PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tim Horton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elvis Ronan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ronan has chosen Promised Land as his entrance music. Tim Horton had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Horton
vs
Ronan

178 cm
29
198 lbs
16 - 12 - 0

184 cm
29
195 lbs
18 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry

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 16 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tim Horton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Elvis Ronan!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ronan throws a shot from downtown. Horton moves away and avoids it.
Horrible takedown by Horton or perhaps it was just good defense by Ronan which made him look bad.
Horton looks for a takedown but Ronan sprawls well.
Horton shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Horton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ronan slaps away a takedown attempt from Horton, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ronan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Horton goes for a double leg but Ronan avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ronan continues to drive forward.
Horton changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Ronan fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Ronan missing with a left hand there. Horton was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ronan. Horton does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ronan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ronan stuffs the takedown.
Ronan blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ronan fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Horton looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Ronan scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Horton misses with a takedown attempt
and Ronan counters with a series of strikes. Horton will be more careful next time no doubt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Horton.
Ronan misses with a low kick.
Horton avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A left lands for Ronan.
The crowd cheers as Ronan lands an impressive looking overhand right. Horton doesn't seem phased though.
Ronan punishes Horton's body with a nice straight punch.
Ronan connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Horton's hands.
Horton keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ronan.
A big right from Ronan misses.
Ronan bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.

Horton feints and as Ronan raises his hands in defense, Horton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Horton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ronan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Horton'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.
Ronan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Horton is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ronan utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Horton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ronan is keeping the position for now.

Ronan pushes Horton off and scrambles back to his feet.
Ronan throws a solid leg kick but Horton takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ronan.
Horton throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Horton shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ronan as he jumps to the side.
Horton moves out of range as Ronan strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ronan throws a hook to the side of Horton's head but Horton sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Horton feints and as Ronan raises his hands in defense, Horton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Ronan pushes Horton off and scrambles back to his feet.
Ronan misses with a body shot.
Ronan throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Horton stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Horton shoots in looking for a takedown but Ronan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Horton's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Horton is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ronan.

Horton scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ronan tries to kick Horton off but Horton keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ronan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Horton.

Ronan is defending against the submission attempts here by Horton.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ronan looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Horton is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ronan defends it well.
Horton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ronan keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ronan is trying to stand back up but Horton is controlling him
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Horton throws a strike but Ronan avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Horton is looking to work some ground and pound but Ronan has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elvis Ronan dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ronan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Horton shoots in but Ronan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A big right from Ronan misses.
Horton has a takedown stuffed.
Ronan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Horton fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Horton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Decent striking displayed by Ronan there.
Ronan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Horton.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ronan.
Horton takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Elvis Ronan seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Ronan gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Horton to score an easy takedown into full 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!

Horton drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ronan dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horton is trying to keep Ronan in close.
Horton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ronan is one step ahead there.
Ronan throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Horton manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Ronan is trying to stand up.
A nice elbow there by Horton.
Horton throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Horton is landing with some decent strikes but Ronan is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Horton misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ronan is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Horton goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Ronan is on top in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Horton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ronan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Horton wants to control but Ronan passes easily into half guard.
Tim Horton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Horton moves into full guard.
Ronan working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Horton's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ronan stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Horton swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Ronan postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Horton is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ronan, into his guard.
Horton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ronan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ronan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Ronan manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Ronan pressing his opponent against the cage.
Horton is working for takedown but Ronan is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horton tries to pull guard but Ronan forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A bit of stalling here from Ronan.
The crowd are getting on Ronan's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Horton tries to pull guard but Ronan holds him up against the cage and eventually Horton drops back down to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Horton is looking to break free of the clinch but Ronan has double underhooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tim Horton will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ronan misses with a wild combination.
Ronan connects with a leg kick. Horton looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Horton tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ronan defends well and Horton ends up having to push Ronan into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ronan dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Horton tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Ronan doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ronan manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Horton has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ronan regains guard immediately.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horton prevents Ronan from getting back to his feet.
Ronan keeping moving, preventing Horton from controlling successfully.
Ronan wants to stand but Horton is controlling the position.
Horton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Horton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ronan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Horton content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ronan pushes Horton off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Horton shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ronan sprawls well. Ronan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Horton gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tim Horton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Horton will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Horton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ronan but Ronan pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Horton closes the distance and clinches up with Ronan, looking for a takedown. Horton pushes Ronan against the cage but Ronan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Horton shoots in but Ronan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ronan throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Horton fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Horton shoots in for a takedown but Ronan shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ronan feints and then cracks Horton's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Horton down.
Horton looks for a takedown but Ronan sprawls well.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ronan.
A left lands for Ronan.
Horton connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ronan lands with a nice combination. Horton backs away looking to recover.
Horton throws an off balance right hand
and Ronan counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Horton blocks a leg kick.
Ronan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Horton darts in looking for a takedown but Ronan gets double underhooks and turns Horton into the cage.
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!
Ronan lands with a light punch inside.
Ronan avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ronan is trying to trip Horton. He has hold of a leg but Horton is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Ronan persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Horton has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Horton wants to sweep here but Ronan controlling him for the moment.
Ronan passes Horton's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Horton moves into full guard.
Horton has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Ronan has passed into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Horton prevents Ronan from moving into mount.
Ronan scores with a couple of short elbows.
Horton tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Elvis Ronan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ronan has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elvis Ronan!
In his post fight interview, Elvis Ronan started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.