PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sambo Sam (ranked 440 p4p, 374 weight class) and Damian Tonon (ranked 65 p4p, 54 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Sam
vs
Tonon

185 cm
24
168
12 - 7 - 0

175 cm
32
165
25 - 15 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

NARCOS
Un-Kaged Nutrition

Shadow Realm Apparel
FUClothing

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Sambo Sam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Damian Tonon!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sam is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Damian Tonon seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tonon lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sam at a distance.
Tonon lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sam throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tonon misses the shot to the body.
Sam tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tonon manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Tonon thuds a left hand into Sam's body.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sam enables Tonon to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sam manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Tonon looking to sit in guard and control but Sam gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sam passes easily into side control. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tonon is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Sam trying to control from half guard but Tonon is working away.
Sam is thwarting Tonon's attempts to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sam lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Tonon is looking to control Sam's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Tonon avoid being mounted?
Tonon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Tonon trying to control from the bottom.
Tonon tries to roll over but Sam keeps him under control.
Tonon wants to control but Sam passes into side.
Sam postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sam working the ground and pound from side control.
The ground and pound from Sam seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Sam sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Tonon is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Sam trying to control the position but Tonon is working away.
Sam lands a nice forearm strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tonon tries to buck Sam off but Sam is having none of it.
Tonon is trying to control Sam's posture but Sam avoids it.
Tonon is trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

Sam tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Who's going to make the next move?
Tonon can't do much from the bottom here.
Tonon is looking for a sweep.
Check out the look on Sam's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Sam working the ground and pound from side control.
Sam working the body and head with strikes.
Sam grinds an elbow into Tonon's temple.
Sam looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Tonon is avoiding damage well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sam is looking to take a break and control but Tonon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tonon is trying to control Sam's posture but Sam avoids it.
Sam trying to control the action but Tonon is working from the bottom.
Tonon struggling a bit here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tonon tries to improve position but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sambo Sam dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tonon moves out of range as Sam throws a body kick.
Tonon lands a nice shot to the body.
Tonon throws a looping overhand right but Sam ducks down to avoid it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sam or perhaps it was just good defense by Tonon, which made it look bad.
A nice side step and Tonon releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Sam uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tonon.
Tonon works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Sam gets tackled into the cage by Tonon. Tonon maintains the clinch.
Sam misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Tonon.
Sam tries to pull guard but Tonon holds him up against the cage and eventually Sam drops back down to his feet.

Tonon gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Sam wants to control but Tonon is keeping busy.
Tonon keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Tonon wants to take a breather but Sam is having none of it.
Tonon working the head and body with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tonon not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sam is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sam trying to control but Tonon postures up.
Tonon controlling the action here.
Tonon wants to take a breather but Sam is having none of it.
Still in half guard, Tonon seems content to control.
Sam is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tonon scores with a couple of nice shots.
My spies in Gym inform me that Tonon has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Tonon is trying to control the action in half guard but Sam is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sam tries to roll over but Tonon keeps him under control.
Tonon is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Tonon is trying to control the action in half guard but Sam is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Tonon scores with a nice right hand.
Sam shoots in looking for a takedown but Tonon manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sam's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sambo Sam. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tonon blocks a head kick by Sam.
Tonon moves out of range of the body kick.
Sam misses with a takedown attempt - Tonon sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tonon connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sambo Sam is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sam tries to clinch up but Tonon circles away and keeps his distance.

Tonon forces Sam back against the cage and clinches.

Tonon gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Sambo Sam overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tonon wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sam keeps working.
Well, if Tonon is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Tonon wants to pass the guard but Sam is defending well.
Sam tries to get to full guard but Tonon has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tonon trying to control from half guard but Sam is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sam tries to get to full guard but Tonon has control of the leg.
Sam is staying active underneath Tonon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tonon is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Sam wants to improve his position but Tonon is controlling well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tonon trying to pass the guard but Sam defending well.
Sam wants to control but Tonon is keeping busy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Tonon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Sam is looking to clinch.

Tonon shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Tonon works his foot free and advances to mount.
Tonon content just to control the position here.
Sam sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tonon slows the pace down in half guard.
Tonon wants to pass to mount but Sam is defending the position.
Tonon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sam tries to roll over but Tonon keeps him under control.
Sam trying to control but Tonon postures up.
Tonon is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Sam manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Tonon wants to free his trapped foot but Sam is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tonon is stalling here. Sam is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Tonon seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Sam has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sam working the head with strikes.
Tonon is trying to control Sam's posture but Sam avoids it.
Tonon is trying to work for a sweep but Sam has mounted him!
Tonon wants to hold on but Sam pushes him away.
BOOM! Sam connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Tonon is desperately trying to improve his position but Sam has a good base and remains in mount.
Sam trying to control but Tonon is having none of it.
Tonon manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Tonon is doing well to control the position and prevent Sam from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tonon is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sam missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tonon is looking for a sweep. Sam is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sam looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sam wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tonon keeps working.
Tonon trying to control but Sam postures up.
Tonon is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sam's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sam's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sam looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
You can see the frustration on Sam's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Tonon not allowing Sam to control his hands.
Tonon biding his time, looking for the opening.
You can see the frustration on Sam's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sam is keeping busy.
Tonon is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Tonon gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Tonon gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Tonon apologises and we restart here on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damian Tonon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tonon has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damian Tonon!
After the big win, Damian Tonon made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors FUClothing and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.