PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stephan Bonnar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phantom Menace (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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?

Bonnar
vs
Menace

190 cm
23
205 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
210 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

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JOKER FIGHTGEAR
Rivers Edge Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stephan Bonnar!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Phantom Menace!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Reed Andrews and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice combo by Menace! Oh, that's hurt him - Bonnar falls to the canvas and Menace follows him into side control.

It looks like Stephan Bonnar has been cut.
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!
Bonnar is trying to get back to half guard.
Bonnar takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Menace has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bonnar throws a couple of punches but he's in a bad position and they don't land.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Menace looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Bonnar is avoiding damage well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
An elbow from Menace crashes against the mat.
Menace fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Menace avoids the strikes from the bottom by Bonnar.
Bonnar gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Menace wants to stand up but Bonnar is controlling the position.
Menace throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice defenses there by Bonnar.
Nice takedown defense from Menace. No joy for Bonnar on that attempt.
Menace connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Menace tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bonnar tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Menace swivels and escapes.
Nice defenses there by Bonnar.
A head kick misses from Menace.
Menace stuffs the takedown attempt from Bonnar. Bonnar gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stephan Bonnar. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menace drops Bonnar with a big left hand and mounts him. Bonnar is in big trouble!
Bonnar throwing hammer fists to the chest of Menace. What's that going to do exactly?
Bonnar is breathing heavily.
Bonnar avoids a series of strikes thrown by Menace.
Bonnar working to try and regain half guard.
Menace scoring with strikes but Bonnar is staying in there.
Menace misses with a head shot.
Bonnar avoids a series of strikes thrown by Menace.
Menace avoids the attempt from Bonnar to control.
Menace throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Bonnar because Menace loaded up on that one.
Menace thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Menace looking to ground and pound but Bonnar is blocking nicely.
Bonnar is working to get back to half guard.

Menace wants to finish this one by submission but Bonnar is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Menace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Menace lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

Menace is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Bonnar is surviving well by controlling Menace's body position as best he can.
Bonnar in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Menace throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Menace looking to finish with strikes here!
Bonnar bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bonnar is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Menace tries to strike from the bottom.
Menace throws a couple of heel strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonnar throwing strikes but missing.
Bonnar loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Menace throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Menace keeping moving, preventing Bonnar from controlling successfully.

Menace had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Bonnar is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Menace Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Bonnar's back instead.
Bonnar turns into Menace and is now in his guard.
Bonnar stopping the sweep attempt from Menace.
Bonnar throwing strikes but missing.
Bonnar has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Menace has an active guard here but Bonnar has managed to pass into half guard.

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.
Menace tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Bonnar drops an elbow to the side of Menace's head.
Bonnar looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Menace with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Menace looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Menace missing with punches from the bottom.
Bonnar is taking a breather. Menace says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Menace flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Bonnar slips a nice elbow through Menace's hands, connecting with Menace's forehead.
Bonnar trying to mount his opponent but Menace defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Phantom Menace dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stephan Bonnar's cut.
That's time! Bonnar's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bonnar staying out of range there.
Nice shot lands for Menace.
Phantom Menace seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Menace.
Some wild striking there from Menace.
Donk. Menace catches Bonnar right on the button with a cross.
Stephan Bonnar is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Bonnar fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Menace sprawls well initially but Bonnar persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Bonnar uses his free foot to push down on Menace's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Menace.
Menace is trying to escape the mount.
Bonnar tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Bonnar looking to control but Menace is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Menace taking shots to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Menace is desperately trying to improve his position but Bonnar has a good base and remains in mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Menace is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bonnar dominating with strikes here.
Bonnar lands a big elbow.
Menace is working to get back to half guard.
Bonnar tries to control but Menace wriggling away.
Bonnar is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Menace is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Menace can't escape the position.
Menace throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Bonnar blocks Menace's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
A nice elbow there by Bonnar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Menace tries to reverse the position but Bonnar maintains control.
Bonnar putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Menace regains half guard.
Menace lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Menace is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bonnar's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bonnar's back!

Menace has got his arm under Bonnar's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Bonnar has spun round into Menace's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Bonnar postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Menace looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Menace throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Menace has his foot on Bonnar's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bonnar works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonnar is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Menace looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Menace striking off his back but it's not causing Bonnar any problems.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Menace gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Menace striking off his back but it's not causing Bonnar any problems.
Bonnar slips nicely into half guard.
Bonnar lands strikes from half guard.
Menace blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bonnar.
Menace missing with punches from the bottom.
Bonnar throwing shots but Menace is blocking nicely.
Menace tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonnar wants to lay and pray for a moment but Menace keeps working.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Menace changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Phantom Menace is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Menace lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Menace misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Bonnar shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
BOOM! Bonnar connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Menace sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Bonnar scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bonnar throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bonnar seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Menace does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Menace gets back to full guard.
Bonnar trying to control the position from guard on top but Menace is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bonnar is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Menace has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Bonnar is looking to defend but Menace has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Bonnar! Menace pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Bonnar taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Phantom Menace!
Phantom Menace is the new light heavyweight champion!