with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Saffiedine using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dowager has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dowager jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Saffiedine walks away with a smile on his face. Dowager gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Saffiedine displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dowager.
Saffiedine tries to close the distance and clinch but Dowager swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Saffiedine tries to clinch up but Dowager circles away and keeps his distance.

Saffiedine clinches up against the cage.
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 Tarec Saffiedine will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on John Dowager's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Saffiedine fails with an attempt to clinch.

Saffiedine gets a clinch.
Saffiedine connects with a nasty looking knee right to Dowager's face.
Saffiedine tries to land a knee to the head but Dowager blocks with his arms.
Dowager tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Saffiedine smiles and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Saffiedine looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saffiedine tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dowager swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saffiedine closes the distance and clinches.
Saffiedine landing knees to the head.
Saffiedine avoiding damage as Dowager throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saffiedine lands an elbow inside.
Dowager goes for a takedown in the clinch but Saffiedine prevents it.
Dowager is breathing heavily.
Saffiedine tries to land a knee to the head but Dowager blocks with his arms.
Dowager tries for a takedown. No joy.
Tarec Saffiedine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Dowager.
Dowager with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Saffiedine has Dowager pressed against the cage.
Dowager misses with a hook from the clinch.
Saffiedine lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Dowager tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Saffiedine smiles and moves away.
Saffiedine fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Dowager closes the distance looking to clinch

and Saffiedine counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Saffiedine.
Saffiedine tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Saffiedine misses with a knee strike.
Dowager fails to pull guard.
Dowager misses with some punches.
Dowager works on Saffiedine's body with a couple of short punches.
Saffiedine with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Saffiedine looking to throw knees to the head but Dowager is blocking nicely.
Saffiedine lands an uppercut.
Dowager tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Saffiedine is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Saffiedine with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saffiedine tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Saffiedine looking to throw knees to the head but Dowager is blocking nicely.
Saffiedine tries a knee to the head but Dowager blocks it.
Saffiedine with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Saffiedine leaning against his opponent.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Dowager can't get the takedown.
Saffiedine misses with a knee to the head.
Saffiedine on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Saffiedine using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dowager has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dowager is working for takedown but Saffiedine is calmly controlling the position for now.
A knee to the head by Saffiedine.
Saffiedine throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Dowager blocks it with crossed arms.
Saffiedine tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's four 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.
Saffiedine is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Saffiedine lands an elbow just above Dowager 's eye.
A knee to the head by Saffiedine.
Saffiedine connects with a knee to the head.
Saffiedine gets underhooks to prevent Dowager's takedown attempt.
Dowager takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Saffiedine obliges.
Dowager looking for a takedown.
Saffiedine avoiding damage.
Saffiedine landing knees to the head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Saffiedine with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Dowager is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Saffiedine gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Dowager wants a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tarec Saffiedine dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on John Dowager's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Dowager closes the distance and clinches up with Saffiedine, looking for a takedown. Dowager pushes Saffiedine against the cage but Saffiedine circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dowager darts in trying to clinch

and Saffiedine counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Saffiedine.
Saffiedine using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dowager has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Saffiedine scores with a knee to the head.
Saffiedine using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dowager has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Dowager manages to pull guard.
Dowager wants to sweep here but Saffiedine controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dowager pulls Saffiedine in close to his closed guard and prevents Saffiedine from doing any damage or advancing position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saffiedine stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Saffiedine tries to clinch there but Dowager circles away.

Saffiedine gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Saffiedine with a knee to the head.
Saffiedine putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Dowager in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Saffiedine connects with a nasty looking knee right to Dowager's face.
A shot in the inside from Saffiedine.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saffiedine lands a knee to the head.
Saffiedine misses with a knee to the head.
Saffiedine tries a knee to the head but Dowager blocks it.
Saffiedine with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Dowager wants a takedown but no success here.
Tarec Saffiedine has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Saffiedine landing knees to the head.
Saffiedine stalls.
Saffiedine lands a right hand that snaps the head of Dowager backwards.
Dowager takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nice elbow from Saffiedine.
Dowager takes a knee right on the jaw!
Saffiedine tries to land a knee to the head but Dowager blocks with his arms.
Saffiedine with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saffiedine gets underhooks to prevent Dowager's takedown attempt.
Tarec Saffiedine has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Dowager.
Dowager takes a knee right on the jaw!
Saffiedine using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dowager has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Saffiedine connects with a knee to the head.
Saffiedine is pressed up against the cage. Dowager has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Saffiedine down to the mat. Saffiedine avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Saffiedine tries to clinch up

and Dowager counters by clinching up.
Saffiedine tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Dowager jumps guard but Saffiedine stands there with Dowager around his waist. Dowager gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Saffiedine with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Saffiedine looking to throw knees to the head but Dowager is blocking nicely.
Tarec Saffiedine is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Dowager gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Dowager decides to stand and escape the position.
Dowager avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Dowager takes the fight into the clinch.
Saffiedine with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Dowager gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Saffiedine is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Dowager seems to be looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Dowager comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Saffiedine 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tarec Saffiedine!