PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Professor Xe (ranked 1800 p4p, 1898 weight class) and Daniel Spong (ranked 234 p4p, 242 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Xe
vs
Spong

190 cm
35
265
25 - 10 - 0

179 cm
28
232
9 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 25 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Professor Xe!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Daniel Spong!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Percy O'Donnell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Xe keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Spong.
Spong shoots for a double leg takedown but Xe sprawls well. He's pushed Spong's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Spong has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Good shot there by Xe.
Spong waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Xe.
Xe tries to counter with a takedown but Spong is quick to defend against it.
Spong misses with a straight left.
Spong slips a jab from Xe.
Spong lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

Spong closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Xe did well to prevent Spong getting side control.

Xe looking for submissions off his back.
Ground and pound from Spong.
Xe has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Spong is working away from the top position though.
Xe is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Xe is looking to improve his position.
Spong landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Spong is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Xe looking for submissions off his back.
Spong passes to side control.
Xe wants to control but Spong postures up.
The strikes coming from Spong are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

Spong tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Spong has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Spong wants to control but Xe is keeping him busy.
We've been hearing good reports from Xe'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.
Xe manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Xe is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Spong pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Xe looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Xe manages to get to full guard.
Xe is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Spong working some strikes from top position.
Spong wants to control from the top but Xe keeps moving.

Xe escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Spong gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Xe looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Spong avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spong with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Spong trying to control the position from guard on top but Xe is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Xe tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Xe is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Xe working for a triangle but Spong defends it easily.
Spong is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Spong makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Xe is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spong postures up.

Xe looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Xe working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Spong.
Spong connects with a couple of short punches.

Xe has an active guard here but Spong has managed to pass into half guard.
Spong takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Spong is nestled in close to Xe, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Xe has hold of Spong's hands but Spong slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Xe preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Spong trying to mount his opponent but Xe defends it.
Spong is trying to control the action in half guard but Xe is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Spong dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nice straight punches there by Xe. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Xe.

Xe closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Spong quickly recovers to half guard.
Spong has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Xe is working away from the top position though.
Spong regains full guard. Nicely done.

Spong has his feet on Xe's thighs here. He's pushed Xe off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Xe screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Daniel Spong!
Our winner, Daniel Spong, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.