PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Gray Maynard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Bonham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gray Maynard has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Maynard
vs
Bonham

172 cm
24
155 lbs
14 - 10 - 0

190 cm
24
158 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Hopkins Athletics

KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Gray Maynard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Bonham!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maynard throws a jab when Bonham was well out of range.
Bonham is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bonham tries to close the distance and clinch up but Maynard swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bonham throws a nice outside leg kick.
Bonham throws a leg kick that misses.
Maynard throws a lazy right hand but Bonham sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bonham swings for the body but Maynard moves out of range.
Bonham lands a nice leg kick that just misses Maynard's sensitive parts.
Maynard slips under a jab.
Bonham swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bonham throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Maynard sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A thudding body kick lands there by Bonham!
Bonham throws a chopping leg kick but Maynard manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
A telegraphed right hand from Bonham misses the target.
Maynard just misses with a punch to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bonham.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice cross by Bonham.
Maynard loads up on a big right hand but Bonham slips the punch.
Bonham misses with a body kick.
Bonham bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bonham getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Bonham misses the shot to the body.
Maynard moves out of range as Bonham strikes.
Nice defenses there by Bonham.
Bonham clobbers Maynard with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Maynard throws the left hand but Bonham avoids the punch easily.
John Bonham is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maynard takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Bonham looks to land a left hand but Maynard moved out of range nicely.
No joy there for Bonham, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bonham tries to land a leg kick but Maynard saw it coming and moves away.
Maynard scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Bonham doesn't seem bothered though.
Maynard checks a leg kick.
Bonham moves away from the strike by Maynard.
Bonham dodges the punch combination from Maynard.
A telegraphed right hand from Bonham misses the target.
Bonham throws a leg kick but Maynard checks it.
Bonham scores with a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bonham throws a low kick but Maynard avoids it.
Maynard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A punch combination from Bonham misses.
Bonham feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Maynards jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonham lands a jab to the head.
Bonham lands with a nice body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bonham. Maynard does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bonham misses with a straight right.
Bonham throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Maynard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bonham moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bonham lands with an overhand left.
Maynard on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Maynard misses with a body shot.
Bonham throws out a leg kick but Maynard moves out of range and Bonham only half commits.
A clash of legs there as Maynard blocks the low kick.
Bonham lands a nice looking body shot.
Bonham jabs Maynard right on the nose. Maynard blinks but takes it well.
Bonham is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonham cracks Maynard with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Bonham fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Maynard uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bonham.
Bonham scores with a sloppy right hand. Maynard should have avoided that one.
John Bonham seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bonham scores with the left hand. Maynard knows he should have avoided that one.
Bonham stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Bonham scores with a punch to the head.
Bonham has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Bonham swings for the body but Maynard moves out of range.
Bonham slips a jab from Maynard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big left from Maynard misses.
Maynard throws a hook but Bonham avoids it easily.
Maynard swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bonham dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Maynard changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bonham throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Maynard is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Bonham's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Bonham lands with a hook. Maynard tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Bonham avoids the body shot from Maynard.
Bonham looks to land a right hand but Maynard moved out of range.
Bonham goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Maynard thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bonham ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Maynard moves away.
Nice defenses there by Bonham.
Maynard fails with a takedown attempt.
Bonham bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Maynard's head.
Bonham is looking to clinch but Maynard is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Maynard closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bonham's guard.
Maynard won't allow Bonham to get back to his feet.
Maynard throwing strikes from guard but Bonham blocks nicely.
Maynard working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bonham is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Maynard dives into side control.
Maynard fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maynard sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Bonham is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Bonham is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Maynard asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Maynard creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Bonham sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Bonham is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Maynard has just dragged him back down to the mat.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maynard lands a nice forearm strike.
Bonham is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Maynard sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Bonham is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Maynard working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Bonham tries to escape but Maynard is in control.
Maynard trying to control the position but Bonham is working away.
Maynard 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Bonham is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Maynard is controlling him well.
Maynard landing a few strikes.

Maynard goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Bonham rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Maynard's guard! Nice work there by Bonham!

Bonham decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gray Maynard dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Maynard misses with a looping right.
Maynard on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A big right from Maynard misses.
Bonham throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Maynard stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Bonham feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Maynard's calf.
Maynard fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bonham misses with a left hand
enabling Maynard to counter with a crisp jab.
Maynard showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bonham.
Bonham moves in looking to clinch but Maynard pushes him off.
Bonham fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Maynard manages to avoid it.
Maynard steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bonham.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maynard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Maynard is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bonham.
John Bonham seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bonham fails in his attempt to clinch.
Maynard misses with a body shot.
Bonham misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Maynard.
Bonham scores with a jab to the head.

Maynard closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bonham blocks an uppercut.
Bonham blocks an uppercut.
Maynard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bonham lands a left hand that snaps the head of Maynard backwards.
Maynard blocks a body shot from Bonham.
Bonham stalls.
Bonham is leaning against Maynard and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bonham scores with a shoulder strike.
Maynard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bonham misses with a body punch.
Maynard throws a punch but it's blocked by Bonham.
Maynard works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Bonham is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Maynard lands a right hand that snaps the head of Bonham backwards.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A short uppercut from Maynard.
Maynard is working Bonham over against the cage.
Maynard blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short uppercut from Maynard.
Maynard avoiding damage as Bonham throws knees to the body.
Bonham pushes off an throws an elbow but Maynard leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Maynard misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bonham doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bonham throws a head punch that misses.
Bonham throws an elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maynard tries to work over Bonham's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Maynard tries a body shot but Bonham blocks it.
Bonham blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Maynard misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bonham landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Maynard swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bonham scores with a nice hook to the head.
Bonham misses with an elbow strike.
Bonham is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Bonham throws a knee to the head but misses.
Maynard tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bonham's elbow.
Bonham leaning against his opponent.
Maynard tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Maynard working aggressively here.
Maynard misses with a body punch.
Bonham swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Maynard tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bonham avoids it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Maynard as Bonham tries to tie him up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard scores with a nice hook to the head.
Maynard misses with a punch to the body.
Bonham lands a nice elbow.
A knee to the head by Maynard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Maynard tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Maynard misses with a hook to the ribs.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bonham.
Maynard working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Maynard using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Bonham has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Maynard misses with a body punch.
Maynard lands with a light punch inside.
Maynard doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from Maynard fails to land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bonham.
Bonham tries to land knees in the clinch but Maynard avoids the damage to the body.
Maynard tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bonham's elbow.
Gray Maynard has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Bonham lands with a left to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gray Maynard.
I think Maynard has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gray Maynard!
Gray Maynard very nearly forgot to thank Hopkins Athletics amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.