PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Marco Ajax (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kukulcan Tonga (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ajax kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is For Heavy Metal we will die!. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ajax
vs
Tonga

160 cm
31
158 lbs
22 - 12 - 1

181 cm
30
162 lbs
18 - 8 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing
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 22 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marco Ajax!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 8 - 1, fighting out of London, Kukulcan Tonga!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Chris Edwards and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tonga just misses with a punch to the body.
Ajax feinted with a counter takedown.

Tonga moves into the clinch successfully.
Tonga misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ajax lands on the inside with an uppercut.
We've been informed that Tonga has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Ajax blocks an uppercut.
Tonga working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Tonga has a couple of punches blocked by Ajax.
Ajax tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tonga smiles and moves away.
Tonga takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Tonga lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Ajax circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ajax misses with a wild body shot.

Tonga has Ajax up against the cage in a clinch.
Ajax throws a punch but it's blocked by Tonga.
Ajax tries to circle away but Tonga has him pinned against the cage.
Ajax misses with some punches.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ajax.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ajax fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ajax tries to throw a body punch but Tonga avoids it by throwing Ajax back against the cage.
Ajax lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Tonga swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Ajax jumps guard.
Ajax looking for a sweep. Not yet Ajax, not yet.

Ajax looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Tonga passes into side control.
Ajax is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Tonga off and has taken his back!
Tonga covering up well under a barage of strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ajax punches the canvas rather than the man.
Ajax lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tonga tries to roll but Ajax sticks to his back.

Tonga defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tonga covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Ajax seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Ajax is trying to control but Tonga is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Ajax throwing strikes but Tonga recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Ajax thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tonga trying to control but Ajax postures up.
Ajax throwing shots but Tonga is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ajax wants to pass the guard but Tonga is defending well.
Ajax is trying to control the action in half guard but Tonga is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Ajax is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Tonga is just riding it out for now. Ajax eventually gives up the hold.
Ground and pound from Ajax.
Ajax looks to land a strike but Tonga avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ajax throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ajax 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.
Tonga trying to control the position here.
Ajax throws a big elbow that misses.
Ajax trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ajax pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tonga is keeping the position for now.
Tonga avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ajax postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ajax throws an elbow that misses. Tonga uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ajax's guard. Nice move by Tonga!

Tonga postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Ajax 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.

Ajax throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tonga swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tonga leaves Ajax with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Tonga cracks Ajax with a good jab.
Ajax uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tonga.
Ajax keeps the fight on the outside.

Tonga gets caught flat footed, as Ajax shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tonga preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ajax stays in close to Tonga's body and controls the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tonga seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ajax missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ajax lands a couple of digs.
Ajax postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ajax loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ajax might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Tonga controls Ajax momentarily but Ajax frees himself.
Ajax trying to control but Tonga is working from the bottom.
Ajax throws a strike but Tonga rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ajax throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Tonga preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ajax is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tonga is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Tonga's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Ajax is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ajax can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Tonga controls the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ajax throws a body kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Tonga.
Ajax takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Tonga tries to close the distance and clinch but Ajax swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ajax seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Tonga takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tonga moves in looking to clinch but Ajax pushes him off.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tonga looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ajax fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ajax lands a jab to the nose.
Ajax misses with an uppercut.
Tonga tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ajax paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ajax just misses with a punch to the body.
A slow jab from Ajax misses its intended target.
Ajax circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ajax connects with a body shot that sends Tonga's belly button to the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ajax thuds his right hand into Tonga's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Ajax on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
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!
Ajax closes the distance and clinches up with Tonga, looking for a takedown. Ajax pushes Tonga against the cage but Tonga circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marco Ajax. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A slow jab from Ajax misses its intended target.

Tonga rushes Ajax and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tonga gets through Ajax's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Ajax breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ajax lands a right hook to the body.
Tonga tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Tonga connects with a jab.

Tonga rushes Ajax and presses him up against the cage.
Tonga prevents a takedown attempt there.
Tonga tries to work over Ajax's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tonga working aggressively here.
Ajax working hard to break the clinch.
Tonga's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marco Ajax dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Tonga scores with a body shot.

Tonga gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ajax to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Tonga preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ajax trying to control the position from guard on top but Tonga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tonga tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ajax accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ajax in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tonga avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ajax trying to control the position from guard on top but Tonga is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ajax is working Tonga over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Tonga utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ajax trying to control but Tonga is working from the bottom.
Ajax with a nice head shot there.
Ajax throws an elbow that misses. Tonga uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ajax's guard. Nice move by Tonga!

Tonga's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Ajax trying to control the position.
Kukulcan Tonga has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tonga wants to control from the top but Ajax keeps moving.

Tonga avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tonga throws an elbow that misses. Ajax uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Tonga's guard. Nice move by Ajax!

Ajax works over Tonga with some ground and pound from guard.
Tonga is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ajax in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tonga keeping moving, preventing Ajax from controlling successfully.
Ajax stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tonga swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ajax loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ajax is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tonga can do to turn this around?
Ajax looking to sit in guard and control but Tonga gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Tonga preventing the sweep.
Ajax looking to control but Tonga passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tonga working over Ajax with some ground and pound. Ajax looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Ajax looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Tonga throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tonga throwing shots but Ajax is blocking nicely.

Ajax looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ajax keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Marco Ajax.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ajax, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marco Ajax!
After the fight, Marco Ajax 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.