PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tyrone Spong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Swanson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Spong
vs
Swanson

188 cm
23
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
200 lbs
1 - 12 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Likes comics

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tyrone Spong!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Swanson!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Winston Howard and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A right-left combo lands from Swanson.
A head kick by Swanson misses

and Spong counters by clinching up.

Spong breaks the clinch.
Spong shoots for a takedown but Swanson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Spong takes the fight into the clinch.
Spong using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Spong pulls guard effortlessly.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Spong trying to control the position here.
Swanson keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Spong's head.
Spong pulls Swanson in close to prevent any damage.
Spong 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.
Swanson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Spong is on top in guard.

Spong drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Swanson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Spong has Swanson in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Swanson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Swanson is looking to work some ground and pound but Spong has wrist control.

Spong working for a triangle but Swanson defends it easily.
Swanson throws a strike but Spong rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spong controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tyrone Spong has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Spong fails with the takedown.
Swanson wants to clinch
and Spong makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Swanson really felt that one!
Swanson looks to clinch
and Spong counters with a nice low kick that buckles Swanson's knee momentarily.
Swanson fails with the takedown.

Spong closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Swanson looks winded!
Spong takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Spong sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Swanson defending well though.
Spong throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

We're going to have a standup here because Tyrone Spong wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Spong moves out of range of the leg kick from Swanson.
Matt Swanson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spong fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyrone Spong. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Spong clinches up against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Spong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Swanson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyrone Spong dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Swanson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Swanson moves in looking to clinch but Spong pushes him off.
Swanson throws a lazy head kick
and Spong counters with a straight right hand.
Swanson throws the kick towards the body but Spong avoids it.
Swanson scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Spong takes the fight into the clinch.

Spong works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Spong is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Spong stands and throws Swanson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Spong throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spong takes a little break here. Swanson wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Tyrone Spong.
Swanson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Spong counters with a nice body shot.
Swanson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Spong manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Spong moves into the clinch.
Spong has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Swanson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Swanson throws a punch but it's blocked by Spong.
Spong looking for a takedown.
Spong holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Spong breaks from the clinch.
Swanson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Swanson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Swanson avoids the head kick by Spong.
Swanson throws a head kick that misses.
Tyrone Spong is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spong throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Swanson's waist but Swanson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Spong off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyrone Spong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swanson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Swanson is breathing heavily.
A head kick from Spong lands but Swanson takes it in his stride.
Swanson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Spong shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Swanson pinned against the cage. Swanson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Spong fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Swanson avoids it really well and circles away.
Swanson throws a sloppy head kick and Spong moves out of range easily.
Swanson tries to clinch up

and Spong counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Spong.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Spong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Spong circles away from the clinch attempt
and Spong counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Swanson is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That has opened up Matt Swanson's cut even more.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Swanson wants to clinch up but Spong keeps it at a distance.
Spong misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Swanson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Spong counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Swanson throws a sloppy head kick and Spong moves out of range easily.
Tyrone Spong is winning the standup battle so far.
Swanson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Spong instigates a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Swanson presses Spong against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Spong prevents Swanson from breaking the clinch.

Spong's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Swanson throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Spong counters with a two punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyrone Spong dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matt Swanson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Swanson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Swanson throws a head kick that misses
and Spong counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Swanson is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Swanson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Swanson wants it to stay on the feet.
Spong shoots in looking for a takedown but Swanson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Spong's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Swanson gets tackled into the cage by Spong. Spong maintains the clinch.

Spong pulls Swanson into guard.
Spong pulls Swanson in close to prevent any damage.

Spong pushes Swanson off and scrambles back to his feet.
Spong tries to clinch there but Swanson circles away.
Swanson tries a head kick but it misses.
Spong avoids the head kick by Swanson.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A head kick misses from Swanson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Swanson.
Spong avoids the head kick by Swanson.
Spong looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Swanson is fending him off so far but Spong persists. Nope, Swanson circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyrone Spong. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spong dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Swanson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Swanson wants it to stay on the feet.
Swanson misses with a head kick.
Swanson misses with a head kick.

Spong clinches with his opponent.

Spong breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Spong shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Spong blocks a head kick by Swanson.
The fight stays on the outside here - Swanson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Spong clinches up with Swanson and pushes him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Spong has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Swanson uses from the top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Swanson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Spong looking to control.

Spong looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Swanson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Swanson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Spong is looking for a triangle but Swanson pushes his legs off easily.
Swanson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Swanson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Swanson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Spong looking for a guillotine here but Swanson defends easily.
Swanson with a flurry of punches that miss.

Swanson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Spong has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Swanson has managed to get both his arms back between Spong's legs - danger averted.
Spong is trying to control the position but Swanson postures up.
Swanson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Spong works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Matt Swanson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Swanson won't allow Spong to sweep him here.
Spong controlling the position.

Spong has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Swanson has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spong tries to pull guard but Swanson forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Spong is looking for a takedown.
Spong blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Spong dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Swanson can't break the clinch.
Swanson has had enough of the clinch but Spong keeps him there for the moment.
Swanson throws a punch but it's blocked by Spong.
Spong lands with a left to the head.

Spong drags the fight down to the ground.
Swanson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Spong works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Swanson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Spong trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Tyrone Spong is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Spong working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Swanson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tyrone Spong showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Spong has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tyrone Spong!