PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Spong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Franklin Worner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Spong has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Spong
vs
Worner

165 cm
25
140 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Spong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Franklin Worner!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spong turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Spong lands a high kick!
Worner shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Spong sprawls well. Spong wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Worner gets slowly back to his feet.
Worner takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Spong has Worner up against the cage in a clinch.
Worner tries to score a body lock takedown but Spong shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Worner looking to stall.
Spong lands a shoulder strike.
A knee to the head by Spong.
Spong lands a left hand.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nice elbow from Spong.
Worner tries a knee to the head but Spong blocks it.
Worner wants to get back to striking at distance but Spong won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong scores with a knee to the head.
Worner tries for a takedown. No joy.
Michael Spong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franklin Worner.
Worner is trying to force a seperation but Spong has the dominant position.
Worner is trying to push Spong away but Spong has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Spong breaks the clinch.
Spong defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Worner.
Worner looks winded!
Spong fails in his attempt to clinch.
Spong tries for a takedown but Worner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Spong throws a shot to the body.
Spong connects with a body shot that sends Worner's belly button to the back.

Spong instigates a clinch.
Worner is trying to pull guard but Spong has him pressed against the cage.
Worner wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Worner stalling in the clinch but Spong improves position.
Spong gets through Worner's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Worner jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Spong walks away with a smile on his face. Worner gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Spong rushes Worner and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Spong leaning his opponent against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Spong is working Worner over against the cage.
Worner misses with some punches.
Worner jumps guard but Spong turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Worner is trying to force a seperation but Spong has the dominant position.
Spong working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Spong lands a nice knee to the body.
Spong softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Spong lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spong breaks from the clinch.
Spong scores with a head kick. Worner tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Worner takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Spong instigates a clinch.
Spong creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Worner's defenses.
Worner tries to pull guard but Spong won't allow it.
Worner jumps guard but Spong turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Spong breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Spong shoots in for a double leg but Worner sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Spong moves into range and clinches up with Worner.
Spong with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Worner is trying to stall.
Worner wants to get back to striking at distance but Spong won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spong lands a knee to the body.
Spong lands a knee to the head.
Spong crunches a lovely knee into Worner's ribcage.
Worner wants a takedown but no success here.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Spong.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Spong.
Spong connects with a knee to the head.
Spong lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Spong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Worner throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Spong tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Worner is in Spong's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Spong has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Worner off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Spong has Worner up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Spong 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.

Spong lands with a kick to the temple. Worner shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
A decent looking body kick lands there for Spong.

Spong looking to score a takedown here. Worner is defending well but Spong drives through and ends up in Worner's guard.
Spong is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Spong stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Spong is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Spong shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Worner trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spong is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Worner has managed to free his arm - good work.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Worner can do anything to dispel that myth.
Worner trying to control here.

Spong seems to be working for a kimura but Worner defends the submission attempt.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Worner punching from the bottom.
Spong not doing much here.
Worner is trying to maintain the position but Spong is very close to passing his half guard.
Worner tries to get to full guard but Spong has control of the leg.

Spong escapes and gets back to his feet.

Spong takes the fight into the clinch.
Worner wants to break free but Spong has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worner tries to pull guard but Spong holds him up against the cage and eventually Worner drops back down to his feet.
A knee to the head by Spong.
Spong landing knees to the head.
Worner takes a shot to the head.
Spong lands a nice elbow.
Spong scores with a hook to the body.
Spong lands a shot to the body.
Worner is trying to force a seperation but Spong has the dominant position.
Worner tries to stall but Spong uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Spong lands a knee to the body.
Worner looking to slow down the pace here.
Spong lands an elbow just above Worner 's eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Worner wants to take the fight to the mat but Spong manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Spong has Worner pushed against the cage.
Spong lands a damaging elbow.
Spong lands a hook to the side of the head.
Worner jumps guard but Spong stands there with Worner around his waist. Worner gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Michael Spong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franklin Worner.
Worner looking to slow down the pace here.
Spong is looking for a takedown.
Worner throws a punch but it's blocked by Spong.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spong lands an elbow inside.
Worner is trying to pull guard but Spong turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Worner wants to break free but Spong has control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Spong dominated that second round.
That's time! Spong's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Spong has Worner up against the cage in a clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Spong.
Spong lands an elbow inside.
Worner tries to break the clinch but Spong is controlling the position.
Worner is trying to pull guard but Spong has him pressed against the cage.
Spong creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Worner's defenses.
Spong lands a left hand.
Worner drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Spong gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Spong has Worner pressed against the cage.
Worner takes a knee right on the jaw!
Worner tries to land knees in the clinch but Spong avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Worner takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Spong is pressed up against the cage. Worner 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.
Michael Spong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Franklin Worner.
Spong stalks Worner and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Worner's face. Worner staggers backwards, shaken.
Spong lands a head kick!

Worner is rocked!
Worner takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Worner is still on wobbly legs! Can Spong finish him?
Michael Spong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spong lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Worner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Spong scores with a nice strike.
Spong plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Spong throws a head kick that Worner semi-blocks.
Michael Spong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Worner looks for a takedown but Spong sprawls well.
Worner has his takedown stuffed
and Spong counters with a low kick, right behind Worner 's knee.
Worner seems to have recovered his senses.
Spong scores with a crisp jab that stopped Worner in his tracks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Worner has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Spong finds it's way round the side to connect with Worner's head.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Worner is defended easily by Spong.
Spong throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Worner.
Spong shoots in but no luck this time.
Worner tries to clinch up
and Spong counters with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A clash of legs there as Spong blocks the low kick.

Worner gets a double leg takedown into Spong's guard.

Worner drops back, looking for a kneebar! Spong looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Spong looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Spong!

Spong decides to stand back up.
Worner takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Spong tries to clinch there but Worner circles away.
Worner wants to clinch up but Spong keeps it at a distance.
Worner tries a head kick but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spong lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Worner shoots in but Spong avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Michael Spong is winning the standup battle so far.
Spong throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Spong misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Worner misses with a double jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Worner fails with a takedown attempt.
Spong throws a head kick that Worner semi-blocks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Worner tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Spong manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Spong lands a two punch combo.
Franklin Worner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Spong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Worner lands a glancing blow to the side of Spong's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Spong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Spong has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Spong!
After the fight, Michael Spong was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.