PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ma Moru (ranked 3487 p4p, 290 weight class) and Gary Tonon (ranked 1759 p4p, 180 weight class). Moru comes to the cage accompanied by slam dunk opening theme song. Tonon has chosen What About Now as his entrance music. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Moru
vs
Tonon

163 cm
25
140 lbs
10 - 12 - 0

174 cm
36
158 lbs
26 - 25 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Groove Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ma Moru!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 25 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gary Tonon!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Dmitry Maklakov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tonon shoots in for a takedown but Moru shows good takedown defense.
Tonon avoids the head kick by Moru.
Moru throws a sloppy head kick and Tonon moves out of range easily.
Moru tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Tonon moves into range and clinches up with Moru.
Moru misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tonon.
Moru tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Tonon avoids it.
Tonon is working for takedown but Moru is calmly controlling the position for now.
Moru cracks Tonon with a nice body shot.
Tonon is looking for a takedown.
Ma Moru has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Tonon.
Tonon wants to take the fight to the mat but Moru manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Tonon jumps guard and drags Moru to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Tonon keeping moving, preventing Moru from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Moru pushes down on Tonon's leg and manages to get into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Moru is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tonon defends it well.

Moru looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moru thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tonon has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Moru wants to work for an arm triangle but Tonon is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Tonon is defending against the submission attempts here by Moru.
Tonon is staying active underneath Moru, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tonon is looking for a sweep. Moru is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Moru is working for a kimura but Tonon is defending it quite comfortably.
Tonon moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Tonon keeping full guard, as Moru tries to pass.
Moru has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Moru throwing strikes but missing.
Moru tries to free his leg and advance position but Tonon is retaining full guard.
Tonon keeping moving, preventing Moru from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moru looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tonon tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Moru defends well and Tonon ends up having to push Moru into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Moru throws a head kick that misses.
Tonon shoots in but no luck this time.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tonon.
Moru gets back to half guard.
Tonon takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moru gets full guard.
Tonon controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Tonon got a little sloppy there for a moment and Moru has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tonon has managed to get both his arms back between Moru's legs - danger averted.
Tonon slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Moru can't keep his opponent in guard - Tonon advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Moru is trying to stand back up but Tonon is controlling him
Moru is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Rabid Dog , so we'll see if he gets out of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Moru is looking to improve his position.
Tonon is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Moru makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Moru.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ma Moru dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Moru scores with a one two! Tonon had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Moru throws a big shot that misses.
Moru leaves Tonon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Moru throws a big counter combination but Tonon scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Gary Tonon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A shot to the liver by Moru. Beautiful body shot.
A slapping body kick lands there for Moru.
Moru scores with a body shot.

Tonon clinches with his opponent.
Tonon tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Moru looking to stall.
Tonon avoids the elbow strike from Moru, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Tonon.
Moru tries to stall but Tonon uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Moru misses with a hook from the clinch.
Moru throws a punch but it's blocked by Tonon.
Tonon jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Moru walks away with a smile on his face. Tonon gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ma Moru has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gary Tonon.
Moru misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Tonon counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Moru throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Tonon stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Tonon shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Moru as he jumps to the side.
Moru tries a head kick but it misses.

Moru fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tonon, pushing him back against the cage.
Moru gets through Tonon's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Tonon avoiding damage as Moru throws knees to the body.

Tonon jumps guard.

Moru is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Tonon is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Tonon has escaped and now he's on top!

Tonon showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Moru is looking for a triangle but Tonon pushes his legs off easily.
Moru tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Moru is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tonon is aware though and is defending well.
Tonon engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Tonon trying to control the position from guard on top but Moru is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Moru is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tonon can do to turn this around?

Moru looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tonon passes into side control.
Moru is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Moru is looking for a sweep.
Moru might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Moru is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Tonon is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tonon has hold of Moru's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Moru manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Tonon takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Moru is trying desperately to improve position.
Moru is in a horrible position here. Tonon smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Moru is bucking up trying to escape but Tonon cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Moru is working to get back to half guard.
Tonon looking to control but Moru is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Tonon with the ground and pound from mount.
Moru is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Moru tries to hold on but Tonon pushes him away.
Moru is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Moru is working hard here to advance position.
Tonon controlling from mount.
Tonon is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Moru really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Tonon breaks from Moru's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Moru tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tonon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gary Tonon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Tonon tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Moru defends well and Tonon ends up having to push Moru into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Moru is looking for a counter combo.

Moru gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Tonon to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Moru throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Moru is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Tonon is aware though and is defending well.

Moru looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Tonon has picked Moru up and slammed him! Moru can't keep hold of the triangle and Tonon manages to pass to side control!

Tonon is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Moru knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Tonon tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tonon lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Moru down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonon is working Moru over with some ground and pound from side control.
Moru is looking for a sweep.
Tonon lands a decent elbow from side control.

Tonon is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Moru knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Tonon passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Moru!
Tonon controlling the position easily from mount.
Moru is squirming around, avoiding Tonon's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tonon working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Moru is rocked!
Tonon controlling the position easily from mount.
Oh Moru is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Tonon raining down hammerfists from mount.
Tonon prevents Moru from getting the reversal.
Tonon drops a big elbow. That's hurt Moru! More shots from Tonon and the ref steps in! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gary Tonon!
Gary Tonon managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Riner Clothing and Laundry (85%), into his post fight interview.
Ma Moru was interviewed post fight and said 'Watashi wa yoriyoi sentōkidesuga, anata wa kōundeshita. Jikai wa sukiru de watashi o uchi makashi, kōunde wanai'.