PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Zorba The Dancing Buddha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Toney (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think The Dancing Buddha might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Zorba Time. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

The Dancing Buddha
vs
Toney

190 cm
19
216 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

191 cm
20
204 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zorba The Dancing Buddha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Toney!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Bruno Lombardi and Dean Styles.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Toney shoots in for a takedown but The Dancing Buddha shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
The Dancing Buddha scores with a jab. Toney acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

It looks like James Toney has been cut.
Toney bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Toney shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. The Dancing Buddha defends it nicely.
Toney fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Zorba The Dancing Buddha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Toney.
Toney shoots for a takedown but The Dancing Buddha saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Toney gets a takedown into half guard.
The Dancing Buddha trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Dancing Buddha on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if The Dancing Buddha tries to get out of the position.
The Dancing Buddha regains full guard. Nicely done.
The Dancing Buddha 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.
Toney content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Dancing Buddha wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Toney in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The Dancing Buddha trying to control the position.
The Dancing Buddha looking for a sweep. Not yet The Dancing Buddha, not yet.
The Dancing Buddha controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The Dancing Buddha is trying to control the position but Toney postures up.
Toney has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Toney wants to control from the top but The Dancing Buddha keeps moving.
Toney throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Toney accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The Dancing Buddha tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
The Dancing Buddha is working hard here to advance position.
Toney throwing strikes but missing.
The Dancing Buddha trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The Dancing Buddha looks to throw the jab but Toney is out of range.
Toney fails with an attempt to clinch.
Good exchange - The Dancing Buddha coming out on top.
Nice sprawl there from The Dancing Buddha as Toney shoots in.
James Toney seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The Dancing Buddha lands with a kick to the temple. Toney shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
The Dancing Buddha will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
The Dancing Buddha misses with a wild combination.
Horrible takedown attempt by Toney or perhaps it was just good defense by The Dancing Buddha, which made it look bad.
Toney has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
The Dancing Buddha leaves Toney with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Toney closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. The Dancing Buddha did well to prevent Toney getting side control.
The Dancing Buddha tries to roll over but Toney keeps him under control.
The Dancing Buddha on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Toney not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The Dancing Buddha slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Toney preventing the sweep.
The Dancing Buddha utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The Dancing Buddha pulls Toney in to control the position.
Toney cracks The Dancing Buddha with a solid left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Dancing Buddha looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Toney throws a big right hand that misses.
The Dancing Buddha looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The Dancing Buddha tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The Dancing Buddha trying to keep a closed guard but Toney is proving a slippery customer.
The Dancing Buddha seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Toney loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Toney wants to control from the top but The Dancing Buddha keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
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 Zorba The Dancing Buddha will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on James Toney's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Toney scores with a jab.
Toney looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Toney darts in looking for a takedown but The Dancing Buddha gets double underhooks and turns Toney into the cage.
Toney is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Zorba The Dancing Buddha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Toney.
The Dancing Buddha is trying to break free.
The Dancing Buddha working hard to break the clinch.
The Dancing Buddha gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Toney.
The Dancing Buddha lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Toney.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Dancing Buddha is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Toney is keeping busy.
The Dancing Buddha makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A hook to the body from The Dancing Buddha.
Toney is breathing heavily.
A short right from The Dancing Buddha.
The Dancing Buddha doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Dancing Buddha lands a hook to the side of the head.
The Dancing Buddha prevents a takedown attempt there.
The Dancing Buddha lands with a light punch inside.
The Dancing Buddha working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

The Dancing Buddha manages to break the clinch.
The Dancing Buddha smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Zorba The Dancing Buddha is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
The Dancing Buddha tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Toney is able to avoid easily.
Toney avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The Dancing Buddha just misses with a punch to the body.
The Dancing Buddha avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Toney fails with a takedown attempt.
The Dancing Buddha is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Toney can do to turn this around?
The Dancing Buddha throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Toney has his takedown stuffed
and The Dancing Buddha counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
The Dancing Buddha misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toney misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Toney shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with The Dancing Buddha but The Dancing Buddha pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Toney shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as The Dancing Buddha sprawls well. The Dancing Buddha wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Toney gets slowly back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A shot to the liver by The Dancing Buddha. Beautiful body shot.
Toney shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. The Dancing Buddha defends it nicely.
Toney shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts The Dancing Buddha as he jumps to the side.
The Dancing Buddha takes a swing at Toney's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Dancing Buddha throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The Dancing Buddha throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Toney looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Toney throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around The Dancing Buddha's waist but The Dancing Buddha gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Toney off to one side.
The Dancing Buddha cracks Toney with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
No luck for Toney with that takedown attempt.
Sloppy strikes from The Dancing Buddha. Those never looked like landing.
The Dancing Buddha scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Toney blocks a low kick nicely.
The Dancing Buddha loads up on a big right hand but Toney slips the punch.
Toney misses with a hook. The Dancing Buddha ducked under it nicely.
Toney looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Toney drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The Dancing Buddha is looking for a sweep.
Toney in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Toney connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused The Dancing Buddha some visible discomfort.
The Dancing Buddha tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The Dancing Buddha is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
The Dancing Buddha on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Toney cracks The Dancing Buddha with a big right hand but The Dancing Buddha just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Toney tries to score with some ground and pound. The Dancing Buddha controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
You can see the frustration on The Dancing Buddha's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zorba The Dancing Buddha dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on James Toney's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Toney closes this distance looking for a takedown but The Dancing Buddha circles away.
Toney fails with an attempt to clinch.
Toney fails with an attempt to clinch.
Toney fails with a takedown attempt.
Toney shoots for a takedown but The Dancing Buddha saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Zorba The Dancing Buddha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Toney.
Toney has a takedown stuffed.
Toney moves out of range as The Dancing Buddha strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Dancing Buddha throws a nice looking combination but Toney bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The Dancing Buddha misses with a two punch combination.
Toney shoots in but The Dancing Buddha avoids the takedown attempt easily.
No luck for Toney with that takedown attempt.
Toney takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toney has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Toney there as he acknowledges the shot.
The Dancing Buddha bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
The Dancing Buddha defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Toney.
A shot to the liver by The Dancing Buddha. Beautiful body shot.
The Dancing Buddha scores with a crisp jab that stopped Toney in his tracks.
Toney keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Toney misses with a takedown attempt - The Dancing Buddha sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Toney needs to keep his hands up - The Dancing Buddha had a free shot at his head there.

Toney is rocked!

That has opened up James Toney's cut even more.
Toney dives in and grabs The Dancing Buddha's left leg, looking for a takedown. The Dancing Buddha pushes down on Toney's head and hops out.
Toney is still on wobbly legs! Can The Dancing Buddha finish him?
Toney walks right into a perfectly timed right hook and goes down hard! He's out cold! The ref cradles Toney limp body while The Dancing Buddha jumps on to the cage and waves to the roaring crowd. Wow that was just a brutal knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Zorba The Dancing Buddha!
Zorba The Dancing Buddha seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.