PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Spong (ranked 407 p4p, 152 weight class) and Adan Puno (ranked 51 p4p, 18 weight class). Adan Puno will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Spong
vs
Puno

179 cm
33
232
19 - 14 - 0

193 cm
32
250
20 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conviction
NARCOS

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 19 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Daniel Spong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Adan Puno!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Chris Edwards and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spong getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

It looks like Adan Puno has been cut.

Spong scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Spong throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Spong thows a huge punch but Puno dodges it nicely.
Puno is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Ground and pound from Spong.
Spong not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Spong working the head and body with strikes.
Spong not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Spong not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Spong throws a strike but Puno avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Spong trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Spong throws an elbow that misses. Puno uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Spong's guard. Nice move by Puno!

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Puno avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spong throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Spong isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Puno stacks Spong on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Puno!
Spong is trying to improve his position.
Spong prevents Puno from improving position.
Puno controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Spong tries to bench press Puno off him but Puno keeps the position.
Spong is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Puno is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Spong tries to lock up and control but Puno gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Spong keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Spong is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Spong might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Spong is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Puno is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Spong working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puno trying to control but Spong is having none of it.
Puno controlling the pace for now.
Spong really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Puno avoids the attempt from Spong to control.
Spong is looking to improve his position but Puno isn't that keen on the idea.
Spong is working hard here to advance position.

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.
Spong manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Puno is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Spong trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Puno manages to pass to mount!
Spong is trying desperately to improve position.
Spong tries to hold on but Puno pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Spong is looking to get to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Daniel Spong will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Adan Puno's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Spong shoots in for a double leg but Puno sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Danga de danga de dang - Spong scores with a four punch combination!
Spong dives in for a single leg takedown but Puno sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the ropes.
A short right from Spong on the inside.
Puno trying to land knees to the body.

Spong has Puno pressed up against the ropes. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Spong pulls back from the ropes and twists to the side, sending Puno tumbling to the mat - Spong dives into Puno's guard.
Puno avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Spong forces his way into half guard.
Spong moves nicely into side control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Spong in side control lands a decent elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Spong goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Puno rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Spong's guard! Nice work there by Puno!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Puno avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Spong is trying to hold Puno in close to prevent damage but Puno has managed to pass into half guard.
Spong is trying is best to control the position here.
Spong has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Puno is working away from the top position though.
Spong tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Puno has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Puno prevents Spong from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puno controlling the pace for now.
Spong is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puno controlling the position easily from mount.
Let's hope that Puno has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Spong working to try and regain half guard.

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 tries to hold on but Puno postures up.
Puno trying to control but Spong is having none of it.
Spong is working to get back to half guard.
Puno trying to control but Spong is having none of it.
Spong can't escape the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
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 cut man is working on Adan Puno's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Spong misses with a takedown attempt
and Puno counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

It looks like Daniel Spong has been cut.
Puno uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Spong.
Spong displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Puno throws out the jab.
Spong with a lazy takedown attempt
and Puno counters with a stiff right hand.
Spong lands an overhand right.
Spong is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Spong swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Spong scores with a hook to the body. Puno takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Puno misses with a body shot.

Spong darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Puno is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Spong scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Puno's head.
Spong thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Puno's head.
Spong throws a strike but Puno avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Spong throws a big elbow that misses.
Spong throws an elbow that misses. Puno uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Spong's guard. Nice move by Puno!

Spong working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Puno has passed into half guard!
Puno passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Spong!
Spong tries to hold on but Puno pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puno tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Spong is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Spong is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Puno controlling from the full mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spong is looking to improve his position but Puno isn't that keen on the idea.
Spong sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Puno is looking to stall here but Spong recovers full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puno looking to sit in guard and control but Spong gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Spong working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Puno bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Spong's guard.

Spong wants to hit a sweep here but Puno passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Spong there!
Adan Puno has got the better of the ground game so far.
Spong tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Adan Puno has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Daniel Spong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Spong manages to regain half guard. Good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Adan Puno.
I think Spong has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27

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