PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Spong (ranked 666 p4p, 713 weight class) and Tali Ihantala (ranked 75 p4p, 81 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.

Spong
vs
Ihantala

179 cm
35
232
21 - 17 - 0

203 cm
38
253
38 - 20 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Hoarse Pills

Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)
NARCOS

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Daniel Spong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tali Ihantala!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spong looks to land a left hand but Ihantala moved out of range nicely.
Spong has a takedown stuffed.
Spong looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Spong drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ihantala wants to sweep but no luck.
Spong wants to control from the top but Ihantala keeps moving.

Spong drops back looking for a leg! Ihantala is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Ihantala manages to kick Spong off! Spong jumps back into Ihantala's guard.
Ihantala looking to hit a scissor sweep but Spong is one step ahead there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spong throws a strike but Ihantala rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Spong looking for subs off his back but Ihantala has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ihantala is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ihantala seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Spong is trying to maintain the position but Ihantala is very close to passing his half guard.
Spong is refusing to be controlled, as Ihantala sits in half guard.
Spong might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Spong has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ihantala is working away from the top position though.
Ihantala thows a huge punch but Spong dodges it nicely.
Ihantala missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ihantala prevents Spong from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ihantala tries to stand and escape but Spong is controlling the position.
Spong is looking to improve his position.
Ihantala is keen to just control but Spong is a slippery customer.
Ihantala prevents Spong from improving his position.
Ihantala wants to pass to mount but Spong is defending the position.
Spong trying to control but Ihantala postures up.
Spong is not content to let Ihantala control the position.
Ihantala seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Ihantala with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Spong is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ihantala.
Spong looks to land a left hand but Ihantala moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spong thows a left - swing and a miss!
Tali Ihantala is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ihantala slips a jab from Spong.
Ihantala misses with an attempted mid kick.
Spong checks a leg kick nicely.
Spong shoots in looking for a takedown. Ihantala tries to sprawl out of it but Spong keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ihantala manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Spong fails to land the takedown.
A little jabbing left from Ihantala on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Spong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spong uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ihantala.
Spong uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ihantala.
Spong looks to score with a jab to the body but Ihantala is just out of range.
Spong takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Spong moves out of range of the strikes.
Ihantala misses with a looping left.
Spong throws a jab when Ihantala was well out of range.
Spong throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ihantala throws a hook but Spong blocks it.
Ihantala fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Ihantala closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Spong throws out a loose jab but Ihantala uses good head movement to avoid it.

Spong feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Spong trying to control but Ihantala is working from the bottom.
Spong postures up and lands a big shot to Ihantala's brow.
Spong content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Ihantala looking to hit a scissor sweep but Spong is one step ahead there.
Spong postures up and lands a big shot to Ihantala's brow.
Spong connects with a couple of short punches.
Ihantala wants to sweep but no luck.
Ihantala utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ihantala bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ihantala throws an overhand right that lands on Spong's shoulder, as Spong tries to avoid the shot.
Spong feinted with a counter takedown.
Ihantala throws a jab when Spong was well out of range.
Spong tests Ihantala's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Spong is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Ihantala's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Spong throws a hook to the side of Ihantala's head but Ihantala sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ihantala throws a big shot that misses.
Ihantala misses with a hook. Spong ducked under it nicely.
Tali Ihantala seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ihantala misses with a looping left.

Spong feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spong lands a couple of digs.
Ihantala wants to sweep here but Spong controlling him for the moment.
Ihantala keeping moving, preventing Spong from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Spong's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Spong preventing the sweep.
Spong chips away with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ihantala is pulling down on Spong's head to control his posture.
Spong with a nice head shot there.
Spong won't allow Ihantala to sweep him here.
Spong lands a couple of digs.
Spong trying to control the position from guard on top but Ihantala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Spong lands a couple of digs.
Spong connects with a couple of short punches.
Ihantala manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Spong manages to get himself to full guard.

Daniel Spong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Spong is looking for a triangle but Ihantala pushes his legs off easily.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spong trying to control the position.
Ihantala controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Spong has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Spong looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ihantala looking to sit in guard and control but Spong gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Spong with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Spong throws a big right hand that misses.
Ihantala is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Spong is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spong connects with a couple of short punches.
Spong working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ihantala's head.
Spong controls from within his opponent's guard.
Spong scoring with punches to the head and body.
Spong scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ihantala lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ihantala wanted to stand there but Spong had control of the position.
Spong keeping moving, preventing Ihantala from controlling successfully.
Ihantala would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spong is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ihantala won't allow Spong to sweep him here.
Ihantala wanted to stand there but Spong had control of the position.
Spong is controlling Ihantala's posture.
Spong looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Spong looking to control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ihantala trying to control the position from guard on top but Spong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Spong working for a triangle but Ihantala defends it easily.
Ihantala has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Spong is proving hard to escape from.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Spong dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Spong shoots in and bounces Ihantala off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ihantala wants to get back to his feet but Spong passes into half guard.
Spong lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Spong slips a nice elbow through Ihantala's hands, connecting with Ihantala's forehead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spong is thwarting Ihantala's attempts to control the position.
Spong scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Ihantala tries to roll over but Spong keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ihantala wants to get back to his feet.
Spong wants to take a breather but Ihantala is having none of it.
Ihantala tries to kick Spong off but Spong keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Spong lands with a punch from half guard.
Spong lands strikes from half guard.
Ihantala is looking to improve his position.
Ihantala wants to control but Spong is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Nice strikes from Spong there.
Spong is nestled in close to Ihantala, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Spong looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ihantala with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Spong is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ihantala can do to turn this around?
Ihantala is in trouble now - Spong has advanced to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spong looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Ihantala covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Daniel Spong!
Daniel Spong decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.