PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sam Ponjev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyler Showman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Sam Ponjev has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Sam Ponjev seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Ponjev
vs
Showman

185 cm
26
180 lbs
12 - 1 - 0

190 cm
26
170 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

Atlantis
DROPPIN BODIES

Atlantis

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Sam Ponjev!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tyler Showman!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, David Hoff and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ponjev lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Ponjev has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Evil Emp-HEAD HUNTERS FIGHTCLUB ELITE in the buildup to the fight.
Ponjev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Tyler Showman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ponjev looks to land a combination but Showman avoids it well.
Showman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ponjev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Showman slips a jab from Ponjev.

Ponjev shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Showman's guard.
Showman is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Showman wants to stand up but Ponjev is controlling him.
Ponjev controls from within his opponent's guard.
Ponjev stops Showman from standing up.
Showman being controlled here, momentarily.
Showman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ponjev not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Sam Ponjev wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Ponjev gets a double leg takedown into Showman's guard.
Showman wants to stand up but Ponjev is controlling him.
Ponjev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Showman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ponjev is controlling him.
Ponjev throws a big elbow that misses.
Ponjev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Showman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ponjev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Ponjev showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ponjev with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Showman utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ponjev wants to control from the top but Showman keeps moving.
Showman looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Showman wants to get back to his feet but Ponjev passes into half guard.
Showman is trying to stand back up but Ponjev is controlling him
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ponjev controlling the action here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ponjev is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Ponjev is trying to work for a kimura but Showman is defending well.
Ponjev tries to pass to full mount but Showman defends it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Showman regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Ponjev.
Ponjev is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ponjev cracks Showman with a solid left hand.
Ponjev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Showman is keeping the position for now.
Showman preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Showman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ponjev.
Ponjev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ponjev wants to pass the guard but Showman is keeping the position.
Showman really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ponjev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Ponjev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Showman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ponjev wants to control from the top but Showman keeps moving.
Showman is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ponjev is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Showman is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Ponjev throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Ponjev dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Showman is looking to slow Ponjev down with leg kicks.
Showman wants to clinch up but Ponjev keeps it at a distance.
Ponjev throws a hook to the side of Showman's head but Showman sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Showman gets caught flat footed, as Ponjev shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Showman can't keep his opponent in guard - Ponjev advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ponjev is controlling the pace.
Showman is trying to stand up here but Ponjev is controlling him well.
Sam Ponjev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ponjev with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Ponjev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Showman is just riding it out for now. Ponjev eventually gives up the hold.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Showman pushes Ponjev off looking to stand but Ponjev dives back in and keeps control.
Ponjev slips a nice elbow through Showman's hands, connecting with Showman's forehead.

Ponjev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Showman doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Ponjev.
Ponjev stops Showman from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev slows the pace down in half guard.
Ponjev prevents Showman from standing back up.
Ponjev throwing shots but Showman is blocking nicely.
Ponjev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Showman defending well though.
Ponjev lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ponjev is nestled in close to Showman, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ponjev is taking a breather. Showman says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Showman is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponjev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Ponjev drops an elbow to the side of Showman's head.
Ponjev perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ponjev is trying to control the action in half guard but Showman is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Showman pushes Ponjev off looking to stand but Ponjev dives back in and keeps control.
Ponjev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Showman defending well though.
Ponjev thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Showman's head.
Ponjev has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ponjev lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Ponjev lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Showman really wants to buck Ponjev off and get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Ponjev looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Ponjev lands a heavy elbow.
Ponjev lands a heavy elbow.
Showman is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Ponjev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Ponjev unloading with bombs!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A nice elbow there by Ponjev.

Showman is rocked!
Ponjev postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Showman badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Ponjev around the waist but Ponjev pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Ponjev is the winner by TKO! Ponjev jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Sam Ponjev!
Sam Ponjev retains his welterweight title!
After winning the bout, Sam Ponjev thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Tyler Showman was interviewed post fight and said 'I thought I did enough to win the fight, but it just didn't turn out that way. I'll watch the film to learn what I can, and I'll come back a better fighter.'.