PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dave The Don (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dante Soldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

The Don
vs
Soldo

190 cm
18
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dave The Don!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dante Soldo!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The Don shoots in for a double leg but Soldo sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The Don fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Soldo tries to clinch but The Don moves out of range.
The Don ducks under a wild hook from Soldo.
The Don avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

The Don has managed to clinch.
Soldo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Soldo with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
The Don goes for a takedown in the clinch but Soldo prevents it.
Soldo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The Don displaying some good clinch control by pressing Soldo up against the cage.
Soldo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Soldo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
The Don jumps guard but Soldo stands there with The Don around his waist. The Don gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave The Don. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soldo pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
The Don tries to pull guard but Soldo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Soldo escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

The Don closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Soldo quickly recovers to half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The Don is controlling the pace.
The Don tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
The Don keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soldo is trying to maintain the position but The Don is very close to passing his half guard.

Dave The Don has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
The Don tries to clinch up but Soldo circles away and keeps his distance.
The Don fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Soldo tries to keep at a distance but The Don has taken the fight into the clinch.
Soldo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but The Don has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The Don has Soldo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Soldo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Soldo wants to break free but The Don has control.
The Don working hard to break the clinch.
The Don managing to block the knees to the body from Soldo.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Soldo just misses with a elbow thrown towards The Don's brow.
The Don avoiding damage as Soldo throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Don is trying to pull guard but Soldo has him pressed against the cage.
The Don is breathing heavily.
Soldo stalling the fight.
Soldo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
The Don is trying to break the clinch but Soldo has him pressed against the cage.
Soldo pushes off an throws an elbow but The Don leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
The Don wants to break free but Soldo has control.
The Don takes an elbow to the forehead.
Soldo lands an elbow inside.
The Don can't break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Soldo's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The Don blocks an elbow strike.
Soldo trying to land knees to the body.
Soldo blocks an elbow strike from The Don.
Soldo misses with an elbow strike.
Soldo tries a knee to the head but The Don blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Don keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Soldo's efforts to push away.
The Don has Soldo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Soldo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
The Don wants to break free but Soldo has control.
With the fighters up against the cage, Soldo throws an elbow but misses.
The Don blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The Don on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The Don blocks the elbow strike.
Soldo keeps control of The Don as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Soldo throws an elbow that misses.
Soldo wants to stall.
Soldo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Soldo misses with an elbow strike.
Soldo trying to land knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soldo tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and The Don avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dante Soldo will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The Don has taken the fight to the clinch.
The Don has Soldo pressed against the cage, preventing Soldo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The Don is trying to break the clinch but Soldo has him pressed against the cage.
Dante Soldo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The Don wants to stall.
Soldo tries to land knees in the clinch but The Don avoids the damage to the body.
Soldo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. The Don is defending well for now.
Soldo wants to get back to striking at distance but The Don won't allow it.
Soldo is pressed up against the cage. The Don has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Soldo down to the mat. Soldo avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Soldo misses with a body shot.
Dave The Don is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The Don takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Soldo tries to keep at a distance but The Don has taken the fight into the clinch.
The Don blocks the elbow strike.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Soldo just misses with a elbow thrown towards The Don's brow.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soldo misses with an elbow over the top.

Soldo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The Don doesn't manage to clinch there - Soldo circles away.
The Don misses with a jab, cross combination.
Soldo ducks under a wild hook from The Don.
The Don misses with a low kick.
The Don shoots in looking for a takedown but Soldo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing The Don's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Soldo clinches.
The Don dodges an elbow strike from Soldo.
The Don avoids the elbow strike from Soldo, against the cage.
Soldo missing with knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Soldo just misses with a elbow thrown towards The Don's brow.
The Don wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave The Don. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Soldo using the Thai plumb to throw knees but The Don has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Soldo is looking to break free of the clinch but The Don has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on The Don's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Soldo tries a knee to the head but The Don blocks it.
Soldo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The Don blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Soldo throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Soldo tries to land a knee to the head but The Don blocks with his arms.
The Don takes an elbow to the forehead.
Soldo throws an elbow that misses.
Soldo looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Soldo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
The Don is trying to force a seperation but Soldo has the dominant position.
Soldo trying to stall but The Don improves his position.
Soldo wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but The Don has him pressed against the cage.
The Don takes an elbow to the forehead.
Soldo tries a knee to the head but The Don blocks it.
Soldo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soldo pushes off an throws an elbow but The Don leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Soldo looking to stall.
Soldo tries to land knees in the clinch but The Don avoids the damage to the body.
Soldo slows down the pace here.

The Don breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Soldo throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck The Don on the side of the head.
Soldo moves in looking to clinch but The Don pushes him off.
The Don keeps the fight on the outside.
Soldo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Soldo tries to close the distance and clinch but The Don swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soldo wants to clinch up but The Don keeps it at a distance.
The Don jabbing away but nothing is landing.
The Don keeps the fight on the outside.
Soldo wants to clinch up but The Don keeps it at a distance.
The Don defending well as Soldo loads up on a big left hand.
Nice straight punches there by Soldo. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Soldo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Soldo tries to clinch up but The Don circles away and keeps his distance.
The Don looks for a takedown but Soldo sprawls well.

Soldo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Soldo creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Soldo manages to break the clinch.
The Don doesn't manage to clinch there - Soldo circles away.
Soldo doesn't manage to clinch there - The Don circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Soldo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. 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.

Soldo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Soldo tries to clinch up but The Don circles away and keeps his distance.
The Don tries to close the distance and clinch up but Soldo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Soldo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Soldo moves in looking to clinch but The Don pushes him off.
Soldo misses with a hook. The Don ducked under it nicely.
Soldo swats away the attempt to clinch by The Don.
Soldo scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Soldo tries to close the distance and clinch up but The Don swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The Don shoots in but Soldo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Soldo swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Don keeps the fight on the outside.
Soldo fails to land with a series of punches.

The Don clinches.

The Don has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Soldo uses from the top position.

The Don is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Soldo defends well.
Soldo is stalling in the full guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Soldo wants to control from the top but The Don keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Dante Soldo hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
The Don shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Soldo as he avoids it easily.
Soldo lands a jab-cross combination.

Soldo gets a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
The Don avoiding damage as Soldo throws knees to the body.
Soldo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. The Don is defending well for now.
Soldo looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Don has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Soldo is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dave The Don. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Soldo missing with knees to the body.
The Don managing to block the knees to the body from Soldo.
Soldo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Soldo tries to land knees in the clinch but The Don avoids the damage to the body.
Soldo tries to land a knee to the head but The Don blocks with his arms.
Soldo is looking to control The Don's arms but The Don gets an underhook and turns him. Now Soldo has his back to the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Soldo throws an elbow but misses.
Soldo keeps control of The Don as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The Don is trying to break the clinch but Soldo is controlling him.
Soldo stalling against the cage.
The Don is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Soldo to keep the fight standing.
Soldo misses with a knee strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Don has Soldo pressed against the cage, preventing Soldo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Soldo with a knee to the head.
The Don tries to stall but Soldo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Soldo breaks from the clinch.
Soldo tries to clinch there but The Don circles away.
Dave The Don has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dante Soldo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Soldo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
The Don uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Soldo.
Soldo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Soldo throws a good cross that connects.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Soldo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Soldo throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soldo tries a head kick but it misses.
Soldo doesn't manage to clinch there - The Don circles away.
Dante Soldo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from The Don is defended easily by Soldo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dante Soldo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Soldo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dante Soldo!