PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Monteban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chance Spong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Spong comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Cure - A Forest kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Monteban
vs
Spong

165 cm
28
158 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

168 cm
25
168 lbs
10 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

Spartan Nutrition
KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ricardo Monteban!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Chance Spong!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Saam Ante and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spong missing with a left hand there. Monteban was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Monteban motions for Spong to come forward. Monteban throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Spong just misses with a punch to the body.
We've been informed that Spong has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Chance Spong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spong scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Spong throws a sloppy body shot

so Monteban counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Spong controls Monteban momentarily but Monteban frees himself.
Monteban keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Spong's head.
Monteban trying to control the position from guard on top but Spong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Spong 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Monteban drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Spong manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Monteban has Spong in his guard.

Spong trying to control the position from guard on top but Monteban is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spong drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Spong jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Spong throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Monteban works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Monteban keeping full guard, as Spong tries to pass.
Spong wants to control from the top but Monteban keeps moving.
Monteban is pulling down on Spong's head to control his posture.
Spong trying to control the position from guard on top but Monteban is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Monteban looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Spong passes into side control.
Spong is looking to take a break and control but Monteban is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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 strikes coming from Spong are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Spong creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Monteban sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
You can see the frustration on Monteban's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Monteban gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Monteban manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Spong wants to control from the top but Monteban keeps moving.
Spong keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Monteban's head.
Spong is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Spong postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Monteban not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monteban 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.

Monteban looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Spong wants to control from the top but Monteban keeps moving.
Spong slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Monteban is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We've been hearing that Monteban has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Spong keeping hold of Monteban's head, controlling as best he can.
Spong is looking to improve his position.
Monteban is keen to just control but Spong is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spong trying to control here.
Spong wants to get back to full guard.
Monteban with the ground and pound but Spong uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Spong working a defensive guard here.
Monteban passes into half guard.
Spong is looking for a sweep. Monteban is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Spong is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Monteban jumps into side control!
Spong manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Spong tries to get to full guard but Monteban has control of the leg.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spong is looking to control Monteban's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Spong avoid being mounted?
Monteban looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Spong with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
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 Ricardo Monteban will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Spong tried to score with a low kick but Monteban checks it.
As Spong looks to move away, Monteban throws a big counter combo but Spong just gets out of the way.
Monteban keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Monteban appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Monteban bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Monteban shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Spong pinned against the cage. Spong gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Monteban misses the shot to the body.

Monteban shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Spong is trying to defend but Monteban finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Spong wants to control but Monteban is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monteban wants to pass to mount but Spong is defending the position.
Spong is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Spong wants to control but Monteban is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monteban perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Monteban is just content to waste time from the top position. Spong takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Spong looking to hit a scissor sweep but Monteban is one step ahead there.

Spong escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Monteban gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Spong working a defensive guard but Monteban passes into half guard.
Monteban is thwarting Spong's attempts to control the position.
Monteban not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Monteban is trying to control the action in half guard but Spong is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spong moves into full guard.
Monteban in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Monteban working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Spong is controlling Monteban's posture.
Spong trying to keep a closed guard but Monteban is proving a slippery customer.
Spong can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Monteban controls the pace.
Monteban is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Spong can do to turn this around?
Spong controlling the position.
Monteban missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Spong is on top in guard.

Spong working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spong stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Monteban swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Spong trying to control but Monteban is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monteban is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Monteban trying to control the position.
Spong in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Monteban has his hands on Spong's head, controlling the position.

Monteban is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Spong defends well.

Monteban looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Monteban controls Spong momentarily but Spong frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Monteban had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Spong defends it easily.
Monteban is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Spong distracts Monteban with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Monteban is trying to keep Spong in close.
Spong tries to free his leg and advance position but Monteban is retaining full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Spong controlling from the top position.

Monteban has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Spong doesn't defend quickly enough and Monteban has managed to lock this one up! Can Spong escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Monteban on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Ricardo Monteban!
Ricardo Monteban gave a mention to Spartan Nutrition in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).