PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jerome Sabio (ranked 4840 p4p, 0 weight class) and Otong Dong (ranked 6277 p4p, 0 weight class). Sabio comes to the cage accompanied by Learning To Survive by We Came As Romans. Otong Dong has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Sabio
vs
Dong

194 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
200 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jerome Sabio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Otong Dong!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Bruno Lombardi and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sabio fails with the takedown
and Dong counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Sabio shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Dong's guard.
Sabio wants to get up but he can't break Dong's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sabio pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dong is keeping the position for now.
Sabio trying to stand up but can't free himself from Dong's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sabio pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dong is keeping the position for now.

Dong has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Sabio has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dong is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Sabio is trying to pull guard but Dong has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Sabio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dong gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sabio.
Dong digs a right hand underneath Sabio's ribcage. Sabio let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Dong lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Sabio can't find room to land a body shot as Dong controls the action.
Sabio misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Dong.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Dong.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabio jumps guard but Dong stands there with Sabio around his waist. Sabio gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sabio goes for a takedown attempt but Dong pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Dong displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Sabio.
Sabio changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dong tries to avoid it but Sabio manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dong to the ground. Dong escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Sabio is breathing heavily.
Sabio throws a series of punches but Dong avoids them all with ease.

Dong throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Sabio tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Dong is in Sabio's guard.
Dong is standing up over Sabio. Sabio looks to escape but Dong dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dong decides to take the fight back to the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dong is defended easily by Sabio.
Dong stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dong wants it to stay on the feet.
A countering left hand to the body from Dong misses.
Sabio tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Dong manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Dong drives through with a takedown into guard.

Dong stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sabio gets tackled into the cage by Dong. Dong maintains the clinch.
Sabio struggles to land a body shot inside as Dong controls his hands.
Sabio wants to break the clinch but can't.
A right handed body shot lands from Dong.
Sabio taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Dong doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Sabio breaks the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Sabio closes the distance and clinches.
Dong has Sabio pressed against the cage, preventing Sabio from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Dong is defending well against a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Otong Dong dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dong tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sabio sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dong somewhat.
Dong just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromSabio.
Dong has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sabio misses with a takedown attempt
and Dong counters with a right hand to the body.

Dong drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Dong remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sabio is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Dong off and has taken his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dong trying to get back to his feet but Sabio is in full control for now.
Dong is in bad spot here.
Dong wants to control his opponent's hands but Sabio gets his hands free.

Dong manages to escape to his feet.

Sabio closes the distance and pushes Dong back into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabio changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dong fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sabio dives in and grabs Dong's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dong pushes down on Sabio's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Sabio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sabio tries to clinch up

and Dong counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Sabio!

Sabio throws Dong to one side and escapes!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice takedown defense from Sabio. No joy for Dong on that attempt.

Sabio closes the distance and pushes Dong back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabio looking for a takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Sabio pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jerome Sabio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sabio defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dong.
Dong looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sabio is fending him off so far but Dong persists. Nope, Sabio circles away and we're back to standing.

Sabio closes the distance and pushes Dong back into the cage.
Dong gets underhooks to prevent Sabio's takedown attempt.
Dong misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sabio is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Dong swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dong breaks the clinch.
Sabio wants to clinch but Dong slips to the side
and Dong counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Sabio fails in his attempt to clinch.
Dong takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Dong shoots for a takedown but Sabio saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Dong shoots in for a double leg but Sabio sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sabio throws a sloppy head kick
and Dong counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jerome Sabio dominated that second round.
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.

Sabio tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sabio closes the distance and clinches up with Dong, looking for a takedown. Sabio pushes Dong against the cage but Dong circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dong now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

Sabio closes the distance and clinches.
Sabio is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sabio is trying to force a seperation but Dong has the dominant position.
Sabio is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dong is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jerome Sabio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sabio tries to land knees in the clinch but Dong avoids the damage to the body.
Dong misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sabio goes for a takedown attempt but Dong pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sabio tries to clinch up.
Dong feints the counter takedown.
Dong shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Sabio defends it nicely.
Sabio tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dong swivels and escapes.
A countering left hand to the body from Dong misses.
Otong Dong seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The fight stays on the outside here - Sabio looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Dong clinches with his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dong doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sabio is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Dong is defending well for now.
Sabio tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Dong avoids it.
Dong lands a nice shot to the body.
Sabio misses with a knee to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Dong.
Sabio is trying to drag Dong to the mat but Dong just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sabio tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dong tries to work over Sabio's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Dong prevents the takedown attempt.
Dong digs a right hand underneath Sabio's ribcage. Sabio let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Dong slowing the pace effectively.
Sabio prevents a body shot from Dong.
Sabio is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Dong pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Dong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sabio.
Dong drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sabio pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sabio throws a lazy head kick
and Dong makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sabio displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dong.
It appears Sabio was looking to counter with a kick there.
Dong shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Dong forces Sabio back against the cage and clinches.
Dong works on Sabio's body with a couple of short punches.

Dong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Dong has taken the fight to the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sabio trying to control the position but instead, Dong has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sabio into the cage.
Otong Dong seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Dong tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sabio avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Otong Dong comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Dong has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Otong Dong!