PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Dodson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ren Chi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Dodson
vs
Chi

222 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
25
260 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Thomas Dodson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ren Chi!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, John Kavanagh and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dodson dives in and grabs Chi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Chi pushes down on Dodson's head and hops out.
Chi is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Dodson blocks a head kick by Chi.
The fight stays on the outside here - Dodson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Dodson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Chi fails with a takedown attempt.

Chi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Chi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dodson is trying to pull guard but Chi has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Dodson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Chi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Chi has Dodson up against the cage in a clinch.
Chi is looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chi jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dodson walks away with a smile on his face. Chi gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Chi.
Chi fails with a takedown attempt.
Chi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Chi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dodson pinned against the cage. Dodson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Chi fails with the takedown.
Chi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Chi looks winded!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Dodson. That snapped Chi's head back.
Chi slaps away a takedown attempt from Dodson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Dodson slaps away a takedown attempt from Chi, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Chi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dodson circles away.
A chopping leg kick lands by Dodson.
Dodson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Chi has his takedown stuffed
and Dodson counters with a straight right hand.
Dodson is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chi shoots in looking for a takedown. Dodson tries to sprawl out of it but Chi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dodson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dodson.
Chi tries for a takedown but Dodson sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Chi moves out of range of the body kick from Dodson.
Chi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dodson is fending him off so far but Chi persists. Nope, Dodson circles away and we're back to standing.
Chi shoots for a takedown but Dodson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dodson lands a jab-cross combination.
Dodson displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Dodson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Chi's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Dodson landing with the ground and pound.
Dodson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Chi's guard.
Chi looking to control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dodson throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Dodson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dodson throws a series of punches but Chi moves out of range.
Dodson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice takedown defense from Chi. No joy for Dodson on that attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Chi. Dodson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dodson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Chi avoids it really well and circles away.

Dodson dives in and scores a takedown into Chi's guard.
Dodson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Chi has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Dodson off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Chi avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Chi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dodson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Thomas Dodson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Dodson as Chi shoots in.
Chi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dodson circles away.
Chi shoots in but no luck this time.
Ren Chi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chi is breathing heavily.
Chi misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Thomas Dodson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Chi explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Dodson lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Dodson.
Chi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dodson sprawls well. Dodson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Chi gets slowly back to his feet.
Chi on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chi dives in for a single leg takedown but Dodson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Dodson is trying to pull guard but Chi has him pressed against the cage.
Dodson tries to pull guard but Chi forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Dodson fails to pull the fight into his guard.

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

Chi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Dodson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
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!

Chi jumps into guard, dragging Dodson to the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chi seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Dodson trying to control but Chi is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Chi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Dodson!
Chi punching from mount but Dodson doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Dodson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Chi sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dodson tries to buck Chi off but Chi takes his back!

Chi has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Dodson has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Dodson is trying to stand back up.
Chi controlling well, preventing Dodson from escaping the position.

Chi looking for the choke but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Chi controls the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ren Chi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Dodson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Chi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dodson's waist but Dodson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Chi off to one side.
Chi avoids a punch combination nicely.

Dodson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Chi tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Dodson is in Chi's guard.
Dodson wants to stand but Chi has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Dodson wants to stand and escape but instead Chi has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Chi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dodson is keeping the position for now.
Chi won't allow Dodson to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Chi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Chi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Chi with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dodson is looking to stand up but Chi isn't so interested in that idea.
Chi trying to control but Dodson is working from the bottom.
Chi in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Chi gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Dodson with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chi gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Chi is looking to take this one to the mat.
Dodson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Chi just stands there and leans against the cage.

Chi ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Chi no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Chi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dodson looking to sit in guard and control but Chi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Dodson looking for a sweep. Not yet Dodson, not yet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dodson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Chi controls the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dodson is trying to control the position but Chi postures up.
Chi wants to control from the top but Dodson keeps moving.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Chi stays in close to Dodson's body and controls the position.
Dodson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ren Chi has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Thomas Dodson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Chi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dodson circles away.
Thomas Dodson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ren Chi.
Dodson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Chi shoots in looking for a takedown. Dodson tries to sprawl out of it but Chi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dodson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Chi 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chi darts in and clinches Dodson up against the cage.

Chi breaks the clinch.
Chi has a takedown stuffed.
Dodson shoots in for a takedown but Chi shows good takedown defense.

Chi clinches up with Dodson and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Dodson pulls guard successfully.
Dodson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Chi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ren Chi.
I think Chi has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ren Chi!