PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sammie Elliott (ranked 25356 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Tong (ranked 4593 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Elliott
vs
Tong

208 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
220 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Sammie Elliott!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ben Tong!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Paul Gruel and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Elliott closes the distance and pushes Tong back into the cage.

Elliott pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Elliott fails with a takedown attempt.
Elliott shoots for a takedown but Tong saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tong shoots in for a takedown but Elliott shows good takedown defense.
Tong doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Elliott counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Elliott.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Elliott manages to break the clinch.
Tong goes for a double leg but Elliott avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Elliott continues to drive forward.
Sammie Elliott has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ben Tong.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tong gets tackled into the cage by Elliott. Elliott maintains the clinch.
Elliott tries for a takedown but Tong manages to get underhooks.

Elliott gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Tong regains guard.
Tong looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Elliott drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tong dives on top into guard.

Tong not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tong is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tong trying to control the position from guard on top but Elliott is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tong trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tong throwing strikes but missing.

Tong drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tong jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Elliott trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Elliott wants to sweep but no luck.
Tong postures up.
Elliott 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tong thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tong engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Let's hope that Tong has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Tong trying to control the position from guard on top but Elliott is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Elliott rushes Tong and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Elliott manages to break the clinch.
We've been informed that Tong has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Tong closes this distance looking for a takedown but Elliott circles away.
Tong looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Elliott is fending him off so far but Tong persists. Nope, Elliott circles away and we're back to standing.
Elliott is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Tong.

Elliott rushes Tong and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Elliott breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Elliott shoots for a takedown but Tong saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Tong throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Elliott tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Tong is in Elliott's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tong loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tong postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sammie Elliott dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tong fails with a takedown attempt.
Elliott tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Tong manages to circle out of the way.
Sammie Elliott is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Elliott gets caught napping as Tong dives in and scores a takedown. Elliott manages to retain guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tong controlling from the top position.
Tong throwing strikes from guard but Elliott blocks nicely.
Ben Tong has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elliott working a defensive guard here.

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

Tong looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Tong has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Elliott can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tong seems keen to control Elliott's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tong is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Elliott avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tong keeping moving, preventing Elliott from controlling successfully.
Elliott wants to get up but he can't break Tong's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Elliott is fighting to break Tong's control of his arms but Tong is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elliott is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Tong is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Elliott postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Elliott trying to control the position from guard on top but Tong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tong has control of Elliott's left arm, preventing Elliott from doing any damage.

That's four 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.
Tong utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Tong dives in and scores a takedown into Elliott's guard.
Elliott not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Elliott keeping moving, preventing Tong from controlling successfully.

Tong is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Elliott is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Tong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Elliott's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Elliott instigates a clinch.
Tong avoiding damage.
Tong just leaning against Elliott, taking a breather.

Elliott breaks from the clinch.

Tong pushes Elliott up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Elliott breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Tong clinches.

Elliott works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Tong pushes Elliott off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tong shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Elliott napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Tong moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

Tong goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Elliott rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Tong's guard! Nice work there by Elliott!
Tong bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Elliott's guard.

Elliott will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tong trying to control the position from guard on top but Elliott is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Elliott can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tong controls the pace.
Tong has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Elliott is proving hard to escape from.
Tong makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tong slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Tong throws a big elbow that misses.
Tong is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tong throwing strikes from guard but Elliott blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tong in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Elliott avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Elliott can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tong controls the pace.
Tong is looking to stand up but Elliott won't let him.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Tong throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Tong fails with the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Elliott has taken the fight to the clinch.

Elliott pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Elliott has Tong up against the cage in a clinch.
Tong tries a body shot but Elliott blocks it.

Elliott breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tong looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
As Tong looks to move away, Elliott throws a big counter combo but Tong just gets out of the way.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ben Tong.
I think Tong has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Josh West scores the fight 29:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ben Tong!