PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Papa Shango (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Tonon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tonon has chosen What About Now as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shango
vs
Tonon

177 cm
37
166 lbs
25 - 14 - 0

174 cm
29
158 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Dauntless
Amped Performance

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 25 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Papa Shango!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gary Tonon!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Donald Grub and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Tonon looks to throw the jab but Shango is out of range.
Shango feinted with a counter takedown.
Tonon thows a left - swing and a miss!
Shango is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Tonon.
Shango gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Tonon.
Tonon jabs Shango to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Tonon throws a series of punches but Shango avoids them all with ease.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tonon throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Shango drops down looking for a counter takedown but Tonon sprawls and moves away.
Tonon missing with a left hand there. Shango was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Shango drops down looking for a counter takedown but Tonon sprawls and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shango keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tonon connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Shango momentarily.
Tonon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Shango moves away.
Shango attempts a counter takedown but Tonon avoids it well and moves away.
Tonon takes a swing at Shango's ribcage but misses.
Shango half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Tonon lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Tonon wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Shango looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tonon throws a jab but it's blocked by Shango.
Shango feinted with a counter takedown.
Tonon lands with a straight right. Shango didn't see that one coming.
Tonon pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Tonon loads up on a big right hand but Shango slips the punch.
Tonon lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Tonon jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonon just misses with a punch to the body.
Shango is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Tonon.
Tonon throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Shango stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Tonon misses with a straight left.
As Tonon tries to get set, Shango tries to push him back and clinch up but Tonon manages to avoid the attempt.
A jab from Tonon misses.
Tonon throws an overhand right that lands on Shango's shoulder, as Shango tries to avoid the shot.
Shango changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Shango slips a jab from Tonon.
Shango wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shango blocks a jab.
Shango changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Nice straight punches there by Tonon. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Tonon.
Shango avoids the body shot from Tonon.
Shango appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Tonon pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tonon swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tonon lands a nice hook to Shango's body. Shango takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Tonon 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.

Tonon lands a nice hook to Shango's body. Shango takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Tonon works Shango's body with a nice hook.
Gary Tonon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tonon throws a sloppy body shot

and Shango counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Tonon!
Tonon is looking for a sweep.
Tonon sneaks back into half guard.
Tonon holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shango is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Tonon wants to control the action here but instead Shango manages to pass to full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shango is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Shango pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonon can't escape the position.
Shango can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tonon is looking to escape.
Shango controlling from mount.
Tonon sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Shango is trying to control. Tonon wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Shango is thwarting Tonon's attempts to control the position.
Tonon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shango wants to control but Tonon is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shango prevents Tonon from improving his position.
Tonon wants to control but Shango is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tonon is doing well to control the position and prevent Shango from advancing to side control.
Shango is looking to take a break and control but Tonon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tonon tries to get to full guard but Shango has control of the leg.
Tonon is in trouble now - Shango has advanced to mount!
Tonon tries to hold on but Shango postures up.
Shango controlling from the full mount.
Tonon tries to lock up and control but Shango gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tonon is trying to escape the mount.
Shango tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shango wants to control the pace but Tonon is squirming around nicely.
Tonon is desperately trying to improve his position but Shango has a good base and remains in mount.
Tonon wants to control but Shango is having none of it.
Tonon is squirming around, avoiding Shango's attempts to control the action.

Tonon tries to improve his position but Shango has taken his back! Shango has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Tonon tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Shango pushes Tonon away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Papa Shango!
Papa Shango was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.