PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tanishk Soni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Demon Dark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Dark's choice of entrance music: Oomph! Labyrinth. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Soni
vs
Dark

200 cm
43
274 lbs
27 - 29 - 2

201 cm
21
270 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Experienced

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 29 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Tanishk Soni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Demon Dark!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soni misses with a hook. Dark ducked under it nicely.
Soni shoots in but Dark avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Soni lands with a nice body punch.
Tanishk Soni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dark takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Soni throws out a leg kick but Dark moves out of range and Soni only half commits.
Soni tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Dark manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Dark has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Soni fails to land the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soni moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Dark avoids a punch combination nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Soni.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tanishk Soni. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dark has a takedown stuffed.
Soni throws a body shot but no joy.
Dark misses with a wild combination.
Soni tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dark paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dark is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Dark has a takedown stuffed.

Soni shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Soni was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Dark wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dark wants to get back to his feet but Soni is dominant here and he's now got Dark's back!
Dark trying to get back to his feet but Soni is in full control for now.
Dark is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dark is trying to get back to his feet. He's worked up on to his knees and now he's on his feet with his head on the canvas, trying to shake Soni off. It looks like it's working - Soni slides off, much to his dismay, and we're back to standing! Dark displaying calm under pressure there.
Soni throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dark.
Soni lands a nice looking body shot.

Dark drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Soni is trying to control Dark's posture but Dark avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dark trying to control the action but Soni is working from the bottom.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dark in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tanishk Soni dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dark shoots for a takedown but Soni saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dark avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dark has a takedown stuffed.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Dark crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Soni - the referee stops the clock and Dark gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Soni. Dark manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Soni throws an off balance right hand

and Dark counters with a shoot takedown. Soni fights it but they end up in guard.
Dark throws a big elbow that misses.

Soni looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Soni keeping moving, preventing Dark from controlling successfully.
Soni wants to sweep here but Dark controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dark postures up in Soni's guard and throws a big left but Soni blocks it.
Dark content to stall in guard here.
Dark throws a strike but Soni rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Soni prevents Dark from getting back to his feet.
Dark is wriggling around but Soni manages to pass to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dark wants to get back to his feet.
Soni trying to control from half guard but Dark is working away.

Dark has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Soni is on him like a limpet, forcing Dark back against the cage.
I was talking to Soni's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soni wants a takedown.
Soni wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Dark wants a takedown.
Tanishk Soni has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demon Dark.

Soni breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Dark displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Soni throws out the jab.
Dark doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Soni counters with a nice uppercut.
Soni misses with a hook to the body
and Dark counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Dark tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Soni swivels and escapes.
Dark shoots in for a takedown but Soni shows good takedown defense.

Soni drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Dark is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Soni is controlling him.
Demon Dark has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Soni looking to pass the guard.
Soni stops Dark from standing up.

Soni has gone for a leg lock! Dark slips out almost immediately though and dives into Soni's guard.

Dark trying to control but Soni is working from the bottom.
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 Tanishk Soni will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Soni misses with a looping right.
Tanishk Soni is winning the standup battle so far.
Soni looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dark is fending him off so far but Soni persists. Nope, Dark circles away and we're back to standing.
Dark shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Soni as he avoids it easily.
Soni misses with a double jab

and Dark counters with a takedown into side control.

Dark tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Dark lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Soni down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dark throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dark looks up at the clock and then as Soni takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Dark smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Dark trying to control the action but Soni is working from the bottom.
Dark postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Soni is trying to get back to half guard.
Soni is not content to let Dark control the position.
Dark lands a decent elbow from side control.

It looks like Tanishk Soni has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dark working the strikes but Soni uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Soni is positioning himself well to prevent Dark advancing to mount.
Soni taking some punishment here, with Dark in his half guard.
Dark scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Dark throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dark seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Soni does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dark throwing shots but Soni is blocking nicely.
Dark not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Soni keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tanishk Soni is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Soni throws a right and a left that Dark avoids nicely.
Dark circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dark shoots in but no luck this time.
Dark doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Soni cracks Dark with a right hand to the side of the head.
Dark shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Soni sprawls well. Soni wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Dark gets slowly back to his feet.
Tanishk Soni has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Demon Dark.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Soni manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Dark on his heels. He'll look to pass Dark's guard now, I'm sure.
Soni prevents Dark from getting back to his feet.
Soni stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dark swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dark wants to stand and escape but Soni is having none of it.
Demon Dark has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Soni passes Dark's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tanishk Soni is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Soni controlling the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Demon Dark.
I think Soni has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tanishk Soni!
After winning the bout, Tanishk Soni thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.