PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Max Damage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Bonn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Bonn is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Damage
vs
Bonn

180 cm
18
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
27
155 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Max Damage!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Michael Bonn!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bonn fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Damage avoids it really well and circles away.
Bonn looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Damage is fending him off so far but Bonn persists. Nope, Damage circles away and we're back to standing.
Damage thows a leg kick but Bonn checks it
and Bonn counters with a big head kick but Damage shrugs it off.

Damage shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bonn is trying to defend but Damage finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bonn manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Bonn looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Damage trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bonn wants to get back to his feet but Damage is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bonn working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Damage.
Bonn controls Damage momentarily but Damage frees himself.
Damage trying to control but Bonn is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Max Damage wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Bonn shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Damage as he avoids it easily.
Max Damage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Bonn.
Damage misses with a leg kick.
Bonn shoots in for a takedown but Damage shows good takedown defense.

Damage moves into the clinch successfully.
Damage tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bonn tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Damage just stands there and leans against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Damage.
Damage tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Damage lands a body shot.
Bonn stalling in the clinch but Damage improves position.
Damage lands an elbow that stopped Bonn in his tracks for a moment.
Come on Damage - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Damage is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bonn is defending well for now.

Damage manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Damage working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Damage keeping moving, preventing Bonn from controlling successfully.
Damage wants to sweep but no luck.
Damage keeping moving, preventing Bonn from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bonn won't allow Damage to sweep him here.
Bonn would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Michael Bonn was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Damage fails with a takedown attempt.
Damage throws a nice inside leg kick.

Damage closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Damage tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bonn smiles and moves away.
Bonn shoots for a double leg takedown but Damage sprawls well. He's pushed Bonn's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Bonn clinches.
Bonn jumps guard but Damage stands there with Bonn around his waist. Bonn gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Damage has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Damage misses with a knee strike.
Bonn wants to break the clinch but can't.

Bonn has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Damage uses from the top position.
Damage trying to control the position from guard on top but Bonn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bonn is trying to keep Damage in close.
Damage looking to sit in guard and control but Bonn gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Damage looking for a sweep. Not yet Damage, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonn wants to control from the top but Damage keeps moving.
Bonn postures up.
Damage looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bonn trying to control but Damage is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bonn fails with a takedown attempt.
Bonn fails with a takedown attempt.
Damage tries to clinch up but Bonn circles away and keeps his distance.
Bonn shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Damage sprawls well. Damage wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bonn gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Michael Bonn will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bonn shoots in but Damage avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Bonn fails with a takedown attempt.
Bonn shoots in and drives through. Damage sprawls well.
Max Damage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Bonn.

Bonn throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Damage was covering up waiting for the punch and Bonn finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Damage wants to control but Bonn passes easily into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Damage is looking to escape.
Damage desperately trying to maintain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bonn is trying to work for a kimura but Damage is defending well.

Bonn decides to stand and escape the position.
Damage ducks under a wild hook from Bonn.

Damage gets a clinch.
Damage tries to break the clinch but Bonn is controlling the position.
Damage swings wildly with an uppercut but Bonn uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bonn tries to pull guard but Damage won't allow it.
Bonn avoiding damage as Damage throws knees to the body.
Damage misses with a knee to the head.
Bonn jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Damage walks away with a smile on his face. Bonn gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Damage closes the distance and pushes Bonn back into the cage.
Bonn tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bonn can't get the takedown.
Bonn jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Damage walks away with a smile on his face. Bonn gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
A head kick misses from Bonn.
Bonn is breathing heavily.

Bonn tries to keep at a distance but Damage has taken the fight into the clinch.
Damage lands an elbow inside that Bonn shrugs off.
Damage using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bonn has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Bonn wants to get back to striking at distance but Damage won't allow it.
Damage tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Damage.
Bonn prevents a body shot from Damage.
Damage tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Damage tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Damage lands an elbow just above Bonn 's eye.
Damage tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bonn jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Damage walks away with a smile on his face. Bonn gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Damage throws a series of punches but Bonn moves out of range.

Damage clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonn wants to break free but Damage has control.
Damage tries to land a knee to the head but Bonn blocks with his arms.
Damage using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bonn has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Bonn fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Damage drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bonn tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bonn is trying to break the clinch but Damage has him pressed against the cage.
Damage tries a body shot but Bonn blocks it.
Bonn has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Damage avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bonn prevents a takedown attempt there.
Damage is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Bonn is defending well for now.
Bonn wants to break free but Damage has control.
Bonn has Damage pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Damage manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Damage tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bonn is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Bonn looking to stall.
Damage tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bonn smiles and moves away.

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.
Damage fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Damage tries to clinch there but Bonn circles away.
Damage stuffs the takedown.
Damage will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bonn shoots in looking for a takedown. Damage tries to sprawl out of it but Bonn keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Damage manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Damage is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bonn keeps the fight on the outside.
Bonn shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Damage but Damage pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Damage misses with the body kick

and Bonn counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Damage!

Bonn stands up from mount. Strange move.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Bonn showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Damage moves into range and clinches up with Bonn.
Damage has Bonn pushed against the cage.
Nice elbow from Damage.
Bonn wants to break free but Damage has control.
Bonn blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Damage trying to land knees to the body.
Bonn tries to score a body lock takedown but Damage shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Bonn tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Damage smiles and moves away.

Bonn closes the distance and clinches.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Bonn takes a knee right on the jaw!
Damage throws an elbow that misses.
Bonn has a couple of punches blocked by Damage.
Damage has Bonn pushed against the cage.
Damage tries to land a knee to the head but Bonn blocks with his arms.
Bonn is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Damage pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Max Damage has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Bonn.
Bonn takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bonn working hard to break the clinch.
The referee calls for Damage to work.
Damage wants to get back to striking at distance but Bonn won't allow it.
Bonn blocks an elbow strike.
Damage effectively controlling the action here.
Damage tries to pull guard but Bonn holds him up against the cage and eventually Damage drops back down to his feet.
A bit of stalling here from Damage.
Bonn fails to pull guard.
Bonn is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Damage keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bonn's efforts to push away.
Damage throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Damage is stalling here.
A frustrated look appears on Bonn's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Max Damage has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Michael Bonn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bonn jumps guard but Damage stands there with Bonn around his waist. Bonn gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Damage throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bonn blocks it with crossed arms.
Damage scores a nice knee to the body.
Damage doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bonn tries to break free but Damage pushes him back against the cage.

Damage breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Damage doesn't manage to clinch there - Bonn circles away.
Damage blocks a head kick by Bonn.
Bonn throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Damage's waist but Damage gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bonn off to one side.

Damage has managed to clinch.
Damage misses with a knee to the head.
Bonn goes for a takedown attempt but Damage pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Damage instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Damage tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Damage tries to throw a body punch but Bonn avoids it by throwing Damage back against the cage.
Bonn tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bonn drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Damage drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bonn has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Damage avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Damage looking to throw knees to the head but Bonn is blocking nicely.
Bonn gets underhooks to prevent Damage's takedown attempt.
Bonn fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bonn tries to pull guard but Damage won't allow it.
Damage putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Bonn in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Damage wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bonn drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Damage gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonn is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Damage pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bonn tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Damage just stands there and leans against the cage.
Damage wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bonn has him pressed against the cage.
Damage misses with a knee strike.
Damage tries to land a knee to the head but Bonn blocks with his arms.
Damage dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Damage scores with a knee to the head.
Bonn fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Damage with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Damage stalling in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Damage connects with a knee to the head.
Damage fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bonn fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bonn has Damage pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Damage manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Bonn blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Max Damage showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bonn has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Bonn!