PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frank Poncherello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Svenn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Svenn is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: We Taking Over. This should be fireworks!

Poncherello
vs
Svenn

169 cm
21
186 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

185 cm
24
177 lbs
17 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Russian Mob Nutrition (159 Recovery - $150)
Russian Mob Nutrition (159 Recovery - $150)

SPARTAN FIGHTWARE-GTI
SPARTAN FIGHTWARE-GTI

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Frank Poncherello!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tom Svenn!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Svenn scores with a body shot.
Svenn jabs at Poncherello's body.
Svenn scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Poncherello is defended easily by Svenn.
Poncherello avoids the body shot from Svenn.

Svenn scores with a takedown into Poncherello's guard.
Svenn works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poncherello is looking to improve his position.

Svenn seems to be looking for submissions.
Poncherello won't allow Svenn to pass to mount.

Svenn is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Poncherello defends it well.
Poncherello wants to improve his position but Svenn is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poncherello won't allow Svenn to pass to mount.
Poncherello works his way to full guard. Good work.
Svenn must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Svenn tries to free his leg and advance position but Poncherello is retaining full guard.
Poncherello keeping moving, preventing Svenn from controlling successfully.
Svenn stopping the sweep attempt from Poncherello.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Poncherello tries for a takedown but Svenn circles away easily
and Svenn counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Poncherello gets a takedown into half guard.

Poncherello is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Svenn doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Poncherello.
Poncherello is breathing heavily.
Svenn slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Poncherello drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Svenn manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Poncherello has Svenn in his guard.
Svenn not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Svenn trying to control but Poncherello is working from the bottom.

Svenn drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Svenn jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Svenn wants to control from the top but Poncherello keeps moving.
Poncherello might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svenn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Poncherello keeping moving, preventing Svenn from controlling successfully.

Poncherello has an active guard here but Svenn has managed to pass into half guard.

Svenn 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.

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.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Svenn in particular looking to stall.

Svenn is working for a kimura but Poncherello is defending it quite comfortably.

Svenn wants to work for an arm triangle but Poncherello is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Poncherello actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Svenn dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A left and a right from Svenn both land. Nice combination.
Svenn thows a body shot but no joy.
Svenn lands a nice shot to the body.

Svenn shoots in and bounces Poncherello off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Poncherello is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Svenn defends well.
Poncherello looking to hit a scissor sweep but Svenn is one step ahead there.
Poncherello keeping moving, preventing Svenn from controlling successfully.
Svenn might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Poncherello kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poncherello looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Poncherello fails with the takedown

and Svenn counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Poncherello!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Poncherello regains half guard.
Svenn controlling the action here.
Svenn wants to control but Poncherello is keeping him busy.
Svenn prevents Poncherello from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poncherello wants to get back to full guard but Svenn has passed into side control.
Svenn trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Svenn working for a guillotine from mount but Poncherello is in no mood to give up.
Poncherello is wriggling around trying to escape.

Poncherello defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Svenn.
Svenn looking to control but Poncherello is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Poncherello is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poncherello gets back to half guard.

Svenn is looking for a kimura but Poncherello is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Svenn to get the leverage.

Svenn is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Svenn wants to control but Poncherello is keeping him busy.
Poncherello makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Poncherello.
Poncherello looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
Poncherello keeping moving, preventing Svenn from controlling successfully.

Svenn got a little sloppy there for a moment and Poncherello has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Svenn has managed to get both his arms back between Poncherello's legs - danger averted.

Svenn thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Svenn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Svenn passes Poncherello's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Svenn thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Svenn prevents Poncherello from improving his position.
Poncherello is pressing down on Svenn's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tom Svenn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Poncherello gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Svenn counters with a left to the body.

Svenn shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Svenn passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Poncherello!
Svenn trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Poncherello tries to reverse the position but Svenn maintains control.

Svenn has control of Poncherello's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Poncherello regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Svenn looking to control but Poncherello is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poncherello is trying to escape the mount.

Svenn is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Poncherello to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Poncherello shrugs it off.
Svenn tries to control but Poncherello wriggling away.

Svenn looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

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.
Poncherello is trying desperately to improve position.
Svenn is landing with some decent strikes but Poncherello is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Tom Svenn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Svenn pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Poncherello regains half guard.
Svenn slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poncherello is looking for a sweep. Svenn is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Poncherello has a hand on Svenn's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Svenn takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Svenn content just to control the position here.
Poncherello tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Svenn controlling from mount.
Svenn can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Poncherello is looking to escape.
Poncherello keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Svenn controlling from the full mount.
Frank Poncherello has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Despite being in the dominant position, Tom Svenn just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Svenn cracks Poncherello with a good jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Svenn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Svenn has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tom Svenn!