PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dustin Davidson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dick Tanner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Davidson's entrance music is August Burns Red - Meridian. A fine choice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Davidson
vs
Tanner

172 cm
33
158 lbs
15 - 16 - 0

189 cm
43
154 lbs
35 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter
Spartan Nutrition

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 15 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dustin Davidson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Dick Tanner!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yukihiro Shimada and Yasuomi Hirokawa.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Davidson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tanner fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Davidson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Tanner clobbers Davidson with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Davidson throws the kick towards the body but Tanner avoids it.
Tanner swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Davidson misses with a takedown
and Tanner counters with a nice uppercut.
Tanner has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Davidson.
Davidson shoots for a takedown but Tanner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tanner lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Davidson clinches up with Tanner and pushes him back against the cage.
Tanner looks to throw an elbow but misses.

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

Davidson tries to keep at a distance but Tanner has taken the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Davidson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tanner prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dustin Davidson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanner will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Davidson up against the cage.
Davidson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tanner pulls his leg out and moves away.

Tanner pushes Davidson up against the cage in a clinch.

Tanner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Davidson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Tanner blocks a jab.
Davidson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Tanner. That did some damage!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davidson tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Tanner counter with a right hand.
Dick Tanner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tanner on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Davidson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Tanner tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Davidson is in Tanner's guard.
Davidson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Tanner wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Davidson tries to free his leg and advance position but Tanner is retaining full guard.
Tanner being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanner looking for a sweep. Not yet Tanner, not yet.
Tanner is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tanner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Davidson 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.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Davidson fails with a takedown attempt.

Tanner forces Davidson back against the cage and clinches.

That's four 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.
Tanner is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Tanner creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Davidson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Davidson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Tanner prevents it.

Tanner manages to break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Tanner closes the distance and clinches.
Davidson avoids a wild elbow strike from Tanner.
Tanner prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Tanner dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tanner fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Davidson, pushing him back against the cage.
Davidson is looking to take this one to the mat.
The referee calls for Tanner to work.
Tanner has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Davidson letting Tanner take a breather here.
Tanner receives a warning from the referee for stalling.

Tanner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tanner fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Davidson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Tanner to the ground. Davidson is now in Tanner's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanner looking for a sweep. Not yet Tanner, not yet.
Davidson sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Tanner pulls Davidson in close to his closed guard and prevents Davidson from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Davidson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Tanner is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Davidson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Tanner keeping moving, preventing Davidson from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Tanner darts in and clinches Davidson up against the cage.
Davidson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Tanner pulls his leg out and moves away.
Good shot there by Tanner.
Davidson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tanner moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Tanner! But no joy.
Davidson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tanner.
Dustin Davidson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Davidson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Davidson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Tanner defends well and Davidson ends up having to push Tanner into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dustin Davidson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Davidson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Tanner darts in trying to clinch

and Davidson counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Davidson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanner has Davidson pulled in close to control his posture.
Davidson 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.
Tanner wants to stand but Davidson is controlling the position.
Tanner has Davidson pulled in close to control his posture.
Tanner's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tanner wants to stand up but Davidson is controlling him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Davidson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tanner's waist but Tanner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Davidson off to one side.

Tanner fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Davidson, pushing him back against the cage.
Davidson jumps guard but Tanner stands there with Davidson around his waist. Davidson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Tanner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tanner looks to land a right hand but Davidson moved out of range.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Davidson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tanner circles away.
Tanner wants to counter with a clinch but Davidson pushes him away.
Tanner tries to clinch but Davidson is having none of it.
Tanner tries to clinch there but Davidson circles away.
Tanner ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick Tanner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Tanner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Tanner fails with an attempt to clinch.

Tanner closes the distance and clinches.

Davidson jumps guard and drags Tanner to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Tanner is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Let's hope that Tanner has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Davidson pulls Tanner in close to his closed guard and prevents Tanner from doing any damage or advancing position.
Dustin Davidson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tanner showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tanner got a little sloppy there for a moment and Davidson has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tanner has managed to get both his arms back between Davidson's legs - danger averted.
Tanner advances position into side control!
Davidson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Tanner stands up.

Tanner fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Davidson, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Davidson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tanner smiles and moves away.
Davidson dives in for a single leg takedown but Tanner sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Davidson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tanner counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dustin Davidson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tanner throws a nice inside leg kick.
Davidson misses with a takedown

and Tanner holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Tanner content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Tanner is trying to break the clinch but Davidson is controlling him.
Davidson has Tanner pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tanner manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tanner looking to throw knees to the head but Davidson is blocking nicely.
Davidson tries to pull guard but Tanner forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davidson jumps guard but Tanner turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Davidson is working for takedown but Tanner is calmly controlling the position for now.
Davidson jumps guard but Tanner stands there with Davidson around his waist. Davidson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Davidson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tanner smiles and moves away.

Tanner rushes Davidson and presses him up against the cage.
Tanner is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Davidson is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Tanner to keep the fight standing.
Tanner creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Davidson's defenses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanner stalling.

Tanner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Dustin Davidson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tanner moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Tanner clinches up against the cage.
Davidson tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Tanner just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tanner throws an elbow but it misses.
Davidson jumps guard but Tanner turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Tanner is stalling here.
Dick Tanner seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Davidson wants a takedown but no success here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee is keeping an eye on Tanner - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Davidson throws a punch but it's blocked by Tanner.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dick Tanner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Tanner 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dick Tanner!
In his post fight interview, Dick Tanner started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.