PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Bongo Drum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tony Sassano Jnr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tony Sassano Jnr acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Drum
vs
Sassano Jnr

165 cm
22
140 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
166 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Soul Supremacy Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Bongo Drum!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Tony Sassano Jnr!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Chris Edwards and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Drum shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Sassano Jnr napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Drum trying to control the action but Sassano Jnr is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Drum passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Sassano Jnr!
Sassano Jnr is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Drum putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

It looks like Tony Sassano Jnr has been cut.
Drum can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sassano Jnr is looking to escape.
Drum unloads with some shots from mount but Sassano Jnr bucks and avoids them well.
Drum with good strikes from the mount here!
Sassano Jnr is squirming around, avoiding Drum's attempts to control the action.
Drum is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Sassano Jnr can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drum wants to control the action but instead Sassano Jnr gets a body lock and reverses into Drum's guard! Nice work!
Sassano Jnr tries to free his leg and advance position but Drum is retaining full guard.

Sassano Jnr gets to his feet. Drum looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Bongo Drum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drum closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sassano Jnr circles away.
Drum misses with a takedown

and Sassano Jnr counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sassano Jnr.
Sassano Jnr misses with some punches.
Drum is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bongo Drum. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Drum drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Drum.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drum wants a takedown but no success here.
Drum has Sassano Jnr pressed against the cage, preventing Sassano Jnr from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A knee to the head by Sassano Jnr.

It looks like Bongo Drum has been cut.
Sassano Jnr stops a takedown attempt from Drum.

Drum has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Sassano Jnr clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sassano Jnr has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Drum.
Sassano Jnr avoids the strikes from Drum.
Drum struggling to land strikes to the head as Sassano Jnr covers up.
Sassano Jnr can't escape the position.
Sassano Jnr trying to control the hands but Drum won't let him.
Sassano Jnr covering up well under a series of strikes from Drum.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sassano Jnr wants to get back to his feet.
Drum lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
You can see the frustration on Sassano Jnr's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Sassano Jnr trying to get back to his feet but Drum is in full control for now.
Sassano Jnr is trying to remain composed but Drum is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Drum struggling to land strikes to the head as Sassano Jnr covers up.
Sassano Jnr is taking damage to the body and head.
Drum lands a shot to the head.
Sassano Jnr is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sassano Jnr covering up well and avoiding damage.
Drum trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Drum is really struggling to control Sassano Jnr but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Drum throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Drum struggling to keep hold of the position.
Drum punches Sassano Jnr on the ear.
Drum missing with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Drum trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bongo Drum dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Drum looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Sassano Jnr unleashes a big counter combination but Drum bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Drum will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sassano Jnr does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Sassano Jnr pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Drum back to the cage. Sassano Jnr follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Drum here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Drum shoots in looking for a takedown. Sassano Jnr tries to sprawl out of it but Drum keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Sassano Jnr manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bongo Drum. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sassano Jnr stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Sassano Jnr wants it to stay on the feet.
Sassano Jnr slaps away a takedown attempt from Drum, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Drum is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drum shoots in but Sassano Jnr avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Drum shoots and misses

and Sassano Jnr counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Sassano Jnr.
Sassano Jnr is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Sassano Jnr's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice jab there from Sassano Jnr.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Drum shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Sassano Jnr is trying to defend but Drum finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Drum is thwarting Sassano Jnr's attempts to control the position.
Drum works his foot free and advances to mount.
Sassano Jnr is in all sorts of trouble here.
Drum lands a heavy elbow.
Sassano Jnr tries to hold on but Drum postures up.
Drum lands a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drum looking to control but Sassano Jnr is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Drum in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sassano Jnr is looking to improve his position but Drum isn't that keen on the idea.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sassano Jnr is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bongo Drum overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sassano Jnr holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Drum tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Drum pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drum trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Drum lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sassano Jnr hang on?
Drum controlling the position easily from mount.
Sassano Jnr tries to reverse the position but Drum maintains control.
Sassano Jnr is bucking up trying to escape but Drum cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Drum punishing his opponent with strikes.
Sassano Jnr taking shots to the head.
Drum controlling from the full mount.
Sassano Jnr is squirming around, avoiding Drum's attempts to control the action.
Sassano Jnr really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Drum. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sassano Jnr is trying desperately to improve position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Sassano Jnr can do anything to dispel that myth.
Drum trying to control but Sassano Jnr is having none of it.
Drum throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Sassano Jnr is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bongo Drum dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sassano Jnr lands with a thumping leg kick.

Drum gets a double leg takedown into Sassano Jnr's guard.
Drum stands and throws Sassano Jnr's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Drum trying to control the position but Sassano Jnr is working away.
Sassano Jnr gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Drum with a couple of short strikes.
Drum 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drum throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Drum punching from mount but Sassano Jnr doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Sassano Jnr taking shots to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drum looking to control but Sassano Jnr is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sassano Jnr wants to control but Drum is having none of it.
Drum wants to control the pace but Sassano Jnr is squirming around nicely.
Sassano Jnr tries to lock up and control but Drum gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Drum takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two 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.
Drum scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Sassano Jnr?
Sassano Jnr is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Drum throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Drum pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Drum trying to control but Sassano Jnr is having none of it.
Drum thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Drum prevents Sassano Jnr from getting the reversal.
Drum raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Drum lands with some strikes.
Drum is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sassano Jnr can do to turn this around?
Drum with a couple of short strikes.
Drum thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Drum takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Drum throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Sassano Jnr tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Drum tries to control but Sassano Jnr wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drum connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Drum landing strikes from the mount and Sassano Jnr is in trouble!
Sassano Jnr is desperately trying to improve his position but Drum has a good base and remains in mount.
Drum looking to control but Sassano Jnr is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Drum avoids the attempt from Sassano Jnr to control.
Tony Sassano Jnr has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bongo Drum is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Drum content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bongo Drum showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Drum, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bishop scores the fight 30:26
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:26
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bongo Drum!