PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Bonham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frank Cruz is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bonham
vs
Cruz

190 cm
24
158 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

178 cm
27
154 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Bonham!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Frank Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Alan Glass and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bonham cracks Cruz with an open hand slap.
Cruz throws a left and a right that both miss
and Bonham counters with a nice leg kick.
Cruz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bonham moves away.

Bonham clinches up against the cage.
Bonham lands with a left to the head.
Bonham utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Cruz.
Cruz has had enough of the clinch but Bonham keeps him there for the moment.

Cruz has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Bonham regains guard immediately.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cruz stops Bonham from standing up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonham really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Bonham scrambles and gets back to his feet.
The fighters circling - Cruz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Cruz misses with a hook to the body
and Bonham counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Both fighters circling a little - Bonham finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Cruz stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bonham.
Cruz will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bonham lands a leg kick that knocks Cruz off balance momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Bonham.
Cruz tries to bum rush Bonham with a series of wild strikes but Bonham uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bonham's jab looks to have found its range, popping Cruz under the eye.
Bonham lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cruz's sensitive parts.
Bonham showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Cruz.
Cruz misses with a few strikes there.
Bonham scores with a head kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cruz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bonham scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Cruz is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Bonham punishes Cruz's body with a nice straight punch.
Bonham connects with a right hand. Cruz shakes it off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonham cracks a nice hook into Cruz's ribs.
Bonham throws a leg kick which misses Cruz's front leg but catches the back leg as Cruz tries to avoid it.
Bonham lands with an overhand left.
Bonham sizes up Cruz with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Bonham connects with a crisp jab.
Cruz steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Bonham. That one must have hurt.
Bonham connects with a solid leg kick.
Cruz misses with a lunging right hand
and Bonham counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bonham is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bonham fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cruz takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Cruz lands a jab to the nose.
Bonham lunges at Cruz with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cruz's hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bonham scores with a nice head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonham looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Cruz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bonham circles away quickly and effectively.
Bonham scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Bonham avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bonham is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Cruz throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Bonham counters with a good low kick that Cruz was not able to check.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bonham.
Cruz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Cruz's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Bonham tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cruz paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bonham scores with a head kick. Cruz tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Bonham feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Cruzs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The fighters circling - Cruz throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bonham uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Cruz.
Bonham lands with a right hand.
Bonham slips a jab from Cruz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bonham dominated that round.
That's time! Bonham's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bonham moves away from the strike by Cruz.
Bonham is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
A slow jab from Cruz misses its intended target.
Nice body kick from Bonham.
Cruz throws a right hand that Bonham ducks under and follows up with a left that Bonham also avoids with ease.
Cruz is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Cruz takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Cruz takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Bonham, right into the meat.
Bonham feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cruz's calf.
John Bonham is winning the standup battle so far.
Cruz throws a jab but it's blocked by Bonham.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Bonham avoids them all with ease.
A telegraphed right hand from Cruz misses the target.
Bonham scores with a punch to the head.
Bonham scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Cruz throws a series of punches but Bonham moves out of range.
Bonham lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cruz tries to keep at a distance but Bonham has taken the fight into the clinch.
Cruz blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A short right from Bonham on the inside.
Bonham creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cruz's defenses.
Cruz prevents a body shot from Bonham.
A shot in the inside from Bonham.
Bonham putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cruz in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Cruz tries to stall but Bonham uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Cruz wants to take the fight to the mat but Bonham manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Cruz takes an elbow to the forehead.
Bonham lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Bonham landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Cruz is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruz is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cruz takes an elbow to the temple.
Bonham lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Bonham.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cruz is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Bonham gets underhooks to prevent Cruz's takedown attempt.
John Bonham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Cruz.
Cruz changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bonham fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Bonham dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonham lands a leg kick that knocks Cruz off balance momentarily.
Bonham scores with the left hand. Cruz knows he should have avoided that one.
Cruz tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bonham was well out of range. Poor timing from Cruz.
Bonham scores with a hook to the body. Cruz takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Jab, jab by Bonham - just one landing.
Cruz on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Bonham scores with a spinning back kick!
Cruz takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Cruz swings for the body but Bonham moves out of range.
Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Bonham rushes Cruz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bonham landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bonham pushes Cruz back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Bonham lands a nice elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonham creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cruz's defenses.
Bonham lands an elbow inside.
Cruz takes an elbow to the temple.
Bonham working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Bonham looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Bonham is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Cruz can do to turn this around?
Bonham is struggling to control the position.
Bonham lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Cruz backwards.
Cruz wants a takedown but no success here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bonham lands an elbow just above Cruz 's eye.
Bonham tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bonham lands a knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bonham dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Bonham clinches with his opponent.
Cruz takes a shot to the head.
Cruz takes an elbow to the temple.
Bonham makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Bonham lands a damaging elbow.
With the fighters up against the cage, Bonham throws an elbow but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Bonham throws an elbow but misses.
Bonham gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Bonham lands with a short shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Bonham lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonham gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Bonham with a knee to the head.
Bonham lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Cruz or not.
Bonham leaning his opponent against the cage.
Bonham creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cruz's defenses.
Bonham with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Cruz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bonham after a bit of a struggle.
Bonham prevents the takedown attempt.
Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bonham lands a knee to the head.
Bonham putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Cruz in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bonham pressing his opponent against the cage.
Bonham lands with a right to the head.
Cruz wants a takedown.
John Bonham has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Cruz.
A short right from Bonham.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bonham lands an elbow just above Cruz 's eye.
Bonham lands with a left to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bonham creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Bonham gets through Cruz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Cruz fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bonham.
A nice right hand lands inside from Bonham.
Bonham lands an elbow inside.
Bonham comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bonham lands an elbow that stopped Cruz in his tracks for a moment.
Cruz has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Cruz takes a knee to the side of the body.
Cruz is trying to drag Bonham to the mat but Bonham just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Bonham working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Bonham is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Bonham lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Bonham.
Bonham creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Cruz's defenses.
Bonham scores with a knee to the head.

Cruz is rocked!
Bonham throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Cruz blocks it with crossed arms.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Bonham obliges.
Bonham lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bonham.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bonham lands a knee to the head.
Cruz is still on wobbly legs! Can Bonham finish him?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Still in the clinch, Bonham scores with a nice short uppercut.
Frank Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nice body punch from Bonham - that landed with a thud.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Bonham showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bonham has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 30:26
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Bonham!
During a confident post fight interview, John Bonham thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.