PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sagai Tonkov (ranked 15705 p4p, 2293 weight class) and Benedicte Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 311 weight class). Tonkov kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Calling Dr. Love by Shandi's Addiction. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Tonkov
vs
Swanson

173 cm
40
178
3 - 4 - 0

183 cm
31
179
13 - 14 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sagai Tonkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Benedicte Swanson!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paulsen Ambrosius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tonkov shoots in for a double leg but Swanson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tonkov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Swanson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tonkov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Swanson.
Swanson swings for the body but Tonkov moves out of range.
Tonkov tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Swanson manages to circle out of the way.
Tonkov throws a head kick that misses.
Swanson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Tonkov appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Tonkov feints a jab promting Swanson to slip. Tonkov then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Swanson slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Tonkov avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Tonkov is looking to clinch but Swanson is avoiding it.

Tonkov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Swanson tries to buck Tonkov off but Tonkov is having none of it.
Swanson is letting Tonkov control him for a moment.
Swanson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tonkov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonkov advances nicely into full mount.
Swanson is trying desperately to improve position.
Tonkov wants to control the pace but Swanson is squirming around nicely.
Tonkov controlling his opponent.
Swanson holds on for dear life.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Swanson is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Swanson doing his best to control the position. Can he escape?
Swanson can't escape the position.
Tonkov content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonkov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tonkov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Swanson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Swanson tries to hold on but Tonkov postures up.

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.
Swanson is looking to get to half guard.
Tonkov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Swanson is squirming around, avoiding Tonkov's attempts to control the action.
Swanson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Swanson with a nice calf kick.
Tonkov throws a right hand that Swanson ducks under and follows up with a left that Swanson also avoids with ease.
Tonkov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Swanson misses with a looping right.
Tonkov scores with a nice body kick.
Tonkov moves out of range of the leg kick from Swanson.

Tonkov rushes Swanson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Swanson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Swanson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tonkov.
Swanson throws a nice inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Tonkov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Swanson's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tonkov wants to control from the top but Swanson keeps moving.
Tonkov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swanson pulls Tonkov in to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tonkov trying to control but Swanson is working from the bottom.
Tonkov wants to pass the guard but Swanson is keeping the position.
Swanson pulls Tonkov in close to prevent any damage.
Tonkov is stalling in the full guard.
Sagai Tonkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tonkov wants to pass the guard but Swanson is keeping the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Benedicte Swanson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Swanson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Tonkov pushes Swanson up against the cage in a clinch.

Tonkov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Swanson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Tonkov moves out of range of the body kick.
Swanson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tonkov.

Tonkov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Swanson sprawls well initially but Tonkov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Swanson is staying active underneath Tonkov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tonkov trying to mount his opponent but Swanson defends it.
Tonkov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Swanson keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson is looking to improve his position.
Tonkov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Sagai Tonkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Swanson scores with a nice head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Tonkov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Swanson, pushing him back against the cage.

Swanson manages to break the clinch.
Swanson digs a good hook to Tonkov's body.
Nice cross by Swanson.
Swanson dodges the punch combination from Tonkov.
Swanson feints a counter leg kick.

Tonkov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Swanson has Tonkov pulled in close to control his posture.
Tonkov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Swanson is pulling down on Tonkov's head. It's preventing any offense from Tonkov, at least for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sagai Tonkov will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tonkov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Swanson scores with a nice body kick.
A low kick lands for Swanson.
Swanson smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Tonkov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Swanson but Swanson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tonkov misses with a few strikes there.

Tonkov moves into the clinch successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swanson blocking some punches.

Swanson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tonkov fails with the takedown.
Swanson stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sagai Tonkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Swanson.
Tonkov shoots and misses
and Swanson counters with a good, hard body kick but Tonkov shrugs it off.
Tonkov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Swanson.
Tonkov jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
An inside leg kick from Swanson misses.
Swanson scores with a leg kick.
Tonkov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Swanson connects with a crisp jab.
Swanson stuns Tonkov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Swanson's coach down at Power Plant MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Swanson's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Tonkov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Swanson throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Tonkov on the side of the head.
Swanson looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Tonkov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Swanson wants to control but Tonkov postures up.
Benedicte Swanson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sagai Tonkov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tonkov tries to advance to mount but can't.
Swanson is trying to improve his position.
Swanson is trying to control Tonkov's posture but Tonkov avoids it.
Swanson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Swanson is trying to control Tonkov's posture but Tonkov avoids it.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Tonkov controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swanson throws the kick towards the body but Tonkov avoids it.
Tonkov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Swanson is fending him off so far but Tonkov persists. Nope, Swanson circles away and we're back to standing.
A cross from Swanson lands.
Swanson swats away the attempt to clinch by Tonkov.
Tonkov blocks a head kick by Swanson.
Swanson goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Swanson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Swanson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
A little feinted left hand from Tonkov on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Tonkov wants to clinch up but Swanson keeps it at a distance.
Tonkov dives in for a single leg takedown but Swanson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Swanson swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tonkov blocking some punches.
Tonkov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Swanson breaks the clinch.
Swanson throws a leg kick that misses.
Swanson is looking to slow Tonkov down with leg kicks.
Tonkov moves out of range of the body kick from Swanson.
Swanson throws a front kick that sends Tonkov stumbling back into the cage.
Swanson gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Tonkov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Swanson's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tonkov wants to control from the top but Swanson keeps moving.
Tonkov is stalling in the full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benedicte Swanson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tonkov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!