PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Antonio Atunes (ranked 331 p4p, 558 weight class) and Davido Monto (ranked 44 p4p, 72 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Atunes
vs
Monto

188 cm
23
190
8 - 3 - 0

182 cm
23
195
10 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Conviction
Core Combat

Urban Fighter
Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Antonio Atunes!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Davido Monto!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Sam Margolis and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Atunes throws a body shot but no joy.
Atunes thows a left - swing and a miss!
Monto with the counter takedown but Atunes avoids it easily.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Monto has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Atunes fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Monto fails with the takedown
enabling Atunes to counter with a crisp jab.
Atunes has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Atunes misses with an uppercut.
Atunes throws a jab but it's blocked by Monto.
Monto drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Atunes defends it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monto moves away from the strike by Atunes.
Monto changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Monto misses with a takedown attempt - Atunes sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Atunes tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Monto was well out of range. Poor timing from Atunes.
Atunes loads up on a big right hand but Monto slips the punch.
Atunes lands with a nice body punch.
Atunes keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Antonio Atunes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Davido Monto.
Atunes jabs Monto to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Monto fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Monto avoids the body shot from Atunes.
Monto with the counter takedown but Atunes avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monto fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Atunes misses with a hook to the body

and Monto counters with a single leg into guard. Atunes didn't expect that.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Monto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Atunes looking for a sweep. Not yet Atunes, not yet.
Monto throwing strikes from guard but Atunes blocks nicely.

Monto drops back looking for a leg! Atunes is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Atunes manages to kick Monto off! Monto jumps back into Atunes's guard.
Monto throws a strike but Atunes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Monto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Atunes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Monto is striking from the bottom but Atunes uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Monto manages to get to full guard.

Monto escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Atunes gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Atunes knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Monto on the ground.

Monto throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Atunes escapes and throws Monto's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Monto is looking to reverse the position.
Monto has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monto manages to get back to half guard.
Monto tries to get to full guard but Atunes has control of the leg.

Monto looking for submissions off his back.
Monto gets full guard.

Monto has his foot on Atunes's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Atunes works his way back into a safe position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Atunes looking to pass the guard.

Atunes avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Monto slips a straight right by Atunes.
Monto drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Atunes defends it well.
Monto moves out of range as Atunes strikes.
Atunes misses with a wild body shot.
Atunes throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Monto changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Monto has his takedown stuffed

and Atunes holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Atunes is stalling here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monto can't get the takedown.
Atunes is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Antonio Atunes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Davido Monto.

Monto manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Monto has an active guard here but Atunes has managed to pass into half guard.
Monto is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Monto actively working from the bottom here.
Monto manages to get to full guard.

Monto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Monto 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.

Monto working for a triangle but Atunes defends it easily.

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.

Monto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Monto looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Monto has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Atunes is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Monto.
Monto is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Monto tries to strike but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monto tries to improve position but can't.
Monto looking for a sweep but Atunes has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Monto tries to reverse the position but Atunes maintains control.
Monto gets back to half guard.

Monto has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Atunes escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Atunes!
Monto tries to bench press Atunes off him but Atunes keeps the position.
Monto is trying to work for a sweep but Atunes has mounted him!
Monto gets back to half guard.

Monto looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Monto looking for submissions off his back.

Monto looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Monto is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Atunes pulls his head out easily.
Monto is trying to get back to full guard.
Monto is looking to get back to full guard here but Atunes has managed to pass to side control instead.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Monto is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Atunes's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Monto moves out of range of the strikes.
Atunes lands a slapping body shot.
Atunes is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Monto shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Atunes defends it nicely.
Atunes throwing a counter right hand but Monto manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Atunes scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monto shoots in and drives through. Atunes sprawls well.
Atunes seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Atunes is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Monto can do to turn this around?
Monto doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Atunes counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Antonio Atunes has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Davido Monto.
Monto throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Atunes's waist but Atunes gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Monto off to one side.
Atunes misses with a body punch

and Monto counters with a shoot takedown. Atunes fights it but they end up in guard.
Monto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Monto stands and throws Atunes's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Monto sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Atunes is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Monto tries for a kimura but Atunes is defending well.

Monto thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Monto thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Monto is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Atunes has escaped the position, nice work there.

Monto wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Atunes, who protects the arm well.
Monto working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Monto goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Atunes has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Monto but great work by Atunes.
Monto tries to bench press Atunes off him but Atunes keeps the position.
Monto throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.
Monto tries to buck Atunes off but Atunes is having none of it.
Monto is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Atunes is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Monto will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Monto tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Atunes wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Atunes tries to move into full mount but can't pass Monto's legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monto manages to get back to half guard.

Monto has hold of a guillotine but he's not going to be able to crank on it really with only half guard, so it's no trouble for Atunes. Oh but Monto has got full guard now! Oh boy! This one could be over very soon! Atunes goes limp - he's gone! Monto jumps up and celebrates with the crowd - fantastic submission finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Davido Monto!
Davido Monto is the new middleweight champion!