PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Iancu Calmuschi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Robert The Sponge (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Calmuschi
vs
The Sponge

177 cm
20
165 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

179 cm
21
160 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Iancu Calmuschi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Robert The Sponge!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Stewart Dunkirk and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Calmuschi lands with a nice body punch.
The Sponge blocks a head kick by Calmuschi.
The Sponge is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
The Sponge ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
The Sponge throws a counter combo.
Calmuschi catches The Sponge with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Calmuschi throws a big shot that misses.
The Sponge tries to counter with a clinch but Calmuschi shakes him off and moves away.
The Sponge darts in looking for a takedown but Calmuschi gets double underhooks and turns The Sponge into the cage.
Calmuschi throws a hook to the side of The Sponge's head but The Sponge sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Sponge takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from The Sponge.
Iancu Calmuschi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Calmuschi.
The crowd cheers as Calmuschi lands an impressive looking overhand right. The Sponge doesn't seem phased though.
The Sponge dives in and grabs Calmuschi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Calmuschi pushes down on The Sponge's head and hops out.
A little feinted left hand from Calmuschi on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Iancu Calmuschi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert The Sponge.
Calmuschi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Calmuschi misses with a body shot.
Iancu Calmuschi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Calmuschi swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The Sponge is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calmuschi misses with an uppercut. The Sponge saw that one coming.
The Sponge tries to counter by closing the distance.
We've been told by Calmuschi's head coaches at Den of Tears (22 coaches) that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
The Sponge misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The Sponge fails with a takedown attempt.
Calmuschi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from The Sponge.
Calmuschi works The Sponge's body with a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calmuschi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. The Sponge checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
The Sponge wants to counter with a clinch but Calmuschi pushes him away.
Calmuschi takes a swing at The Sponge's ribcage but misses.
Calmuschi connects with a leg kick. The Sponge looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Calmuschi connects with a nice looking jab.
Calmuschi lands a slapping body shot.
The Sponge closes the distance and clinches up with Calmuschi, looking for a takedown. The Sponge pushes Calmuschi against the cage but Calmuschi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The Sponge takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Calmuschi attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Calmuschi throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
The Sponge drops his hands momentarily and Calmuschi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Calmuschi misses with a leg kick.
The Sponge wants to counter the offense by Calmuschi and move into the clinch position.
Calmuschi loads up on a big right hand but The Sponge slips the punch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Calmuschi lands a two punch combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Calmuschi thows a leg kick but The Sponge checks it

and The Sponge counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iancu Calmuschi dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Calmuschi scores with a jab. The Sponge acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
The Sponge tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Calmuschi defends well and The Sponge ends up having to push Calmuschi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Calmuschi throws a big counter combination but The Sponge scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
The Sponge fails with a takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Calmuschi misses.

Calmuschi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Calmuschi trying to keep a closed guard but The Sponge is proving a slippery customer.
Calmuschi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Calmuschi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for The Sponge on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calmuschi keeping moving, preventing The Sponge from controlling successfully.
The Sponge loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Calmuschi controlling the position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Calmuschi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in The Sponge's guard.

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 Sponge has a closed guard, preventing Calmuschi from standing up.

The Sponge looking for a guillotine here but Calmuschi defends easily.
Calmuschi stopping the sweep attempt from The Sponge.
Calmuschi slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calmuschi has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The Sponge has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Calmuschi has passed into side control.
Calmuschi staying calm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The Sponge wants to control but Calmuschi postures up.
Calmuschi moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The Sponge tries to clinch up but Calmuschi circles away and keeps his distance.
Good exchange - Calmuschi coming out on top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iancu Calmuschi dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Calmuschi wants to slow The Sponge down by chopping away at his legs.
Calmuschi sets himself, and The Sponge steps forward looking for the clinch! Calmuschi avoids it this time.
Calmuschi scores with a crisp jab that stopped The Sponge in his tracks.
Calmuschi looks to land a right hand but The Sponge moved out of range.
Calmuschi attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Calmuschi scores with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The Sponge dives in for a single leg takedown but Calmuschi sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Calmuschi is looking to counter punch.
Calmuschi throws a good cross that connects.
Nice sprawl there from Calmuschi as The Sponge shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Sponge takes a kick to the side of the head.
Calmuschi wants to land a leg kick but The Sponge is out of range.
The Sponge with the counter takedown but Calmuschi avoids it easily.
Calmuschi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps The Sponge's head backwards.

The Sponge is rocked!
Calmuschi misses with a wild body shot.
The Sponge steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Calmuschi.
The Sponge defending well as Calmuschi loads up on a big left hand.
Robert The Sponge is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The Sponge takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The Sponge takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calmuschi digs a good hook to The Sponge's body.
The Sponge takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Calmuschi throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck The Sponge on the side of the head.
A slow jab from Calmuschi misses its intended target.
The Sponge tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Calmuschi lands the left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Calmuschi cracks a nice hook into The Sponge's ribs.
Calmuschi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that The Sponge can do to turn this around?
Calmuschi throws out a loose jab but The Sponge uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A decent looking cross lands there for Calmuschi.
The Sponge fails with the takedown
and Calmuschi counters with a leg kick.
Iancu Calmuschi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Robert The Sponge.
Calmuschi cracks The Sponge with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The Sponge with a lazy takedown attempt
and Calmuschi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The Sponge is still on wobbly legs! Can Calmuschi finish him?
Calmuschi lands with a straight right. The Sponge didn't see that one coming.
Calmuschi throws a hook to the side of The Sponge's head but The Sponge sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And The Sponge tries to counter it with a takedown but Calmuschi pushes his down on his head and steps out.
The Sponge seems to have recovered his senses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Sponge takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
The Sponge on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Calmuschi lands with a right hand.
Calmuschi thuds his right hand into The Sponge's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A low kick from Calmuschi misses

and The Sponge counters with a single leg into guard. Calmuschi didn't expect that.
The Sponge throwing strikes from guard but Calmuschi blocks nicely.
The Sponge wants to pass the guard but Calmuschi is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Iancu Calmuschi showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Calmuschi, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Alan Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iancu Calmuschi!