PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gary Tonon (ranked 182 p4p, 26 weight class) and Viktor Bestarsson (ranked 764 p4p, 103 weight class). Tonon's entrance music is What About Now. A fine choice. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Tonon
vs
Bestarsson

174 cm
33
158 lbs
21 - 15 - 0

179 cm
32
166 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Riner Clothing

Aspire Clothing
RAGS of a RONIN

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 21 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Gary Tonon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Viktor Bestarsson!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Dillan Fox and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tonon closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bestarsson circles away.
It seemed like Bestarsson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.

Tonon shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tonon showed some decent athleticism there.
Tonon thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Tonon connects with a nice short shot to Bestarsson's temple.
Tonon is trying to control the action in half guard but Bestarsson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bestarsson is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Tonon wants to pass to mount but Bestarsson is defending the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bestarsson tries to roll over but Tonon keeps him under control.
Tonon trying to mount his opponent but Bestarsson defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonon content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Tonon wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bestarsson keeps working.
Bestarsson trying to control from the bottom.
Tonon passes to side control.
Bestarsson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's two 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.
Bestarsson trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bestarsson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tonon wants to control but Bestarsson is keeping him busy.
Bestarsson is looking to control Tonon's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bestarsson avoid being mounted?
Tonon missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bestarsson wants to improve his position but Tonon is controlling well.
Tonon throwing shots but Bestarsson is blocking nicely.
Tonon wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bestarsson keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bestarsson leaves Tonon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tonon gets a takedown into half guard.
Tonon wants to take a breather but Bestarsson is having none of it.
Bestarsson tries to get to full guard but Tonon has control of the leg.
Tonon has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Still in half guard, Tonon seems content to control.
Tonon wants to take a breather but Bestarsson is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bestarsson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Bestarsson is defending against the submission attempts here by Tonon.
Ground and pound from Tonon.
Tonon is trying to control. Bestarsson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Tonon in particular looking to stall.
Tonon scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tonon wants to pass the guard but Bestarsson is defending well.
Bestarsson wants to control but Tonon is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tonon scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Tonon thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tonon scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Tonon missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tonon has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Bestarsson regains half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tonon wants to pass to mount but Bestarsson is defending the position.
Tonon is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bestarsson can do to turn this around?
Bestarsson is looking for a sweep. Tonon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bestarsson is controlling Tonon's position as best he can from this difficult position.

Tonon is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bestarsson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bestarsson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tonon.
Bestarsson is staying active underneath Tonon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tonon is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Tonon throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bestarsson is looking for a sweep. Tonon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two 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.
Tonon is thwarting Bestarsson's attempts to control the position.
Tonon wants to pass the guard but Bestarsson is defending well.
Gary Tonon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tonon thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bestarsson won't allow Tonon to pass to mount.
Bestarsson is looking to control Tonon's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bestarsson avoid being mounted?
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bestarsson won't allow Tonon to pass to mount.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Gary Tonon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bestarsson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Tonon fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonon tries for a takedown but Bestarsson circles away easily
and Bestarsson counters with a nice body shot.
Bestarsson scores with a three punch combo!

Tonon shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bestarsson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Tonon trying to control but Bestarsson is working from the bottom.
Tonon stopping the sweep attempt from Bestarsson.
Bestarsson keeping moving, preventing Tonon from controlling successfully.
Tonon slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tonon is looking to take a break and control but Bestarsson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Bestarsson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bestarsson parries the strikes from Tonon easily there. Tonon is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Bestarsson to escape.
Tonon trying to control the action but Bestarsson is working from the bottom.
Bestarsson is looking for a sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bestarsson stops Tonon from passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Tonon dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Tonon throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bestarsson's waist but Bestarsson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tonon off to one side.
Bestarsson misses with an uppercut. Tonon saw that one coming.

Tonon throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Bestarsson was covering up waiting for the punch and Tonon finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Bestarsson has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Tonon off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Tonon misses with a takedown
and Bestarsson counters with a thumping low kick.
Bestarsson stuffs the takedown.
Bestarsson wants to counter with a clinch but Tonon pushes him away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gary Tonon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tonon fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bestarsson to the ground. Tonon is now in Bestarsson's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bestarsson has control of Tonon's left arm, preventing Tonon from doing any damage.
Tonon advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonon working over Bestarsson with some ground and pound. Bestarsson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bestarsson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Tonon preventing the sweep.
Bestarsson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Bestarsson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tonon.
Tonon wants to control from the top but Bestarsson keeps moving.
Viktor Bestarsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tonon not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bestarsson keeping full guard, as Tonon tries to pass.
Bestarsson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tonon manages to get himself to full guard.

Bestarsson is looking to work some ground and pound but Tonon has wrist control.
Bestarsson advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bestarsson wants to control but Tonon is keeping him busy.
Tonon tries to bench press Bestarsson off him but Bestarsson keeps the position.
Bestarsson wants to control but Tonon is keeping him busy.

Bestarsson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Bestarsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tonon keeps working.

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

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.
Tonon misses with a takedown attempt
and Bestarsson counters with a series of strikes. Tonon will be more careful next time no doubt.
Tonon fails with the takedown.
Bestarsson is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Tonon doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bestarsson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Tonon fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Gary Tonon is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tonon has his takedown stuffed
and Bestarsson counters with a stiff right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viktor Bestarsson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tonon 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gary Tonon!
Gary Tonon managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Riner Clothing, into his post fight interview.