PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bongo Bong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Melvin Saddleman (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.

Bong
vs
Saddleman

185 cm
22
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
217 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bongo Bong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Melvin Saddleman!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Seu Braga and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bong drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Bong content to stall in guard here.
Bong has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Bong stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Saddleman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bong wants to control from the top but Saddleman keeps moving.
Bong controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bong throwing strikes from guard but Saddleman blocks nicely.
Bong content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bong wants to pass the guard but Saddleman is keeping the position.
Bong controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bong pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Saddleman is keeping the position for now.
Saddleman working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two 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.
Saddleman wants to stand and escape but Bong is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Saddleman tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Saddleman throws a series of strikes that have Bong backpedaling.

Bong scores a takedown into full mount!
Bong looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saddleman tries to reverse the position but Bong maintains control.
Bong content just to control the position here.
Saddleman is trying to escape the mount.
Bong looking to ground and pound but Saddleman is blocking nicely.
Bong controlling his opponent.
Bong thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bong can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Saddleman is looking to escape.
Bong controlling the position easily from mount.
Bong throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bong can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Saddleman is looking to escape.
Saddleman regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bongo Bong dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bong fails to land the takedown.
Saddleman misses with a series of wild punches.
Saddleman wants to clinch.
Saddleman scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bong drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bong trying to control the position from guard on top but Saddleman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Bongo Bong just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Bong shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Saddleman as he avoids it easily.
Saddleman fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bong on the side of the head.
Saddleman misses with a series of wild punches.
Saddleman lunges at Bong with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Bong's hand.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bong.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bongo Bong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horrible takedown by Bong or perhaps it was just good defense by Saddleman which made him look bad.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bong swings widly with a right hand
and Saddleman counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Bongo Bong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A lazy left from Saddleman finds it's target.
Saddleman throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bong shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Saddleman as he jumps to the side.

Bong shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bong is fighting to break Saddleman's control of his arms but Saddleman is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Saddleman wants to stand but Bong is controlling the position.
Saddleman working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saddleman keeping moving, preventing Bong from controlling successfully.
Saddleman looking to control.
Bong wants to control from the top but Saddleman keeps moving.
Bong content to stall in guard here.
Saddleman trying to keep a closed guard but Bong is proving a slippery customer.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Saddleman throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bong.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Saddleman throws a right and a left that Bong avoids nicely.
Bong shoots in for a takedown but Saddleman shows good takedown defense.
Saddleman throws a right hand that Bong ducks under and follows up with a left that Bong also avoids with ease.
Bong throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Saddleman counters with a stiff right hand.
Saddleman misses with a few strikes there.
Saddleman wants to clinch up but Bong keeps it at a distance.
Bong shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Saddleman counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Bong showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Saddleman.
Bong shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Melvin Saddleman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bong looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Saddleman is fending him off so far but Bong persists. Nope, Saddleman circles away and we're back to standing.
Bong will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Saddleman has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Saddleman there as he acknowledges the shot.

Bong scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Saddleman trying to control here.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bong in particular looking to stall.
Bong passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Saddleman!
Bong controlling the pace for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bong's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Bong scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Bong controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Bongo Bong just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Bong gets the takedown into side control.
Bong tries to move to mount but Saddleman blocks the move with his legs.
An elbow from Bong crashes against the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bong taking a breather here.
Bong working away.
Bong staying calm.
Saddleman prevents Bong from improving position.

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.
Bong working away.
Bong takes a little break here. Saddleman wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bong landing strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bongo Bong showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bong has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Seu Braga scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bongo Bong!