PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vinnie Danzig Jr. (ranked 3530 p4p, 398 weight class) and Kukulcan Tonga (ranked 2339 p4p, 278 weight class). Danzig Jr. comes to the cage accompanied by Gouryella - Tenshi. Vinnie Danzig Jr. had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Danzig Jr.
vs
Tonga

172 cm
36
165 lbs
15 - 13 - 0

181 cm
35
162 lbs
24 - 15 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 15 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vinnie Danzig Jr.!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Kukulcan Tonga!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, Alec Ball and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tonga avoids the head kick by Danzig Jr..
Tonga feints the counter takedown.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tonga.
Tonga lands a nice forearm strike.

Tonga tries for a kimura but Danzig Jr. is defending well.
Tonga creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Tonga working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Tonga is trying to get an arm triangle but Danzig Jr. is defending well.
Danzig Jr. manages to work his way to half guard, despite Tonga's best efforts.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tonga is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Tonga is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danzig Jr. is pressing down on Tonga's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Tonga wants to control from the top but Danzig Jr. keeps moving.

Tonga avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Danzig Jr. controls Tonga momentarily but Tonga frees himself.
Tonga trying to control but Danzig Jr. is working from the bottom.
Tonga stopping the sweep attempt from Danzig Jr..
Danzig Jr. is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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.
Tonga working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tonga wants to control from the top but Danzig Jr. keeps moving.
Danzig Jr. will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Danzig Jr. is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

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

Tonga is trying to keep Danzig Jr. in close.
Danzig Jr. in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tonga working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Danzig Jr. doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Danzig Jr. manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Tonga has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Danzig Jr. is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Tonga.

Danzig Jr. is trying to get an arm triangle but Tonga is defending well.

Danzig Jr. thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Danzig Jr. creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Tonga sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Danzig Jr. throwing strikes but Tonga manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Tonga tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Tonga has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Tonga working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Danzig Jr. is looking for a sweep.
Danzig Jr. is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Tonga trying to control the action but Danzig Jr. is working from the bottom.
Danzig Jr. is trying to control but can't.
Danzig Jr. tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Tonga is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Danzig Jr. is looking to escape.
Tonga working over Danzig Jr. with some ground and pound. Danzig Jr. looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kukulcan Tonga dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Tonga takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Tonga avoids the head kick by Danzig Jr..
Danzig Jr. misses with a takedown attempt - Tonga sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Tonga scores with a nice body kick.

Tonga shoots in and bounces Danzig Jr. off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Danzig Jr. manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Tonga lands a head shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A chopping leg kick lands by Danzig Jr..

Tonga shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Danzig Jr. pushes Tonga off and gets back to his feet.
Some wild striking there from Tonga.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Danzig Jr. closes the distance looking to clinch
and Tonga counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nice shot by Danzig Jr..
Danzig Jr. shoots for a takedown but Tonga saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tonga connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Danzig Jr.'s hands.

Tonga shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tonga showed some decent athleticism there.
Kukulcan Tonga has got the better of the ground game so far.

Tonga is looking for a kimura but Danzig Jr. is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tonga to get the leverage.
Danzig Jr. is looking for a sweep. Tonga is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Danzig Jr. is trying to escape back to his feet but Tonga uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Danzig Jr. is working to avoid the ground and pound but Tonga connects with a decent elbow.

Tonga tries for a kimura but Danzig Jr. is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tonga is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Danzig Jr. knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Danzig Jr. sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Tonga blocks the strikes from Danzig Jr..
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Danzig Jr. on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Danzig Jr. is trying to stand up here but Tonga is controlling him well.
Danzig Jr. tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Tonga connects with a nice short shot to Danzig Jr.'s temple.

Tonga seems to be working for a kimura but Danzig Jr. defends the submission attempt.
Tonga winds up and cracks Danzig Jr. with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danzig Jr. wants to get back to his feet.

Danzig Jr. looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tonga working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Tonga working over Danzig Jr. with some ground and pound. Danzig Jr. looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tonga working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Tonga working over Danzig Jr. with some ground and pound. Danzig Jr. looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Tonga is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Danzig Jr. punching from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tonga is trying to work for a kimura but Danzig Jr. is defending well.
Danzig Jr. keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Tonga is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Danzig Jr. is just riding it out for now. Tonga eventually gives up the hold.

Tonga is working for a submission of some sort.
Danzig Jr. wants to improve his position but Tonga is controlling well.
Danzig Jr. is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tonga scores with a couple of nice shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kukulcan Tonga 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! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Tonga needs to keep his hands up - Danzig Jr. had a free shot at his head there.
Danzig Jr. scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Tonga is rocked!
Danzig Jr. looks to land a left hand but Tonga moved out of range nicely.
Tonga is still on wobbly legs! Can Danzig Jr. finish him?
Danzig Jr. waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Tonga.
Tonga seems to have recovered his senses.
Tonga misses with a wild combination.
Danzig Jr. tries to clinch up.
It seemed like Tonga was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Donk. Danzig Jr. catches Tonga right on the button with a cross.
Tonga blocks a head kick by Danzig Jr..

Tonga gets a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tonga in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Danzig Jr. tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Tonga!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kukulcan Tonga!
During a confident post fight interview, Kukulcan Tonga thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
The defeated Vinnie Danzig Jr. had this to say: 'He was the better man tonight but I'll be back fir that belt!'.