PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marc Tong Panong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashawn Curry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tong Panong's entrance music is Tetris Song (remix). A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tong Panong
vs
Curry

190 cm
24
190 lbs
12 - 10 - 0

180 cm
22
195 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Good knees
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

FULL METAL GEAR ($9.99 Morale Tee/Trunk)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marc Tong Panong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Rashawn Curry!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Curry misses with a leg kick.
Curry lands with a kick to the temple. Tong Panong shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

It looks like Marc Tong Panong has been cut.
Tong Panong looks to score with a jab to the body but Curry is just out of range.
Tong Panong fails to land with a series of punches.
A head kick by Curry misses

and Tong Panong counters with a single leg into guard. Curry didn't expect that.
Tong Panong content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tong Panong pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Curry is keeping the position for now.
Curry trying to keep a closed guard but Tong Panong is proving a slippery customer.

Curry is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Tong Panong thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Curry lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tong Panong!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curry is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Tong Panong is working to get back to half guard.
Curry has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Tong Panong's face.
Tong Panong is trying to escape the mount.
Tong Panong is working hard here to advance position.
Curry landing strikes from the mount and Tong Panong is in trouble!
Tong Panong slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Curry not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tong Panong works his way to full guard. Good work.
Curry distracts Tong Panong with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Tong Panong looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Curry postures up and lands a big shot to Tong Panong's brow.
Curry throwing strikes but missing.
Curry trying to control but Tong Panong is working from the bottom.

Curry drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tong Panong dives on top into guard.
Curry pulls Tong Panong in close to prevent any damage.
Curry working a defensive guard here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Tong Panong stopping the sweep attempt from Curry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curry controls Tong Panong momentarily but Tong Panong frees himself.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rashawn Curry hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Tong Panong misses with a hook.
Curry throws a leg kick
and Tong Panong counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Tong Panong moves out of range of the body kick from Curry.
Tong Panong lands with an overhand left.
Tong Panong gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Curry counters with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Curry is predictable there
and Tong Panong counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Curry shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Rashawn Curry seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick by Curry misses
and Tong Panong makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Tong Panong lands with a slapping head kick.
A lazy body kick from Tong Panong
and Curry counters with a solid body kick.
Curry pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Curry ducks under a wild hook from Tong Panong.
Tong Panong fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Curry manages to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashawn Curry dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marc Tong Panong's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Curry throws a leg kick

and Tong Panong counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Curry's guard now.
Curry is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Curry tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tong Panong trying to control but Curry is working from the bottom.
Curry working a defensive guard here.
Tong Panong scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Curry has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Tong Panong has gone for a leg lock! Curry slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tong Panong's guard.

Tong Panong working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Curry doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Curry manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Tong Panong looking to hit a scissor sweep but Curry is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curry throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tong Panong had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Curry defends it easily.
Curry trying to control but Tong Panong is working from the bottom.

Curry thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tong Panong is looking to sweep but instead, Curry has passed into half guard.
Curry wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tong Panong keeps working.

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.
Tong Panong tries to roll over but Curry keeps him under control.
Tong Panong slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Tong Panong wants to hit a switch here but Curry passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Tong Panong there!
Curry trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Curry is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Tong Panong is surviving well by controlling Curry's body position as best he can.

Curry has hold of Tong Panong's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Tong Panong manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Curry working Tong Panong over with strikes here.
Curry lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Marc Tong Panong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Curry trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tong Panong is in all sorts of trouble here.
Tong Panong takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Tong Panong is squirming around, avoiding Curry's attempts to control the action.
Curry breaks from Tong Panong's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Curry prevents Tong Panong from getting the reversal.
Curry can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tong Panong is looking to escape.
Curry has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Tong Panong's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tong Panong really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Curry lands a heavy elbow.
Tong Panong really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Curry looking to finish Tong Panong with some ground and pound. This is bad for Tong Panong!
Tong Panong tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Curry swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Tong Panong is now in Curry's guard. A big mistake from Curry there, giving up the dominant position!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tong Panong loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tong Panong being controlled here momentarily.

Curry is looking for a triangle but Tong Panong pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashawn Curry showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Marc Tong Panong's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Tong Panong closes the distance and clinches up with Curry, looking for a takedown. Tong Panong pushes Curry against the cage but Curry circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Some bone on bone action there as Tong Panong checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Curry tries to land a front kick but Tong Panong steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Tong Panong blocks a low kick nicely.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Curry in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
A low kick from Curry misses

and Tong Panong counters with a single leg into guard. Curry didn't expect that.
Curry preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Curry preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Curry working a defensive guard here.
Tong Panong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Curry working a defensive guard here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Tong Panong 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.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Rashawn Curry hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
A head kick by Curry misses
enabling Tong Panong to counter with a crisp jab.
Curry drops his hands momentarily and Tong Panong takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A low kick from Curry is predictable there
and Tong Panong counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rashawn Curry is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tong Panong ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Curry moves away.
Curry looks to land a body kick but Tong Panong moved away.

That's two 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.
Tong Panong tries a head kick but it misses.
A low kick from Curry misses
and Tong Panong counters with a nice leg kick.
Curry on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Tong Panong closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Curry quickly recovers to half guard.
Tong Panong trying to advance position but Curry counters by regaining guard.
Curry working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tong Panong.
Tong Panong postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Curry is pulling down on Tong Panong's head to control his posture.
Tong Panong has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tong Panong avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Curry keeping moving, preventing Tong Panong from controlling successfully.
Curry tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Curry is pulling down on Tong Panong's head to control his posture.
Tong Panong stopping the sweep attempt from Curry.
Tong Panong tries to free his leg and advance position but Curry is retaining full guard.

Tong Panong is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Curry is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Curry has escaped and now he's on top!
Curry lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tong Panong 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.
Tong Panong is trying to control the position but Curry postures up.
Marc Tong Panong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Curry pushes down on Tong Panong's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Curry seems to be working for a kimura but Tong Panong defends the submission attempt.
Ground and pound from Curry.

Curry is trying to work for a kimura but Tong Panong is defending well.
Tong Panong has a hand on Curry's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Curry takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

And that's the end of the fight!
Marc Tong Panong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Curry 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rashawn Curry!