PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Hangy Dang (ranked 2972 p4p, 0 weight class) and Head Bussa (ranked 2926 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Dang
vs
Bussa

190 cm
26
218 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
215 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Hangy Dang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Head Bussa!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Dirk Anderson and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A lazy left from Bussa finds it's target.
Dang throws a head kick that misses.
A little jabbing left from Bussa on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Dang slips under a jab from Bussa.

Bussa closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Dang did well to prevent Bussa getting side control.
Bussa not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bussa wants to take a breather but Dang is having none of it.
Bussa thows a huge punch but Dang dodges it nicely.
Bussa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Dang is trying to maintain the position but Bussa is very close to passing his half guard.
Dang won't allow Bussa to pass to mount.
Dang wants to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bussa trying to control from Dang's half guard. Dang has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Bussa is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Dang on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Dang tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dang looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bussa is one step ahead there.
Dang will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Dang avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bussa content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Dang trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bussa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dang is defended easily by Bussa.
Dang shoots in looking for a takedown but Bussa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dang's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Dang gets a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Dang on the inside.
Dang has Bussa pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bussa manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hangy Dang. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bussa manages to break the clinch.
Bussa is looking to clinch but Dang is avoiding it.
Dang shoots in looking for a takedown but Bussa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dang's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Bussa tries to keep at a distance but Dang has taken the fight into the clinch.
Dang misses with an elbow strike.
Bussa is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Dang pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Dang escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bussa tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dang swivels and escapes.
Dang tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bussa paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dang's corner calls for a 1-2. Dang obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Bussa misses with a looping right.
A slow jab from Bussa misses its intended target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Dang fails with a takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Dang misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Dang misses.
Dang is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Dang misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Bussa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bussa misses with a two punch combination.
Dang throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bussa misses with an uppercut. Dang saw that one coming.
Dang throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dang closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Dang shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bussa as he jumps to the side.
Bussa is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Dang wants to clinch but Bussa slips to the side
and Bussa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bussa darts in trying to clinch
and Dang counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bussa moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dang shoots for a takedown but Bussa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bussa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Dang paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A head kick misses from Dang.
Dang slips under a jab from Bussa.
Dang steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bussa.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Bussa swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Dang misses with a takedown
and Bussa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Bussa throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Dang was covering up waiting for the punch and Bussa finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Bussa sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bussa stopping the sweep attempt from Dang.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Head Bussa will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bussa scores with a jab.
Bussa moves out of range as Dang throws a body kick.
Dang displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Bussa tries to clinch up but Dang circles away and keeps his distance.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bussa.
Bussa is looking to take a break and control but Dang is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bussa working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Bussa wants to control for a moment but Dang uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Dang is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dang taking some punishment here, with Bussa in his half guard.
Dang has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bussa is working away from the top position though.
Dang is pressing down on Bussa's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bussa trying to control but Dang is working from the bottom.
Dang is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Bussa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bussa lands a couple of digs.
Bussa controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Dang is pulling down on Bussa's head. It's preventing any offense from Bussa, at least for the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dang looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bussa is fending him off so far but Dang persists. Nope, Bussa circles away and we're back to standing.
Bussa throws a jab when Dang was well out of range.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bussa.

Bussa throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Dang was covering up waiting for the punch and Bussa finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Dang wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Bussa manages to pass to side control.
Head Bussa has got the better of the ground game so far.

Dang is trying to stand back up but Bussa is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bussa thows a huge punch but Dang dodges it nicely.
Dang is trying to stand.
Bussa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Dang wants to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bussa in particular looking to stall.
Bussa prevents Dang from standing back up.
Dang is looking to improve his position.

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.
Dang is staying active underneath Bussa, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bussa lands strikes from half guard.
Dang is not content to let Bussa control the position.
Dang wants to get back to his feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Bussa shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Dang manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Dang seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Head Bussa will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Dang closes the distance and clinches up with Bussa, looking for a takedown. Dang pushes Bussa against the cage but Bussa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dang shoots for a takedown but Bussa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bussa is looking for the big counter here.
Dang misses with the combination.
Nice takedown defense from Bussa. No joy for Dang on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hangy Dang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bussa scores with a crisp jab that stopped Dang in his tracks.
Bussa misses with a takedown attempt - Dang sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bussa misses with an uppercut.
Hangy Dang is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bussa closes the distance and clinches up with Dang, looking for a takedown. Bussa pushes Dang against the cage but Dang circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dang appears to be looking for a big counter.
A combination from Bussa does no damage.
Dang tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bussa defends well and Dang ends up having to push Bussa into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Dang gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bussa to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Dang controlling Bussa's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bussa keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Dang's head.
Bussa throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dang works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bussa with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dang seems keen to control Bussa's posture.
Bussa with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Hangy Dang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
Bussa controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Dang closes the distance and clinches.
Bussa goes for a takedown in the clinch but Dang prevents it.

Bussa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bussa misses with a straight left.
Dang stuffs the takedown attempt from Bussa. Bussa gets slowly back to his feet.
Bussa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dang shoots in for a double leg but Bussa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dang looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Dang sizes up Bussa with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Dang misses with a double jab

so Bussa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Dang wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Bussa manages to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bussa thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bussa is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dang is trying to escape the mount.
Dang tries to lock up and control but Bussa gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bussa tries to control but Dang wriggling away.
Dang tries to hold on but Bussa postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bussa postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Dang looks a forlorn figure.
Dang is looking to get to half guard.
Bussa trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dang swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Head Bussa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bussa winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Peter Branson scores the fight for Head Bussa!
Judge Dirk Anderson scores the fight for Head Bussa!
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight for Head Bussa!

Head Bussa wins by unanimous decision!