PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dennis Acevedo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lennox Linford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Acevedo
vs
Linford

207 cm
22
151 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

175 cm
25
146 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Prefers standup

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Dennis Acevedo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Lennox Linford!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Colin Fray and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Linford rushes Acevedo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Linford escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Linford pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Acevedo half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Linford closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Acevedo to the mat! Acevedo manages to get full guard.

Acevedo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Linford wants to control from the top but Acevedo keeps moving.
Linford throws an elbow that misses. Acevedo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Linford's guard. Nice move by Acevedo!

Acevedo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Linford is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Acevedo is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Acevedo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Linford is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Acevedo's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Acevedo stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Dennis Acevedo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Linford throws a big shot that misses.
Acevedo seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Linford misses with a combination

and Acevedo counters with a single leg into guard. Linford didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Acevedo looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Acevedo won't allow Linford to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Linford manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Acevedo manages to get himself to full guard.

Linford is looking to work some ground and pound but Acevedo has wrist control.
Acevedo will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Linford looking to sit in guard and control but Acevedo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Acevedo is stalling in the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linford is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Acevedo has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Linford is proving hard to escape from.
Acevedo being controlled here momentarily.

Acevedo gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Linford misses with a head kick.
Acevedo wants to clinch up but Linford keeps it at a distance.
Acevedo tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Acevedo slips a jab and a cross from Linford.
Acevedo half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Linford has managed to clinch.

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

Linford closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Acevedo is in trouble now - Linford has advanced to mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Acevedo is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Acevedo is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lennox Linford dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Acevedo lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Linford fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Acevedo, pushing him back against the cage.
Linford comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Dennis Acevedo has been cut.

Linford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Linford lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A head kick misses from Linford.
Linford throws a lazy head kick

and Acevedo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Acevedo.

Linford has clasped his hands together around Acevedo's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Acevedo defending against the ground and pound.
Linford tries to move into full mount but can't pass Acevedo's legs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Acevedo is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Acevedo really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Acevedo gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Acevedo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Linford defends well.

Linford postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Acevedo is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Linford, into his guard.

Acevedo is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Linford has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Acevedo lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Acevedo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Acevedo wanted to stand there but Linford had control of the position.
Acevedo engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Acevedo wants to control from the top but Linford keeps moving.

Acevedo gets to his feet - Linford follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Linford closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Linford throws an elbow but misses.
Acevedo is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Acevedo drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Linford gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Acevedo has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Linford throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Acevedo blocks it with crossed arms.

Linford's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Linford looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Linford scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

Linford closes the distance and pushes Acevedo back into the cage.
Acevedo is trying to break the clinch but Linford has him pressed against the cage.

Linford manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Acevedo.
Acevedo appears to be looking for a big counter.

Linford clinches with his opponent.
Linford unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Acevedo wants the takedown. Linford is fighting it off but Acevedo persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Linford's guard against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Acevedo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Acevedo landing some decent shots from guard.

Linford is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Linford is breathing heavily.
Acevedo controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lennox Linford showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Dennis Acevedo's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Acevedo gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Linford to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Linford is looking to work some ground and pound but Acevedo has wrist control.
Acevedo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Linford drops back, looking for a kneebar! Acevedo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Acevedo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Acevedo!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Acevedo content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Acevedo decides to stand back up. Acevedo steps back and let's Linford get back to his feet.
A head kick misses from Linford.

Linford bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Acevedo throws Linford to one side and escapes!
Linford fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Linford takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Linford forces Acevedo back against the cage and clinches.
Linford lands an elbow that stopped Acevedo in his tracks for a moment.
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!

Acevedo pulls guard effortlessly.

Linford avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linford slips nicely into half guard.
Linford thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Acevedo's head.

Acevedo actively working from the bottom here.

Linford is working for a submission of some sort.
Linford thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Acevedo's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linford tries to stand and escape but Acevedo is controlling the position.

Linford looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Linford wants to stand up but Acevedo manages to regain full guard.

Acevedo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Linford doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Linford manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Acevedo is looking for a triangle but Linford pushes his legs off easily.

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.
Acevedo will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Linford is looking to work some ground and pound but Acevedo has wrist control.
Linford wants to pass the guard but Acevedo is keeping the position.
Acevedo keeping moving, preventing Linford from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Linford must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Acevedo looking to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Dennis Acevedo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Lennox Linford is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Acevedo tries to sprawl but Linford drives through with a takedown into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Dennis Acevedo.
I think Linford 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lennox Linford!