PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tim Anton (ranked 20132 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gary Tonon (ranked 2922 p4p, 0 weight class). Tonon has chosen What About Now as his entrance music. 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.

Anton
vs
Tonon

163 cm
28
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
39
158 lbs
28 - 29 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tim Anton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 29 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gary Tonon!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Steve Montenegro and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tonon takes one to the side of the head.
Anton looks to score with a jab to the body but Tonon is just out of range.
Tim Anton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tonon tries to keep at a distance but Anton has taken the fight into the clinch.

Tonon pulls guard effortlessly.
Tonon lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Anton looking to control.
Tonon slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Tonon wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Anton, who protects the arm well.
Anton struggling a bit here.
Tonon controls the position.
Anton is looking to reverse the position.
Anton is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Anton can't do much from the bottom here.
Anton gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anton is not content to let Tonon control the position.
Anton makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Anton.

Anton isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Tonon stacks Anton on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Tonon!
Anton is trying to get back to half guard.
Anton is working hard here to advance position.
Tonon creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Anton sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Tonon wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Anton, who protects the arm well.
Anton is letting Tonon control him for a moment.
Anton tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anton struggling a bit here.
Anton is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Tonon off and has taken his back!
You can see the frustration on Tonon's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Tonon showing good submission defense here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tonon preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Anton.
Anton is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Tonon up.

Anton patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Tonon tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Tonon is trying desperately to improve position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Anton raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anton working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Anton can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Tonon is looking to escape.
Anton throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Tonon slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Anton is nestled in close to Tonon, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Anton working the head and body with strikes.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Anton lands a nice short elbow.
Tonon wants to improve his position but Anton is controlling well.
Anton trying to control the action but Tonon is working from the bottom.
Anton thows a huge punch but Tonon dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tonon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tonon blocking the ground and pound attempt from Anton.
Anton prevents Tonon from improving his position.
Anton controlling the pace.
Tonon felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Tonon is refusing to be controlled, as Anton sits in half guard.
Anton trying to advance position but Tonon counters by regaining guard.
Anton trying to control the position from guard on top but Tonon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anton scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Anton rushes Tonon and presses him up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Anton - that landed with a thud.

Tonon successfully pulls guard.
Anton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tonon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Anton wants to control from the top but Tonon keeps moving.
Anton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Anton is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Tonon is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Anton is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Anton with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anton working some strikes from top position.
Anton trying to control but Tonon is working from the bottom.
Tonon tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Anton is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonon avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tonon working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Anton.
Anton seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Anton wants to control from the top but Tonon keeps moving.
Tonon 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.

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

Anton is trying to control the position but Tonon postures up.
Tim Anton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Anton is looking for a triangle but Tonon pushes his legs off easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Anton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tonon defends it easily.

Anton is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tonon defends well.
Tonon is stalling in the full guard.
Anton keeping full guard, as Tonon tries to pass.
Anton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tonon wants to stand but Anton is controlling his posture from full guard.
Tonon controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Anton throws his legs up looking for a submission but Tonon uses it to pass to side control.
Anton sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Anton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tonon uses his free foot to push down on Anton's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Anton.
Anton regains half guard.
Anton has a hand on Tonon's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Tonon takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Anton is desperately trying to improve his position but Tonon has a good base and remains in mount.
Anton is in a horrible position here. Tonon smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Anton slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tonon is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Anton is just riding it out for now. Tonon eventually gives up the hold.
Tonon is controlling the pace.
Tonon throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Anton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tonon trying to control from half guard but Anton is working away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tonon stalling.
Tonon is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Anton!
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.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Anton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tonon moves away.
Anton leaves Tonon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Anton swings for the body but Tonon moves out of range.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tonon or perhaps it was just good defense by Anton, which made it look bad.

Anton moves into range and clinches up with Tonon.

Tonon has picked Anton up - he's going for a ride! Tonon dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Anton is trying to maintain the position but Tonon is very close to passing his half guard.
Anton tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Tonon has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Tonon tries to control but Anton wriggling away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anton gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonon looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Anton trying to get back to full guard but Tonon takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Anton is squirming around, avoiding Tonon's attempts to control the action.
Tonon prevents Anton from getting the reversal.
Tonon trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Anton is in all sorts of trouble here.
Anton manages to control the position for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tonon landing shots from mount.
Anton wants to control but Tonon is having none of it.
Tonon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Tonon looking to control but Anton is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Tonon prevents Anton from getting the reversal.
Anton is squirming around, avoiding Tonon's attempts to control the action.
Tonon pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Anton regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonon is pressing down on Anton's thigh, looking to free his foot. Anton is holding on for now.
Anton trying to hold on to Tonon's head to control him but Tonon postures up.
Tonon is trying to control. Anton wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tonon takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Anton is trying to get back to full guard.
Anton wants to control but Tonon is keeping busy.
Tonon stalling.
Tonon throwing shots but Anton is blocking nicely.

That's four 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.

Tonon is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Anton doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tonon.
Tonon landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Anton is looking to regain full guard. He's left an arm up in the air though and Tonon has latched onto it... Big trouble! Tonon pivots for an armbar - it's in tight and it Anton is tapping in no time flat! Great counter grappling there from Tonon!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Gary Tonon!
Gary Tonon managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Riner Clothing Everything for 50$ only, into his post fight interview.