PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Spong (ranked 336 p4p, 208 weight class) and Charon Lehto (ranked 53 p4p, 33 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Charon Lehto enters the cage!

Spong
vs
Lehto

179 cm
31
232
16 - 10 - 0

201 cm
33
275
15 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Shadow Realm Apparel
FF Gear

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 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Daniel Spong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Charon Lehto!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Percy O'Donnell and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lehto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Spong manages to avoid it.
Spong looks for a takedown but Lehto sprawls well.
Spong looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lehto rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Spong moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Spong darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Spong tries for a takedown but Lehto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Spong cracks Lehto with a good jab.
Lehto swinging wildly here.
Lehto swinging wildly here.
Lehto avoids the body shot from Spong.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Spong shoots in and bounces Lehto off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Lehto wants to stand up but Spong is controlling him.
Spong missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lehto really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Spong. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lehto wants to stand up but Spong is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong lands a couple of elbows.
Spong is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lehto wants to stand up but Spong is controlling him.
Spong trying to control the position from guard on top but Lehto is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lehto has his feet on Spong's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Lehto lands a glancing blow to the side of Spong's head.
Lehto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Spong.
A big right from Spong misses.
Spong misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lehto.
Lehto lands a jab to the head.
Spong will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Spong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spong has his takedown stuffed
and Lehto counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Daniel Spong seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spong slips a jab and a cross from Lehto.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Spong is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Lehto moves away from the strike by Spong.
Spong lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Lehto waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Spong.
Charon Lehto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lehto tries to land a leg kick but Spong saw it coming and moves away.
Spong half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Spong with a nice cross.
Lehto is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Spong misses the jab.
Lehto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lehto tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lehto throws a front kick aimed at Spong's knee but Spong avoids it well.
Lehto misses with a series of wild punches.
Spong takes a head kick and keeps coming.
An inside leg kick lands from Lehto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Spong misses.
Spong gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lehto.
Spong throws a right hand that misses
and Lehto counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Lehto takes a swing at Spong's ribcage but misses.
Spong tries to counter with a takedown but Lehto is quick to defend against it.
Spong uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lehto.
Lehto lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Lehto has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Lehto throws a big shot that misses.
Lehto takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Spong loads up on a big right hand but Lehto slips the punch.
Good leg kick by Lehto.
Lehto thows a left - swing and a miss!
Spong slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Spong fails to land the takedown.
Lehto connects with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Lehto pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Lehto staying out of range there.
Lehto walks into a jab.
Lehto misses the shot to the body.

Spong gets a takedown into half guard.
Spong looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Spong working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Spong thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lehto's head.
Lehto wants to get back to his feet.
Spong scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Lehto manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Spong shoots in and bounces Lehto off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Lehto kicks Spong off and gets to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Charon Lehto dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Charon Lehto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Spong checks a leg kick.

Spong looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Lehto won't allow Spong to pass to mount.
Spong throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Spong not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Spong looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Spong there.
Lehto is trying to stand up here but Spong is controlling him well.
Spong landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lehto manages to escape and get back to his feet!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lehto lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Spong closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lehto circles away.
Spong goes for a double leg but Lehto avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Lehto continues to drive forward.
Spong struggles to land a body shot inside as Lehto controls his hands.

Lehto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Spong throws a jab when Lehto was well out of range.

Spong drives through with a takedown into guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Spong looking to pass the guard.
Daniel Spong overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lehto wants to get back to his feet but Spong is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lehto is looking to stand back up but Spong counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Lehto.
Lehto wants to get back to his feet.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Spong lands a nice short elbow.
Lehto is trying to stand.
Spong is nestled in close to Lehto, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Spong lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Lehto wants to get back to his feet.
Spong seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lehto wants to get back to his feet.
Spong is nestled in close to Lehto, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Spong working over Lehto with some ground and pound. Lehto looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Lehto pushes Spong off and gets back to his feet.
A slapping leg kick lands for Lehto.
Lehto looks to score with a jab to the body but Spong is just out of range.
Spong feinted with a counter takedown.
Lehto steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Spong.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spong misses with a looping right.
Lehto on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Lehto displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Spong.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Spong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spong throws a hook to the side of Lehto's head but Lehto sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Lehto misses with a low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lazy left from Lehto finds it's target.
A leg kick checked by Spong.
Lehto waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Spong.
Spong throws an overhand right that lands on Lehto's shoulder, as Lehto tries to avoid the shot.
Spong on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Lehto lands a leg kick that knocks Spong off balance momentarily.
Spong has a takedown stuffed.
A shot to the body from Spong misses
and Lehto makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Spong checks a low kick from Lehto.
Lehto throws a leg kick

and Spong counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Spong.
Lehto is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Spong is controlling him.
Spong working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lehto's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lehto is looking to stand up but Spong isn't so interested in that idea.
Spong scoring with some ground and pound.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Spong working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lehto's head.
Spong working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Spong loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Spong throws a big elbow that misses.
Lehto is looking to stand up but Spong isn't so interested in that idea.
Spong might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lehto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Spong content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Lehto is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Spong is controlling him.
Spong is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Spong sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Lehto is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Spong is controlling him.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Daniel Spong will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Lehto throws a body punch but Spong moves out of range.
Lehto swinging wildly here.

Spong looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Spong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Spong won't allow Lehto to get back to his feet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Spong accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Spong works over Lehto with some ground and pound from guard.
Spong stops Lehto from standing up.
Spong working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Spong chips away with some ground and pound.
Spong looking to pass the guard.

Lehto manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Spong escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Spong slips under a jab from Lehto.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lehto throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lehto tries a head kick but it misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Spong as he connects with a hook.
Spong fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Spong dips to his left and cracks Lehto with an uppercut!
Spong fails with a takedown attempt.
Lehto takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Lehto throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lehto scores with a jab to the head.
Spong misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lehto throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Spong sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lehto throws a head kick but Spong moves out of range.
Lehto throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lehto ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Spong shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Lehto is trying to defend but Spong finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lehto is trying to stand back up but Spong is controlling him

Lehto makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Spong scores with a decent looking hook.

Spong closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Lehto quickly recovers to half guard.

Lehto has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Spong is on him like a limpet, forcing Lehto back against the cage.
Lehto lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Spong backwards.
Spong tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Lehto's elbow.
Lehto tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Spong avoids it.

Lehto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spong throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Spong scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Spong performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Spong lands with a punch from half guard.
Lehto wants to get back to his feet.
Spong seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lehto does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Spong winds up and cracks Lehto with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Lehto blocking the ground and pound attempt from Spong.
Spong is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Spong not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lehto tries to kick Spong off but Spong keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Spong missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lehto is trying to stand up here but Spong is controlling him well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spong throwing shots but Lehto is blocking nicely.
Lehto avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Spong.
Lehto looks like he's trying to stand up.

Lehto makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Spong moves out of range as Lehto strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lehto gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Spong keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lehto.
Spong fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lehto avoids it really well and circles away.
Lehto doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Spong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spong throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Charon Lehto.
I think Lehto 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Charon Lehto!
A relieved looking Charon Lehto thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.