PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bryan Spong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Joseph (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Spong
vs
Joseph

183 cm
25
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Bryan Spong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mark Joseph!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Winston Alpacca and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Joseph tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Spong swivels and escapes.
Spong tries to score a power double leg takedown but Joseph sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Spong somewhat.

Joseph looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Joseph accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spong keeping full guard, as Joseph tries to pass.
Joseph is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Joseph working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Mark Joseph wasn't active enough on the ground.

Joseph gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Joseph wants to break the clinch but can't.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Spong utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

Joseph has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Spong uses from the top position.
Joseph looking to control.
Joseph will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spong sitting in guard here, content to control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Joseph is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Joseph misses with the combination.

Joseph closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Spong's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Joseph has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Spong is proving hard to escape from.
Joseph prevents Spong from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spong wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Mark Joseph was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Joseph darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Joseph content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spong is trying to maintain the position but Joseph is very close to passing his half guard.

Mark Joseph has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Joseph circles away from the clinch attempt.

Joseph drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joseph tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Joseph dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Joseph gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Joseph avoiding damage as Spong throws knees to the body.
Spong trying to land knees to the body.
Spong misses with a body punch.
Joseph gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Spong.
Spong lands a body punch in the clinch.
Spong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Joseph.
Joseph blocks a body shot from Spong.
Spong trying to land knees to the body.
Joseph goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Spong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Joseph is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Spong is defending well.
Spong missing with knees to the body.
Joseph on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joseph looking for a takedown.
Spong tries a body shot but Joseph blocks it.
Spong misses with a punch to the body.
Spong trying to land knees to the body.
Joseph misses with a hook to the ribs.

Joseph has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Spong uses from the top position.
Spong tries to stand but Joseph is controlling from the bottom.
Mark Joseph has got the better of the ground game so far.
Joseph is pulling down on Spong's head to control his posture.
Joseph trying to keep a closed guard but Spong is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Joseph working for a triangle but Spong defends it easily.
Joseph 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Joseph is on top in guard.
Joseph looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bryan Spong has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Spong tries to clinch up

and Joseph counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Joseph.
Spong knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Joseph on the ground.
Joseph throwing strikes from guard but Spong blocks nicely.
Joseph tries to free his leg and advance position but Spong is retaining full guard.
Joseph trying to control the position from guard on top but Spong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mark Joseph.
Spong looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Joseph fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Spong, pushing him back against the cage.
Spong tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Joseph avoids it.
Joseph scores with a shot to the side of Spong's head.

Joseph has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Spong clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
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!
Joseph trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joseph throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Joseph 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. This is the final round!

Spong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Joseph swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Spong fails in his attempt to clinch.

Joseph clinches up against the cage.
Joseph tries to pull guard but Spong holds him up against the cage and eventually Joseph drops back down to his feet.
Joseph avoiding damage as Spong throws knees to the body.

Joseph manages to break the clinch.

Spong drives through and clinches with Joseph against the cage.
Spong tries to throw a body punch but Joseph avoids it by throwing Spong back against the cage.
Joseph wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Joseph has Spong pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Spong manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Joseph managing to block the knees to the body from Spong.
Spong tries to throw a body punch but Joseph avoids it by throwing Spong back against the cage.
Spong missing with knees to the body.
Joseph looking to stall.
Joseph managing to block the knees to the body from Spong.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Joseph avoids it.
Joseph tries to score a body lock takedown but Spong shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bryan Spong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Joseph.
Spong lands a good knee to the midsection. Joseph won't want to take too many of those.
Joseph tries for a takedown. No joy.
Joseph wants to get back to striking at distance but Spong won't allow it.
A right hook to the body lands for Spong.
Joseph takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Spong misses with a punch to the body.
Spong lands a knee to the body.
Spong is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Joseph is defending well for now.
Spong is working Joseph over against the cage.
Spong landing knees to the body.
Spong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Joseph's elbow.
Spong lands a good knee to the midsection. Joseph won't want to take too many of those.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spong utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Joseph.
Joseph managing to block the knees to the body from Spong.
Spong lands a nice knee to the body.
Joseph managing to block the knees to the body from Spong.
Spong is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Joseph gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Joseph manages to pull guard.
Joseph tries to strike from the bottom.
Spong postures up.
Spong trying to control the position from guard on top but Joseph is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Spong wants to stand and escape but instead Joseph has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joseph content to stall in guard here.

We're going to have a standup here because Bryan Spong wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Joseph fails with a takedown attempt.
Spong looks to clinch

and Joseph moves into the clinch.
Bryan Spong has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Spong landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Spong lands a good knee to the midsection. Joseph won't want to take too many of those.
Spong tries to pull guard but Joseph forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joseph is trying to force a seperation but Spong has the dominant position.
Spong lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Joseph can't get the takedown.
Spong tries to land knees in the clinch but Joseph avoids the damage to the body.
Spong can't find room to land a body shot as Joseph controls the action.

Joseph drags the fight down to the ground.
Spong postures up.
Spong trying to control but Joseph is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Joseph can do anything to dispel that myth.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spong slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Spong showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Joseph has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 28:29
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Joseph!