PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Franklin Worner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Spong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Worner
vs
Spong

170 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

165 cm
25
140 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Franklin Worner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Michael Spong!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Robert Twigg and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spong lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Spong.

Worner shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Worner showed some decent athleticism there.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Worner is keen to just control but Spong is a slippery customer.
Worner trying to control from Spong's half guard. Spong has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Worner stopping the sweep attempt from Spong.
Worner trying to control the position from guard on top but Spong is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Worner won't allow Spong to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Worner knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Spong on the ground.

We're going to have a standup here because Franklin Worner wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Worner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Michael Spong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spong lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Worner backs up against the cage.
Worner tries to close the distance and clinch up but Spong swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Spong wants to clinch.
Worner throws a leg kick
and Spong counters with a head kick.
Spong checks a low kick from Worner.

Spong gets a clinch.
Spong has Worner pressed against the cage, preventing Worner from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Worner tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Spong tries to circle away but Worner has him pinned against the cage.
Spong is struggling to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Worner takes an elbow to the forehead.
Spong gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Spong lands with a right to the head.
Spong taking a breather.
Worner misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Spong.
Worner is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spong is stalling here.
Worner working hard to break the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Spong.
Spong lands an elbow that stopped Worner in his tracks for a moment.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Spong stops a takedown attempt from Worner.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spong can't break the clinch.
Nice elbow from Spong.
Worner takes a knee right on the jaw!
Spong lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Worner tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Spong smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franklin Worner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Worner shoots in for a double leg but Spong sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Worner gets a double leg takedown into Spong's guard.

Spong scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Worner tries to clinch but Spong moves out of range.
Worner showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Spong.

Spong instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Spong.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Spong obliges.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Knees in the clinch landing for Spong.
A left hand lands to the body for Spong.

Spong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Spong lands a head kick. Worner smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Spong tries a head kick but it misses.
Spong looks winded!
Spong fails with an attempt to clinch.
A low kick from Worner is predictable there
and Spong counters with a body kick.
Worner is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
No luck for Worner with that takedown attempt.
Spong thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Worner if he has to take too many more of those.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Spong dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Worner takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Spong throws a head kick that Worner semi-blocks.
Worner closes the distance looking to clinch
and Spong counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

Spong tries to sprawl but Worner drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Spong pushes Worner off and gets back to his feet.
Worner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Spong stalks Worner and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Worner's face. Worner staggers backwards, shaken.
Franklin Worner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Spong slaps away a takedown attempt from Worner, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Spong rushes Worner and presses him up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spong lands a body shot in the clinch.
Worner tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Spong's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong blocking some punches.
Worner fails to pull guard.
Spong working Worner over with knees to the body.

Spong lands a takedown into guard.
Worner not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Spong working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Spong avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spong stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Worner swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Spong decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Worner, up you get!
Worner throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Spong's waist but Spong gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Worner off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franklin Worner. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spong lands with a slapping head kick.
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!
Horrible takedown by Worner or perhaps it was just good defense by Spong which made him look bad.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Spong throws a head kick that Worner semi-blocks.
Michael Spong seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Worner swats away the attempt to clinch by Spong.
Spong connects with a high kick.
Spong keeps the fight on the outside.
Worner is looking to clinch but Spong is avoiding it.
Nice takedown defense from Worner. No joy for Spong on that attempt.
Worner lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Worner tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Spong swivels and escapes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worner fails with a takedown attempt.

Spong closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Spong performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Worner is trying to escape back to his feet but Spong uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Spong working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Worner is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Worner is working hard here to advance position.
Spong wants to control but Worner is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spong gets to mount! Worner was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Worner tries to lock up and control but Spong gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Worner avoids a series of strikes thrown by Spong.
Worner wants to try and get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Spong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A head kick from Spong lands but Worner takes it in his stride.
Worner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Spong!
Worner tries to clinch there but Spong circles away.
Spong looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Worner is fending him off so far but Spong persists. Nope, Worner circles away and we're back to standing.
Worner takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Spong tries to clinch there but Worner circles away.
Spong throws a nice head kick!

Worner shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Spong pushes Worner off and gets back to his feet.

Spong moves into range and clinches up with Worner.
Spong takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Worner effectively controlling the action here.
Spong working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Worner is trying to pull guard but Spong turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Spong as Worner tries to tie him up.
Spong landing knees to the head.

Spong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Spong tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Worner defends well and Spong ends up having to push Worner into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Worner is trying to drag Spong to the mat but Spong just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Spong has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Spong lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spong trying to stall but Worner improves his position.
Worner is trying to push Spong away but Spong has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Spong has had enough of the clinch but Worner keeps him there for the moment.
Spong is trying to break the clinch but Worner has him pressed against the cage.
Spong wants to stall.
Spong lands a knee to the body.
Spong misses with an elbow over the top.
Worner blocks an elbow strike from Spong.
A knee to the head by Spong.
Worner tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Worner tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Spong avoids it.
Spong misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Worner jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Spong walks away with a smile on his face. Worner gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Franklin Worner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Worner avoids the head kick by Spong.
Spong goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Worner bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Worner is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Spong's shoulder. That is not cool.
Spong is not content to let Worner control the position.
Worner happy to just control the position for now.
Spong is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Worner is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Worner working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Worner trying to control the action but Spong is working from the bottom.
Worner tries to stand but Spong is controlling his head.
Franklin Worner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Spong is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spong pushes Worner away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Worner gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michael Spong.
I've got Spong winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Spong!
Michael Spong was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.