PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tyrone Spong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phil Story (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Story has chosen Chase the Ace as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Spong
vs
Story

190 cm
19
221 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
22
235 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

BioPharm Nutrition

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tyrone Spong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Phil Story!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Reed Andrews and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Story decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Spong avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Story.
Story not doing much here.
Story is tying to control. Spong wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Story content to control rather than advance.
Spong taking some punishment here, with Story in his half guard.
Spong knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Story on the ground.
Story controlling the action here.

Story decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Story circles away from the clinch attempt.
Story avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Story crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Spong - the referee stops the clock and Story gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Spong. Story manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Story keeps the fight on the outside.
The fight stays on the outside here - Spong looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Story is looking to clinch but Spong is avoiding it.
Spong closes the distance but Story moves to the side

and Story counters with a nice double leg into side control. Spong won't be happy with that.
Spong wants to get back to his feet but Story drags him back down.
Story tries to score with some ground and pound. Spong controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Spong is trying to buck Story off.
Story scoring with punches from side control.
Story trying to control the position but Spong is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Story looks gassed!
Spong wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Spong managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Story.
Spong is not content to let Story control the position.
Spong is pushing Story's head away, looking to escape. Story manages to hold on to the position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spong bucks up and tries to throw Story off but instead Story has got his back!
Story tries to get the hooks in deep but Spong pushed the leg off.
Story softening up his opponent with strikes here.
A lull in the action here.
Spong is trying to get back to his feet but Story has full control of the position and if anything, Spong has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Story softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Story connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Spong to escape the position.
What can Spong do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spong looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Story keeps control of the position easily here as Spong tries to buck him off.
Spong is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Spong covers up after that shot from Story.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Spong looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Story controlling the position well here. Spong rolled but Story kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Spong is trying to stand back up.
Story gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Spong holding both Story 's hands and preventing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Story dominated that round.
That's time! Spong's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Story moves into the clinch.
Story tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Story has Spong pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Spong manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Spong lands an elbow inside.
Spong with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Story drops down looking for an ankle pick but Spong pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tyrone Spong has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Phil Story.
Spong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Story paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Spong closes the distance but Story moves to the side

and Story counters with a single leg into guard. Spong didn't expect that.
Story stops Spong from standing up.
Spong wants to get back to his feet but Story passes into half guard.
Spong wants to get back to his feet.
Story seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Spong tries to kick Story off but Story keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Story trying to control the pace.
Spong avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Story.
Story stops Spong from getting back to his feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Spong tries to clinch

and Story holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Spong with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Spong lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Story fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Spong looking to slow down the pace here.
Story has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Spong avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Spong misses with a knee to the head.
Spong gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Story.
Story drops down looking for an ankle pick but Spong pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spong tries to close the distance and clinch up but Story swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Story looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Spong!
Phil Story has got the better of the ground game so far.
Spong wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
A nice elbow there by Story.
Story won't let Spong get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Spong is bucking up trying to escape but Story cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Story punishing his opponent with strikes.

Spong is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Story takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Oh Spong is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Story with the ground and pound from mount.
Story working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Spong is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Story throws some wild stikes that Spong manages to avoid easily.
Spong is trying to stand.
Spong seems to have got his legs back now.
The referee warns Spong that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Story lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Spong hang on?
Spong squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Story scoring with strikes but Spong is staying in there.
Story lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Story trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Story working Spong over with strikes here.
Spong is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Story controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Story cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Spong takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Story cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Spong is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Story sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Story won't let Spong get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Story trying to control but Spong is having none of it.
You get the feeling that Spong really doesn't like being in this position too much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phil Story showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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 throws a head kick but Story moves out of range.
Spong is looking to clinch.
Spong is looking to clinch but Story is avoiding it.
Spong tries to clinch but Story is having none of it.
Spong avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tyrone Spong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Spong tries to close the distance and clinch but Story swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Story showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Spong.

Story shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Story showed some decent athleticism there.
Spong looks like he's trying to stand up.
Story landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Story in particular looking to stall.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Story has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Spong is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Story working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Story lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Story cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Spong is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Story thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Story throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Spong because Story loaded up on that one.
Spong is trying to stand.
Spong is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Spong trying desperately to get to his feet.
Story has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Spong's face.
BOOM! Story connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Story putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Spong wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Story lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Spong takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Spong is trying to stand up.
Story has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Story takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Story has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Spong is trying to stand.
Story with the ground and pound from mount.
Story misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Spong bucks up and throws Story to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Spong tries to clinch but Story moves away

and Story counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Story.
Spong is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Story postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Story looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spong is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Story is controlling him.
Story throws a big right hand that misses.
Story throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Spong works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Spong utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Spong wants to get back to his feet but Story is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Story accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Story has a takedown stuffed.
Spong lands with a kick to the temple. Story shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Spong tries to clinch up.
Spong tries to clinch up.

Spong moves into the clinch successfully.
Spong lands a nice knee to the body.
Spong connects with a knee to the head.
Spong lands an elbow inside.
Spong stops a takedown attempt from Story.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spong landing knees to the head.

Story tightens his grip and picks Spong up, before dumping him to the ground. Spong manages to land in guard.
Spong is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Story is controlling him.
Spong trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Spong keeping full guard, as Story tries to pass.
Spong wants to stand up but Story is controlling him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Story working some strikes from top position.
Spong keeping moving, preventing Story from controlling successfully.
Tyrone Spong has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Story sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Spong's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phil Story comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Story winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 27:30
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Phil Story!