PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Toby Vertongen (ranked 1496 p4p, 1076 weight class) and Grant Dukes (ranked 175 p4p, 127 weight class). Toby Vertongen had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Vertongen
vs
Dukes

170 cm
24
155
3 - 3 - 0

168 cm
25
157
7 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Urban Fighter

Urban Fighter
Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Toby Vertongen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grant Dukes!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vertongen feints and then cracks Dukes's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Dukes down.
Dukes looks for a takedown but Vertongen sprawls well.
Vertongen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Vertongen throws a leg kick
and Dukes counters with a straight right hand.
Dukes misses the shot to the body.
Dukes digs a good body shot into Vertongen's ribs.
Dukes slips a straight right by Vertongen.
Dukes throws out a loose jab but Vertongen uses good head movement to avoid it.
A counter left hand to the body from Vertongen misses its target.
Dukes takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Donk. Vertongen catches Dukes right on the button with a cross.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dukes. Vertongen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dukes avoids the head kick by Vertongen.
A looping hook to the body misses from Vertongen. Dukes does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dukes misses with a lunging right hand

and Vertongen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Dukes has hold of Vertongen's hands but Vertongen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vertongen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Vertongen wants to control but Dukes is keeping him busy.

Dukes is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vertongen pulls his head out easily.
Dukes makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Dukes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dukes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vertongen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've been hearing good reports from Vertongen's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Dukes is looking for a triangle but Vertongen pushes his legs off easily.

Dukes has an active guard here but Vertongen has managed to pass into half guard.
Dukes wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dukes actively working from the bottom here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Vertongen lands a nice short elbow.
Vertongen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Dukes makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Dukes.
Dukes is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vertongen postures up in Dukes's guard and throws a big left but Dukes blocks it.
Vertongen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Vertongen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Dukes is rocked!
Vertongen working some strikes from top position.
Dukes is still in real trouble! Can Vertongen finish him?
Vertongen gets to his feet and stands over Dukes, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Dukes felt that one! Vertongen unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Dukes from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Toby Vertongen!
After the fight, Toby Vertongen was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.