PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tony Dante (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurt Angle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Angle's choice of entrance music: DMX - Get It On The Floor (instrumental). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Dante
vs
Angle

190 cm
26
215 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

183 cm
24
205 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tony Dante!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Kurt Angle!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Frank Dennis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Angle shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Dante is trying to defend but Angle finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Dante tries to roll over but Angle keeps him under control.
Dante trying to control here.
Angle seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Angle is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Dante is just riding it out for now. Angle eventually gives up the hold.
Dante is staying active underneath Angle, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dante has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Angle is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Angle is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Dante has managed to free his arm - good work.
Angle is trying to control the action in half guard but Dante is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Angle drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dante has his hands on Angle's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dante manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Dante content just to control the position here.
Dante can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Angle is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angle is looking to get to half guard.
Dante looking to control but Angle is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Angle reaches up to try and control the position but Dante seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Angle rolls and tries to escape and now Dante has his back!
Dante is controlling the position but Angle somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.
Dante is stalling here. Angle is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Dante seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Angle has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Angle trying to control the position but Dante is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dante throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Dante shoots in and bounces Angle off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Dante got a little sloppy there for a moment and Angle has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Dante has managed to get both his arms back between Angle's legs - danger averted.
Angle wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Dante distracts Angle with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dante looking to sit in guard and control but Angle gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Dante 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Dante.
Angle is trying to improve his position.
Dante controls the position.
Angle is trying to control Dante's posture but Dante avoids it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dante working the ground and pound.
Angle tries to buck Dante off but Dante is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dante is looking to take a break and control but Angle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Angle's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Dante is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Angle's shoulder. That is not cool.
Angle is trying to control Dante's posture but Dante avoids it.
Dante looking to control but instead Angle has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Dante is trying to control. Angle wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dante misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Angle closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Dante did well to prevent Angle getting side control.
Dante wants to get back to full guard.
Angle trying to control from half guard but Dante is working away.
Dante has his hands clasped together around Angle's back. He's all about the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angle takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Angle stops Dante from getting back to his feet.
Angle is trying to control. Dante wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Dante avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dante misses with a takedown attempt

and Angle counters with a shoot takedown. Dante fights it but they end up in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Angle drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Dante dives on top into guard.
Dante is looking to work some ground and pound but Angle has wrist control.
Dante has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Angle trying to control the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dante accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dante tries to free his leg and advance position but Angle is retaining full guard.

Angle is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kurt Angle has got the better of the ground game so far.
Dante slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Dante trying to control the position from guard on top but Angle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurt Angle showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Angle looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dante is fending him off so far but Angle persists. Nope, Dante circles away and we're back to standing.
Angle shoots and misses

and Dante decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Angle's guard.
Dante showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Dante pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Angle is keeping the position for now.
Dante advances position into side control!

Dante is trying to get an arm triangle but Angle is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Angle regains half guard there - taking advantage of Dante's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Angle is looking to improve his position.
Dante is thwarting Angle's attempts to control the position.
Angle keeping hold of Dante's head, controlling as best he can.
Angle is looking to control Dante's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Angle avoid being mounted?

That's two 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.
Angle is trying is best to control the position here.
Angle is not content to let Dante control the position.
Angle is looking for a sweep. Dante is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Dante throwing shots but Angle is blocking nicely.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Dante scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Angle doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Dante counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dante.
Tony Dante has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kurt Angle.
Dante wants to control from the top but Angle keeps moving.
Kurt Angle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Angle is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Dante drops back looking for a leg! Angle is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Angle manages to kick Dante off! Dante jumps back into Angle's guard.
Dante stands and throws Angle's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Dante slows the pace down.
Dante has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Angle struggling a bit here.
Angle manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Dante working the head and body with strikes.

Angle actively working from the bottom here.
Angle is trying to maintain the position but Dante is very close to passing his half guard.
Dante is looking to take a break and control but Angle is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tony Dante showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Angle 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurt Angle!