PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marc Tong Panong (ranked 5030 p4p, 4879 weight class) and Kobi Swisa (ranked 569 p4p, 559 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Tong Panong might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Tetris Song. Kobi Swisa will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Tong Panong
vs
Swisa

183 cm
19
192
3 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
184
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Solid chin

The Natural Order

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Marc Tong Panong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kobi Swisa!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, James Glass and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Tong Panong misses its intended target.

Swisa gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Swisa is fighting off a takedown attempt but Tong Panong is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Swisa to the mat. Swisa regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Swisa manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Tong Panong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tong Panong is working Swisa over against the cage.
Tong Panong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Swisa's elbow.

Tong Panong has hold of one of Swisa's legs. Swisa is fighting the takedown attempt but Tong Panong gets the trip and lands the takedown into 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!
Swisa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tong Panong might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Swisa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tong Panong defends it easily.

Swisa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tong Panong defends it easily.
Tong Panong wants to control from the top but Swisa keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swisa looking for a sweep. Not yet Swisa, not yet.
Swisa keeping full guard, as Tong Panong tries to pass.
Tong Panong working some strikes from top position.
Tong Panong wants to stand but Swisa is controlling his posture from full guard.
Swisa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Swisa holds on and takes a little breather.

Tong Panong is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's two 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.
Tong Panong postures up.
Tong Panong trying to control but Swisa is working from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Swisa not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Tong Panong rushes Swisa and presses him up against the cage.
Swisa tries to stall but Tong Panong uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tong Panong tries a knee to the head but Swisa blocks it.
Swisa tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tong Panong blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Tong Panong has clasped his hands together around Swisa's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Tong Panong is looking to take a break and control but Swisa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Swisa is trying to control Tong Panong's posture but Tong Panong avoids it.
Tong Panong cracks Swisa with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Tong Panong working away.
The strikes coming from Tong Panong are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Tong Panong is working Swisa over with some ground and pound from side control.

Tong Panong goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Swisa rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Tong Panong's guard! Nice work there by Swisa!
Tong Panong looking to hit a scissor sweep but Swisa is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swisa trying to control the position from guard on top but Tong Panong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Swisa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tong Panong is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Swisa is controlling him.
Swisa stays in close to Tong Panong's body and controls the position.
Tong Panong avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tong Panong looking to hit a scissor sweep but Swisa is one step ahead there.
Swisa distracts Tong Panong with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Swisa trying to control the position from guard on top but Tong Panong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tong Panong keeping full guard, as Swisa tries to pass.
Tong Panong keeping moving, preventing Swisa from controlling successfully.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Marc Tong Panong will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A head kick misses from Swisa.
Swisa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Tong Panong clinches with his opponent.
I was talking to Tong Panong's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
A right hand to the body from Tong Panong.
Swisa prevents a takedown attempt there.

Tong Panong turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Swisa wants to get back to his feet but Tong Panong drags him back down.

Tong Panong thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Tong Panong working away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Swisa manages to work his way to half guard, despite Tong Panong's best efforts.
Swisa is looking to improve his position.
Marc Tong Panong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tong Panong wants to control but Swisa is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tong Panong is thwarting Swisa's attempts to control the position.

Tong Panong is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Swisa trying to control here.
Tong Panong knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Swisa on the ground.
Swisa is pressing down on Tong Panong's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Tong Panong throws a big right hand that misses.

Tong Panong is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Tong Panong is looking to work some ground and pound but Swisa has wrist control.

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.
Tong Panong trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Swisa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Tong Panong in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tong Panong is looking to stand up but Swisa won't let him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Swisa moves into the clinch.
Tong Panong misses with a short punch on the inside.
Swisa is trying to break the clinch but Tong Panong has him pressed against the cage.
Tong Panong tries to work over Swisa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tong Panong lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Tong Panong keeps control of Swisa as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Tong Panong creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Swisa's defenses.

It looks like Kobi Swisa has been cut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tong Panong obliges.
Tong Panong misses with a punch to the body.
Tong Panong with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tong Panong lands a nice elbow.
Tong Panong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tong Panong looking for a takedown.

Tong Panong works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Swisa uses the cage to get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Tong Panong works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Swisa kicks Tong Panong off and gets to his feet.
Swisa lands with a slapping head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tong Panong gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Swisa is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Tong Panong is keeping busy.
Tong Panong lands a nice elbow.
Tong Panong is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marc Tong Panong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right from Tong Panong.
Tong Panong changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Swisa fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Swisa misses with a double jab
and Tong Panong counters with a straight right hand.
Tong Panong on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Swisa misses with a head kick.
Kobi Swisa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Swisa throws a front kick that sends Tong Panong stumbling back into the cage.
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 Marc Tong Panong will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kobi Swisa's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're 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.

A decent looking cross lands there for Swisa.

Tong Panong moves into range and clinches up with Swisa.
Tong Panong lands an elbow inside.

Tong Panong turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Tong Panong manages to end up in side control.

Swisa throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Swisa throws a head kick but Tong Panong moves out of range.
Tong Panong drops down looking for a counter takedown but Swisa sprawls and moves away.
Swisa tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tong Panong is looking to counter punch.
Swisa with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Swisa has managed to clinch.
Tong Panong tries to work over Swisa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Marc Tong Panong has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Tong Panong lands a takedown into guard.

Swisa manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Swisa forces Tong Panong back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swisa is trying to force a seperation but Tong Panong has the dominant position.
A shot in the inside from Tong Panong.
Swisa wants to break free but Tong Panong has control.
Swisa managing to block the knees to the body from Tong Panong.
Tong Panong keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Swisa's efforts to push away.
Swisa gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tong Panong.
Swisa is trying to push Tong Panong away but Tong Panong has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Tong Panong has Swisa pressed against the cage, preventing Swisa from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Tong Panong can't get the takedown.

Tong Panong lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Tong Panong is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Swisa wants to control but Tong Panong is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tong Panong looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Tong Panong looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Swisa is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tong Panong stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Swisa bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Tong Panong's head.
Tong Panong misses with a takedown attempt - Swisa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marc Tong Panong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swisa tries a head kick but it misses.
Tong Panong swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Swisa has closed the distance and engaged Tong Panong in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Swisa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tong Panong's elbow.
Tong Panong is looking for a takedown.
Tong Panong tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Tong Panong wants a takedown but no success here.
Tong Panong with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Swisa is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Tong Panong creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Swisa's defenses.
Swisa is working Tong Panong over against the cage.
Tong Panong lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Swisa tries to break free but Tong Panong pushes him back against the cage.
Swisa avoids a wild elbow strike from Tong Panong.
Tong Panong missing with knees to the body.
Tong Panong misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Swisa.
Swisa wants to stall.
Kobi Swisa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marc Tong Panong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
With the fighters up against the cage, Swisa throws an elbow but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kobi Swisa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tong Panong 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marc Tong Panong!
A victorious Marc Tong Panong thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.