PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Spong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Patrick Sefter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Patrick Sefter told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Spong
vs
Sefter

165 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

160 cm
25
144 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Michael Spong!
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, Patrick Sefter!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Paulo Santos and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spong misses with the combination.

Sefter tries to keep at a distance but Spong has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sefter is working for takedown but Spong is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sefter is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Sefter is working for takedown but Spong is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sefter keeps control of Spong as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Spong stops a takedown attempt from Sefter.
Michael Spong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Sefter.
Spong lands a shoulder strike.
Sefter managing to block the knees to the body from Spong.
Spong working hard to break the clinch.
Sefter misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Spong.
Spong is trying to force a seperation but Sefter has the dominant position.
Sefter tries to land knees in the clinch but Spong avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sefter lands an elbow just above Spong 's eye.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Spong.
Spong is pressed up against the cage. Sefter has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Spong down to the mat. Spong avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Sefter has closed the distance and engaged Spong in a clinch.
Spong tries to land a knee to the head but Sefter blocks with his arms.

Sefter drags the fight down to the ground.

Sefter has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Spong off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Spong throws a head kick that misses.
Spong looks for a takedown but Sefter sprawls well.
A head kick misses from Spong.
Sefter darts in looking for a takedown but Spong gets double underhooks and turns Sefter into the cage.
Sefter dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Sefter is trying to drag Spong to the mat but Spong just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sefter changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Spong fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Spong dives in and grabs Sefter's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sefter pushes down on Spong's head and hops out.
Spong thows a leg kick but Sefter checks it

and Sefter counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A bit of stalling here from Sefter.
Spong is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Spong is trying to break the clinch but Sefter is controlling him.
Spong prevents a takedown attempt there.
Spong stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sefter keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Spong's efforts to push away.
Spong blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Spong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Spong misses with a body kick.
Spong tries a head kick but it misses.
Spong throws a head kick that Sefter semi-blocks.
Spong throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Michael Spong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sefter moves into the clinch successfully.
Spong stalling in the clinch but Sefter improves position.
Sefter changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Spong fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Spong scores with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sefter shoots for a takedown but Spong saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Spong will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Spong is breathing heavily.
Sefter dodges the punch combination from Spong.
Spong will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Spong tries to clinch but Sefter moves out of range.
Spong tries a head kick but it misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Sefter.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sefter shoots in for a takedown but Spong shows good takedown defense.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sefter shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Spong sprawls well. Spong wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sefter gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Spong will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sefter throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Spong's waist but Spong gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sefter off to one side.
Spong throws a head kick that misses.
Spong misses with a head kick.
Sefter misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sefter shoots for a takedown but Spong saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Michael Spong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Sefter.

Sefter has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sefter stalling the fight.
Spong dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Sefter changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Spong fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Spong throws a lazy head kick

and Sefter counters by moving into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Sefter keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Spong's efforts to push away.
Stalling in the clinch from Sefter.
Sefter is looking for a takedown.
A nice right hand lands inside from Spong.
Spong letting Sefter take a breather here.
Spong is pressed up against the cage. Sefter has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Spong down to the mat. Spong avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
A head kick misses from Spong.
A head kick by Spong misses

and Sefter counters by moving into the clinch.
Sefter lands an elbow inside that Spong shrugs off.
Spong working aggressively here.
Spong prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sefter has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Spong after a bit of a struggle.
Sefter is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spong is trying to break the clinch but Sefter is controlling him.
Spong is trying to maintain a safe position but Sefter gets an underhook and turns Spong into the cage.

Spong breaks the clinch.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Spong!
Sefter is trying hard to land a takedown here. Spong sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sefter shoots for a takedown but Spong saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Spong moves in looking to clinch but Sefter pushes him off.
Spong throws a head kick but Sefter moves out of range.
Michael Spong is winning the standup battle so far.
Sefter circles away from the clinch attempt.
Spong scores with a head kick. Sefter tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Sefter shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Spong sprawls well. Spong wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sefter gets slowly back to his feet.
Sefter tries for a takedown but Spong circles away easily
enabling Spong to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spong looks to score with a jab to the body but Sefter is just out of range.
Sefter will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Spong tries a head kick but it misses.
Spong shoots in for a takedown but Sefter shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Sefter takes the fight into the clinch.
Sefter is working for takedown but Spong is calmly controlling the position for now.
Sefter wants a takedown.
Sefter drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Spong gets the underhooks and prevents it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Sefter - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Patrick Sefter seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Spong.
Sefter avoids a wild elbow strike from Spong.
Spong gets underhooks to prevent Sefter's takedown attempt.
Spong tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sefter avoids it.
Sefter is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Spong pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sefter keeps control of Spong as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Spong stops a takedown attempt from Sefter.
Spong is trying to push Sefter away but Sefter has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Spong working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Spong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick misses from Spong.

Sefter drives through and clinches with Spong against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Spong wants to get back to striking at distance but Sefter won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Michael Spong will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sefter fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sefter shoots in but Spong avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Sefter avoids the head kick by Spong.
Spong misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Sefter is trying hard to land a takedown here. Spong sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Spong shoots for a double leg takedown but Sefter sprawls well. He's pushed Spong's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Spong misses the shot to the body.
Spong lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Spong shoots for a takedown but Sefter saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Spong stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Spong wants it to stay on the feet.
Michael Spong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Patrick Sefter.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Spong scores with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sefter.
Spong tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nice sprawl there from Spong as Sefter shoots in.
Sefter darts in looking for a takedown but Spong gets double underhooks and turns Sefter into the cage.
Spong tries to stall but Sefter uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Sefter is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Spong pulls him back up using the underhooks.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Spong.
Sefter is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Spong is defending well.

Spong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sefter shoots in but no luck this time.
Michael Spong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sefter drives through and clinches with Spong against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sefter is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Spong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Nice elbow from Sefter.
Spong is trying to force a seperation but Sefter has the dominant position.
Sefter changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Spong fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sefter blocks a head kick by Spong.
Sefter moves out of range of the body kick from Spong.
Sefter takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Sefter takes the fight into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Spong's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sefter lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Sefter jumps into guard, dragging Spong to the mat.
Sefter has a closed guard, preventing Spong from standing up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sefter can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sefter is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Sefter is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sefter has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Spong after a bit of a struggle.

Spong manages to break the clinch.
Jab by Spong.
Spong throws a right and a left that both miss.
Sefter closes this distance looking for a takedown but Spong circles away.

Spong shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Spong wants to get up but he can't break Sefter's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Sefter has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Spong is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sefter stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Sefter wants a takedown but no success here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Michael Spong.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Spong, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Michael Spong!
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight for Michael Spong!
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Michael Spong!

Michael Spong wins by unanimous decision!
Michael Spong was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.