PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Beric Dondarrion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Koreen Poi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Koreen Poi struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.8lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Beric Dondarrion has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Dondarrion
vs
Poi

199 cm
25
169 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

187 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Beric Dondarrion!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Koreen Poi!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dondarrion throws a body kick that misses.
Dondarrion dives in and grabs Poi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Poi pushes down on Dondarrion's head and hops out.
Dondarrion closes the distance and clinches up with Poi, looking for a takedown. Dondarrion pushes Poi against the cage but Poi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dondarrion throws a head kick that misses.
Dondarrion fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Beric Dondarrion. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Poi digs a good body shot into Dondarrion's ribs.
A jab lands there for Poi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Poi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dondarrion shoots in looking for a takedown but Poi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dondarrion's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Poi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dondarrion paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dondarrion circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dondarrion looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Poi is fending him off so far but Dondarrion persists. Nope, Poi circles away and we're back to standing.
Dondarrion fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Poi has taken the fight to the clinch.
Dondarrion tries to break free but Poi pushes him back against the cage.
Poi throws a punch but it's blocked by Dondarrion.
Dondarrion lands a shoulder strike.
Dondarrion managing to block the knees to the body from Poi.

Poi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dondarrion fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dondarrion throws a head kick that misses.
A little jabbing left from Poi on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poi slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Poi wants to clinch up but Dondarrion keeps it at a distance.
Poi wants to clinch
and Dondarrion counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Poi gets tackled into the cage by Dondarrion. Dondarrion maintains the clinch.
Poi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dondarrion has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dondarrion wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Poi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Poi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dondarrion sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Poi somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dondarrion looks for a takedown but Poi sprawls well.
Dondarrion throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Poi's waist but Poi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Dondarrion off to one side.
Poi is looking to clinch.

Poi rushes Dondarrion and presses him up against the cage.
Poi is struggling to control the position.
Poi can't find room to land a body shot as Dondarrion controls the action.
Poi tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Dondarrion effectively controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dondarrion fails to pull guard.

Dondarrion gets control of Poi's arms and successfully pulls guard. Dondarrion will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Dondarrion pushes Poi off and scrambles back to his feet.

Poi gets tackled into the cage by Dondarrion. Dondarrion maintains the clinch.
Dondarrion is trying to pull guard but Poi turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Dondarrion pressing his opponent against the cage.
Poi misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dondarrion.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Koreen Poi will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Poi fails in his attempt to clinch.

Dondarrion has Poi up against the cage in a clinch.
Dondarrion has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Poi after a bit of a struggle.
Dondarrion jumps guard but Poi stands there with Dondarrion around his waist. Dondarrion gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Poi breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Beric Dondarrion is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dondarrion is trying hard to land a takedown here. Poi sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Beric Dondarrion. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Poi moves in looking to clinch but Dondarrion pushes him off.
Dondarrion throws a head kick but Poi moves out of range.
Dondarrion fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poi tries to close the distance and clinch but Dondarrion swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Poi clinches up against the cage.

Poi manages to break the clinch.
Dondarrion closes this distance looking for a takedown but Poi circles away.
It seemed like Poi was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Dondarrion misses with a low kick.
Poi feints the counter takedown.

Poi clinches up against the cage.
Dondarrion is looking to take this one to the mat.
Dondarrion is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dondarrion jumps guard but Poi stands there with Dondarrion around his waist. Dondarrion gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Poi obliges.

Poi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Poi blocks a head kick by Dondarrion.
Dondarrion dives in and grabs Poi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Poi pushes down on Dondarrion's head and hops out.
Poi now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Dondarrion scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Poi tries to keep at a distance but Dondarrion has taken the fight into the clinch.
Poi misses with a knee strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dondarrion wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Poi is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Dondarrion is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Poi to keep the fight standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Poi stops a takedown attempt from Dondarrion.
Poi landing knees to the body.

Poi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Dondarrion darts in and clinches Poi up against the cage.

Poi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dondarrion throws a head kick that misses.
Poi throws out a counter right but Dondarrion avoids it with no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dondarrion closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Dondarrion tries for a takedown. No joy.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Poi is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

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

Poi moves into the clinch successfully.
Poi cracks Dondarrion with a nice body shot.

Poi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dondarrion shoots in for a double leg but Poi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
No luck for Dondarrion with that takedown attempt.
As Dondarrion backs off Poi throws a huge counter combo but Dondarrion manages to avoid it all.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Poi tries to clinch but Dondarrion is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koreen Poi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. And we move into the final round!

Poi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dondarrion swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Dondarrion has a takedown stuffed.
Poi is looking to clinch but Dondarrion is avoiding it.

Dondarrion tries to keep at a distance but Poi has taken the fight into the clinch.
Dondarrion stalling against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Poi breaks the clinch.
Poi wants to clinch up but Dondarrion keeps it at a distance.
Dondarrion throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dondarrion shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Poi as he jumps to the side.
Dondarrion really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Poi clinches with his opponent.
Poi leaning his opponent against the cage.

Dondarrion pulls guard successfully.
Poi wanted to stand there but Dondarrion had control of the position.

Dondarrion is working an open guard so Poi takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dondarrion swats away the attempt to clinch by Poi.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dondarrion.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Beric Dondarrion. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dondarrion circles away from the clinch attempt.

Dondarrion takes the fight into the clinch.
Poi tries to land a knee to the head but Dondarrion blocks with his arms.
Still in the clinch, Dondarrion scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dondarrion on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Dondarrion is trying to break free.

Poi breaks from the clinch.
Poi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Dondarrion swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Poi has managed to clinch.
Poi using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Dondarrion has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Dondarrion is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Poi to keep the fight standing.
Dondarrion has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Poi after a bit of a struggle.
Dondarrion tries to break the clinch but Poi is controlling the position.
Dondarrion tries to stall but Poi uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dondarrion is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Poi pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Poi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Dondarrion throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Poi blocks it with crossed arms.
Koreen Poi is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dondarrion tries for a takedown. No joy.
Poi misses with a body punch.
Dondarrion is struggling to control the position.
Poi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Beric Dondarrion has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dondarrion jumps guard but Poi stands there with Dondarrion around his waist. Dondarrion gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Koreen Poi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Poi 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Koreen Poi!