PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Parta Matti (ranked 3257 p4p, 3431 weight class) and Daniel Spong (ranked 371 p4p, 388 weight class). 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.

Matti
vs
Spong

201 cm
22
270
1 - 1 - 0

179 cm
22
255
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Parta Matti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Daniel Spong!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Spong looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Matti!
Matti tries to bench press Spong off him but Spong keeps the position.
Spong misses with the ground and pound.
Matti parries the strikes from Spong easily there. Spong is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Matti to escape.
Spong misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Matti stops Spong from passing to mount.
Spong grinds an elbow into Matti's temple.
Spong wants to take a breather but Matti manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Spong.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spong looking to pass the guard.
Spong loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong postures up in Matti's guard and throws a big left but Matti blocks it.
Spong throws a big elbow that misses.
Spong throws a strike but Matti rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spong bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Matti's guard.

Spong throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Matti works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Matti seems keen to control Spong's posture.
Spong working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Matti's head.

It looks like Parta Matti has been cut.
Spong landing with the ground and pound.
Spong throws a big right hand that misses.
Spong is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matti controls Spong momentarily but Spong frees himself.
Matti will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Spong drops back, looking for a kneebar! Matti looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Matti looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Matti!

Spong sneaks back into half guard.
Spong moves into full guard.
Matti seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Spong wants to sweep here but Matti controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spong looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Matti has picked Spong up and slammed him! Spong can't keep hold of the triangle and Matti manages to pass to side control!
Spong gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Spong is trying to get back to full guard.
Matti is thwarting Spong's attempts to control the position.
Spong works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four 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.
Spong wants to sweep but no luck.
Matti pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Spong is keeping the position for now.
Spong is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Matti stopping the sweep attempt from Spong.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spong working a defensive guard but Matti passes into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Spong dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Parta Matti's cut.
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.

Matti misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Spong.
Matti avoids the body shot from Spong.
Spong looks to score with a jab to the body but Matti is just out of range.
Spong with a lazy takedown attempt
and Matti counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Matti takes a jab right on the kisser.
We've been told by Matti's head coaches at FF Forever that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Spong fails to land with a series of punches.
Daniel Spong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spong throws a jab when Matti was well out of range.
The fighters circling - Spong throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Spong misses with a body shot.
Matti swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Spong scores with a jab to the head.
Matti lands an overhand right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spong misses with a hook.

Matti gets caught napping as Spong dives in and scores a takedown. Matti manages to retain guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Spong trying to control the position from guard on top but Matti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Matti holds on and takes a little breather.
Spong looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong tries to free his leg and advance position but Matti is retaining full guard.
Spong throws an elbow that misses. Matti uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Spong's guard. Nice move by Matti!

Spong tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Matti wants to control from the top but Spong keeps moving.
Spong is trying to keep Matti in close.
Matti stopping the sweep attempt from Spong.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Spong is looking for a triangle but Matti pushes his legs off easily.
Spong manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Matti manages to get himself to full guard.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Spong accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Spong keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Matti's head.
Spong postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Spong wants to control from the top but Matti keeps moving.
Spong is fighting to break Matti's control of his arms but Matti is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Spong with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matti keeping moving, preventing Spong from controlling successfully.
Matti utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Matti utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Spong distracts Matti with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Spong chips away with some ground and pound.
Matti keeping moving, preventing Spong from controlling successfully.
Spong is fighting to break Matti's control of his arms but Matti is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Spong distracts Matti with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spong throws a strike but Matti rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Matti stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Spong swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Spong 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.
Spong keeping moving, preventing Matti from controlling successfully.
Daniel Spong has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matti postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Spong working for submissions but it's allowed Matti to get to half guard.
Matti trying to control the action but Spong is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Spong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Parta Matti's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Spong with a lazy takedown attempt
and Matti counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Parta Matti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Matti throws a series of punches but Spong avoids them all with ease.
Matti just misses with a punch to the body.
Matti defending well as Spong loads up on a big left hand.
Spong with a poor takedown
and Spong takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A head kick misses from Matti.
Matti scores with a three punch combo!
Matti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Matti looks to land a left hand but Spong moved out of range nicely.
Matti misses with an uppercut.

Spong gets a takedown into half guard.
Spong has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Spong is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Matti has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong throwing shots but Matti is blocking nicely.
Spong wants to take a breather but Matti is having none of it.

Spong wants to work for an arm triangle but Matti is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Spong not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Spong trying to control from Matti's half guard. Matti has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Spong postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Matti has momentary wrist control but Spong slips an elbow through the middle.
Spong throwing strikes from guard but Matti blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spong is looking to work some ground and pound but Matti has wrist control.
Spong throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Matti works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Matti preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Spong postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Spong trying to control but Matti is working from the bottom.
Spong landing with the ground and pound.

Parta Matti's cut is getting worse.
Spong cracks Matti with a solid left hand.
Spong throws a strike but Matti rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spong is trying to control the position but Matti postures up.

Spong is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Matti defends well.
Spong wants to sweep here but Matti controlling him for the moment.

Spong looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Matti has picked Spong up and slammed him! Spong can't keep hold of the triangle and Matti manages to pass to side control!
Matti tries to move into full mount but can't pass Spong's legs.
Spong is letting Matti control him for a moment.

That's four 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.
Matti looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Spong is avoiding damage well.
Spong prevents Matti from moving into mount.
Spong wants to control but Matti postures up.
Matti throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
You can see the frustration on Spong's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Spong has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spong is looking to reverse the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Parta Matti showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Spong 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 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Daniel Spong!