PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Blonde Brunson (ranked 932 p4p, 1901 weight class) and Diego Lacasa (ranked 51 p4p, 113 weight class). Lacasa is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Hooligang - Joey Valence & Brae. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Brunson
vs
Lacasa

160 cm
20
145
7 - 2 - 0

172 cm
20
139
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Champion Apparel

Barry Bonds Performance Enhancers -160Q

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Blonde Brunson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Diego Lacasa!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Robert Douchet and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brunson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lacasa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Brunson tries for a takedown but Lacasa circles away easily
and Lacasa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Blonde Brunson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Lacasa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Brunson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Brunson throws a big elbow that misses.
Brunson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lacasa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Brunson 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.
Lacasa keeping moving, preventing Brunson from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lacasa trying to keep a closed guard but Brunson is proving a slippery customer.
Brunson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Brunson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Brunson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lacasa pulls Brunson in close to prevent any damage.
Brunson postures up in Lacasa's guard and throws a big left but Lacasa blocks it.
Brunson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lacasa is keeping the position for now.
Brunson throwing strikes from guard but Lacasa blocks nicely.
Lacasa has momentary wrist control but Brunson slips an elbow through the middle.
Brunson postures up and lands a big shot to Lacasa's brow.
Lacasa trying to control the position.
Lacasa pulls Brunson in to control the position.
Brunson throws a big right hand that misses.
Brunson throws a big right hand that misses.
Lacasa pulls Brunson in close to prevent any damage.
Brunson slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lacasa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Brunson.
Brunson is thwarting Lacasa's attempts to control the position.
Brunson prevents Lacasa from improving his position.
Brunson is thwarting Lacasa's attempts to control the position.
Lacasa tries to get to full guard but Brunson has control of the leg.
Brunson moves into full mount! Lacasa won't be happy about that!

Brunson looking for a guillotine from mount but Lacasa is having none of it.
Brunson lands a big shot there that rocks Lacasa but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Lacasa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Brunson looking to finish Lacasa with some ground and pound. This is bad for Lacasa!
Lacasa in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lacasa sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Brunson tries to pass to full mount but Lacasa defends it.
Brunson working Lacasa over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brunson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lacasa is looking for a sweep. Brunson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Brunson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Lacasa felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Brunson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lacasa has hold of Brunson's hands but Brunson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Brunson is trying to control the action in half guard but Lacasa is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Brunson wants to work for an arm triangle but Lacasa is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Brunson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lacasa is looking to control Brunson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lacasa avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lacasa is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Brunson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Lacasa has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Brunson is working away from the top position though.

Brunson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lacasa sees it coming and defends easily.
Lacasa has a hand on Brunson's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Brunson takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Lacasa tries to lock up and control but Brunson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Brunson lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Lacasa hang on?
Lacasa is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Brunson lands a big shot there that rocks Lacasa but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Lacasa is desperately trying to improve his position but Brunson has a good base and remains in mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brunson putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Lacasa is rocked!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Blonde Brunson dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Brunson shoots in for a takedown but Lacasa shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Lacasa throws a counter combo.
Lacasa cracks Brunson with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Brunson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lacasa counters with a nice uppercut.
Brunson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lacasa counters with a left to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blonde Brunson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lacasa scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Brunson shoots and misses
and Lacasa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Brunson thinking.
Brunson tries for a takedown but Lacasa circles away easily
and Brunson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brunson has his takedown stuffed
and Lacasa makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lacasa feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Brunsons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Diego Lacasa is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lacasa scores with a one two! Brunson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Brunson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lacasa avoids it really well and circles away.
Diego Lacasa seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Lacasa connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Brunson momentarily.
Brunson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lacasa counters with a nice uppercut.
Brunson with a poor takedown
and Lacasa counters with a stiff right hand.
Lacasa lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Brunson tries for a takedown but Lacasa circles away easily
and Lacasa counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brunson tries for a takedown but Lacasa circles away easily
and Lacasa counters with a nice body shot.
Brunson looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lacasa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Lacasa has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brunson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Brunson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lacasa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Brunson has his takedown stuffed
and Lacasa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Brunson needs to keep his hands up - Lacasa had a free shot at his head there.
Lacasa lands with a good body shot.
Brunson misses with a takedown attempt
letting Lacasa counter with a right hand.
Lacasa connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brunson tries for a takedown but Lacasa circles away easily
and Lacasa counters with a one-two to the body.
Brunson misses with a takedown attempt
and Lacasa counters with a left to the body.
Brunson shoots and misses
and Brunson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Lacasa moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Lacasa lands a body shot.
Brunson walks into a left hand.
Brunson takes a jab right on the kisser.
Lacasa lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Brunson at a distance.
Lacasa lands with a cross.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lacasa throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Lacasa dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Lacasa is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Brunson tries for a takedown but Lacasa circles away easily
letting Lacasa counter with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brunson is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
A nice combination there by Lacasa.
Lacasa lands a nice shot to the body.
Brunson looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Lacasa lands the left hand.
Lacasa darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Brunson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Blonde Brunson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lacasa lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Brunson fails with the takedown
and Lacasa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Brunson fails with the takedown
and Lacasa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Lacasa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lacasa with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Brunson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lacasa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lacasa throws a combination. Brunson tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Brunson misses with a takedown attempt
and Lacasa counters with a nice uppercut.
Brunson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Brunson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blonde Brunson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Brunson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lacasa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lacasa lands a nice shot to the body.
Brunson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lacasa counters with a nice uppercut.
Lacasa with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brunson drops his hands momentarily and Lacasa takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Brunson misses with a takedown
and Lacasa counters with a one-two to the body.
Brunson tries for a takedown but Lacasa circles away easily
and Lacasa counters with a two punch combo.
Brunson with a poor takedown
and Lacasa counters with a nice uppercut.
Lacasa connects with a looping right hand.
Lacasa scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lacasa scores with a hook to the body. Brunson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Lacasa's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Lacasa duly obliges.
Brunson takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Lacasa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brunson fails with the takedown
and Lacasa counters with a nice body shot.
Brunson fails with the takedown
and Lacasa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Lacasa has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Brunson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lacasa counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Lacasa lands a really nice looking cross but Brunson seems unphased.
Nice shot by Lacasa.
Brunson shoots and misses
and Lacasa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Lacasa tests Brunson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lacasa darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brunson fails with the takedown
and Lacasa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Brunson looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Lacasa punishes Brunson's body with a nice straight punch.
Brunson tries for a takedown but Lacasa circles away easily
and Lacasa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lacasa connects with a nice looking jab.
Nice shot lands for Lacasa.
Brunson closes the distance and clinches up with Lacasa, looking for a takedown. Brunson pushes Lacasa against the cage but Lacasa circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Lacasa connects with a good right hand that stumbles Brunson. Brunson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Brunson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
enabling Lacasa to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brunson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lacasa cracks Brunson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Brunson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lacasa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lacasa lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Lacasa connects with the punch.
Lacasa closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Brunson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lacasa counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Brunson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lacasa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lacasa lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Lacasa lands with a nice combination. Brunson backs away looking to recover.
Lacasa scores with a jab to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Lacasa really dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lacasa connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Brunson fails with the takedown
and Lacasa counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Brunson misses with a takedown attempt
enabling Lacasa to counter with a crisp jab.
Brunson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Lacasa lands with a hook. Brunson tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Brunson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Brunson tries for a takedown but Lacasa circles away easily
and Lacasa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blonde Brunson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brunson misses with a takedown
and Lacasa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lacasa connects with a good right hand that stumbles Brunson. Brunson circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lacasa lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Lacasa works Brunson's body with a nice hook.
Lacasa scores with a nice strike.
Brunson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
enabling Lacasa to counter with a crisp jab.
Brunson has his takedown stuffed
and Lacasa counters with a right hand to the body.
Brunson tries for a takedown but Lacasa circles away easily
and Lacasa counters with a three punch combo that has Brunson backing up. Brunson nods at Lacasa to acknowledge the strikes.
Lacasa cracks Brunson with an open hand slap.
Brunson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lacasa counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brunson shoots and misses
and Lacasa counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Brunson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Brunson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lacasa counters with a stiff right hand.
Lacasa's jab looks to have found its range, popping Brunson under the eye.
Lacasa lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Lacasa lands with a cross.
Brunson tries for a takedown but Lacasa circles away easily
and Lacasa counters with a right hand to the body.
Jab by Lacasa.
Lacasa scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Brunson doesn't seem bothered though.
Brunson shoots and misses
and Lacasa connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brunson misses with a takedown
and Lacasa counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Lacasa connects with a looping right hand.
Brunson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lacasa counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A cross from Lacasa lands.
Lacasa connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Brunson with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Lacasa counter with a right hand.
Brunson fails with the takedown
and Lacasa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lacasa lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Brunson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lacasa counters with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lacasa scores with a punch to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lacasa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Brunson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Lacasa fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Brunson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Brunson fails with the takedown
and Lacasa counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lacasa feints a jab promting Brunson to slip. Lacasa then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Brunson slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Brunson misses with a takedown
and Lacasa counters with a one-two to the body.
Lacasa lands a two punch combo.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Lacasa dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Brunson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lacasa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Brunson with a poor takedown
and Lacasa counters with a stiff right hand.
Lacasa thuds a left hand into Brunson's body.
Brunson misses with a takedown
and Lacasa cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Blonde Brunson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lacasa connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Brunson fails with the takedown
and Brunson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Brunson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lacasa counters with a left to the body.
Nice body punch from Lacasa.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Brunson has his takedown stuffed
and Lacasa counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lacasa lands the left hand.
Lacasa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Brunson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Lacasa counters with a stiff right hand.
Lacasa moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Brunson has his takedown stuffed
and Lacasa counters with a nice uppercut.
Lacasa lands with an uppercut that bounces Brunson off the cage and back into range.
Lacasa scores with a hook.
Lacasa throws a good cross that connects.
Lacasa scores with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brunson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Lacasa counters with a right hand to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Brunson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Lacasa scores with a body shot.
Brunson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Lacasa feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Brunsons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Lacasa lands a nice hook to Brunson's body. Brunson takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Brunson looking to score a takedown here. Lacasa is defending well but Brunson drives through and ends up in Lacasa's guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Lacasa pulls Brunson in close to his closed guard and prevents Brunson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Brunson is looking to work some ground and pound but Lacasa has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brunson trying to control the position from guard on top but Lacasa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lacasa is adopting a defensive guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Brunson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Lacasa trying to control the position.
Brunson trying to control the position from guard on top but Lacasa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lacasa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Brunson manages to get himself to full guard.

Brunson wants to sweep here but Lacasa controlling him for the moment.
Blonde Brunson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lacasa trying to control the position from guard on top but Brunson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Blonde Brunson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Brunson trying to keep a closed guard but Lacasa is proving a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Brunson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Brunson is looking to cinch up a triangle. Lacasa throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Brunson's body to avoid the submission. Brunson has instead reached around Lacasa's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Brunson arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Blonde Brunson!
Blonde Brunson retains his bantamweight title!
Blonde Brunson seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.