PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dorsey Randolph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mookie Betts (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Randolph
vs
Betts

201 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
157 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dorsey Randolph!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mookie Betts!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Randolph dives in and grabs Betts's left leg, looking for a takedown. Betts pushes down on Randolph's head and hops out.
Betts wants to counter the offense by Randolph and move into the clinch position.
Good work by Randolph as he checks the leg kick.
Randolph shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Betts sprawls well. Betts wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Randolph gets slowly back to his feet.

Betts rushes Randolph and presses him up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Randolph tries to score a body lock takedown but Betts shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dorsey Randolph. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Betts tries for a takedown. No joy.

Randolph pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Betts stuffs the takedown.
Betts is looking for the big counter here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Betts stuffs the takedown.
Betts misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Betts wants to slow Randolph down by chopping away at his legs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Betts is looking to take this one to the mat.
Betts keeps control of Randolph as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Randolph is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Still in the clinch, Betts scores with a nice short uppercut.

Betts manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Betts is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Randolph is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Randolph stands and steps away. Betts gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Randolph enables Betts to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Randolph manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Betts looks winded!
Randolph throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Randolph manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Betts manages to get himself to full guard.

The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Randolph gets to his feet - Betts follows without any prompting.
Betts stuffs the takedown.

Randolph closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Randolph tries to stand and escape but Betts actually recovers to full guard.
Randolph wants to stand and escape but instead Betts has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Betts engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Betts passes Randolph's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Randolph wants to stand back up but Betts manages to pass into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Randolph wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Randolph is trying to improve his position.
Betts wants to control but Randolph is keeping him busy.

Betts decides to take the fight back to the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Randolph checks a leg kick.
Betts misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Betts looking to score a takedown here. Randolph is defending well but Betts drives through and ends up in Randolph's guard.

Randolph has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Betts is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Betts has taken the fight to the clinch.
Betts wants a takedown but no success here.
Betts digs a right hand underneath Randolph's ribcage. Randolph let out a lung full of air as it connected.

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

Betts has Randolph up against the cage in a clinch.
Betts with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Randolph prevents the takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Randolph stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Betts wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Randolph is trying to drag Betts to the mat but Betts just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Betts has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Randolph uses from the top position.
Betts is breathing heavily.
Randolph would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Betts not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Betts escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Randolph gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Randolph stands up and waves to Betts to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Randolph stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Randolph wants it to stay on the feet.
An attempted straight right counter from Randolph misses the target.
Dorsey Randolph has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mookie Betts.
Betts shoots in but Randolph avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Betts looks to land a combination but Randolph avoids it well.
Randolph fails with the takedown.
Betts is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Betts takes the fight into the clinch.
Randolph looking for a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Betts is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Randolph to keep the fight standing.

Betts has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Randolph is trying to keep an underhook but Betts manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Randolph has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Betts is on him like a limpet, forcing Randolph back against the cage.
Betts is trying to push Randolph away but Randolph has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Randolph tries to score a body lock takedown but Betts shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Randolph prevents the takedown attempt.

Randolph's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Randolph misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Randolph scores with a takedown into Betts's guard.

Betts uses the cage to get back to his feet.
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!
Randolph goes for a double leg but Betts avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Betts continues to drive forward.

Betts shoots in and bounces Randolph off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Betts stands and throws Randolph's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Randolph sneaks out the side door and pushes Betts away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mookie Betts will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Randolph goes for a double leg but Betts avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Betts continues to drive forward.
Randolph fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Betts gets a clinch.

Betts gets control of Randolph's arms and successfully pulls guard. Betts will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Randolph wanted to stand there but Betts had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Betts had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Randolph defends it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Betts is working an open guard so Randolph takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Betts looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A counter left hand to the body from Randolph misses its target.
Betts throws a head kick that misses.
No luck for Randolph with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dorsey Randolph. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Betts lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Randolph circles away quickly and effectively.
A counter left hand to the body from Randolph misses its target.
Betts has a takedown stuffed.
Nice takedown defense from Betts. No joy for Randolph on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Randolph tries to close the distance and clinch up but Betts swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Betts closes the distance and clinches.

Betts escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Randolph dives in and grabs Betts's left leg, looking for a takedown. Betts pushes down on Randolph's head and hops out.

Betts gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Betts stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Betts breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Randolph really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Betts shoots for a double leg takedown but Randolph sprawls well. He's pushed Betts's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Randolph shoots in but Betts avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Betts shoots in and drives through. Randolph sprawls well.
Betts will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Betts has closed the distance and engaged Randolph in a clinch.

Randolph manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Randolph wants to stand and escape but Betts is having none of it.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Betts breaks the clinch.

Betts darts in and clinches Randolph up against the cage.
Betts gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Randolph.

Randolph breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Betts shoots in looking for a takedown. Randolph tries to sprawl out of it but Betts keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Randolph manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mookie Betts comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Betts 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mookie Betts!
Mookie Betts made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'You guys are the best, I'm gonna get drunk, who's buying me a drink?'.