PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shawn Bonner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Daniel Cormier (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Daniel Cormier has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bonner
vs
Cormier

222 cm
24
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

The Adrenaline Matrix

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shawn Bonner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Daniel Cormier!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Bonner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bonner fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cormier manages to avoid it.
Cormier is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Cormier looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Cormier drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Bonner manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cormier has Bonner in his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Cormier is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bonner defends well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cormier can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bonner wants to control from the top but Cormier keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier has a closed guard, preventing Bonner from standing up.
Bonner won't allow Cormier to get back to his feet.
Bonner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bonner scoring with punches to the head and body.

Bonner avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Cormier looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bonner content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Cormier thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Bonner trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bonner has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cormier is proving hard to escape from.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Cormier looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Cormier looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bonner is one step ahead there.

Cormier working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bonner doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bonner manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Cormier is looking for a triangle but Bonner pushes his legs off easily.
Bonner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bonner distracts Cormier with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Cormier wants to sweep but no luck.
Bonner is in close to Cormier's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Cormier is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Cormier looks winded!
Bonner lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cormier has a closed guard, preventing Bonner from standing up.
Cormier wants to hit a switch here but Bonner passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Cormier there!
Bonner trying to control but he's not successful this time.
A nice elbow there by Bonner.

Bonner with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Bonner breaks from Cormier's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Cormier wants to control but Bonner is having none of it.
Cormier throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonner trying to control but Cormier is having none of it.
Cormier is trying desperately to improve position.

Bonner is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Cormier can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Bonner prevents Cormier from getting the reversal.
Cormier is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Cormier wants to hold on but Bonner pushes him away.
Bonner really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bonner controlling the pace for now.
Cormier tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Cormier walks into a jab.

Bonner closes the distance and clinches.
Bonner is trying to pull guard but Cormier turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Cormier has picked Bonner up - he's going for a ride! Cormier dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bonner controlling the position well.

Cormier is working for an americana but Bonner has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Cormier was thinking about the submission.
Cormier postures up in Bonner's guard and throws a big left but Bonner blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier trying to control but Bonner is working from the bottom.
Bonner will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Cormier works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Cormier is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bonner is pressing down on Cormier's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cormier looking to pass the guard.
Bonner looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cormier trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Bonner manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Cormier looking for a guillotine here but Bonner defends easily.
Shawn Bonner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cormier is breathing heavily.
Cormier avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bonner throwing strikes from guard but Cormier blocks nicely.

Bonner is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Bonner won't allow Cormier to sweep him here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Cormier utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonner with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

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

Cormier throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Cormier has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bonner can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cormier pulls Bonner in close to prevent any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bonner looks to score with a jab to the body but Cormier is just out of range.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Cormier enables Bonner to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Cormier manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Cormier has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bonner can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bonner postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bonner postures up and lands a big shot to Cormier's brow.
Bonner 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.

Bonner gets to his feet - Cormier follows without any prompting.
Cormier looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bonner looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shawn Bonner dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Cormier bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bonner tries to buck Cormier off but Cormier is having none of it.

Cormier is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bonner has escaped the position, nice work there.

Cormier goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Bonner has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Cormier but great work by Bonner.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cormier takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Cormier is looking for a sweep.
Bonner working the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cormier is looking for a sweep.
Cormier takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cormier keeps trying to improve his position.
Bonner wants to stand but Cormier is controlling his arm.

Bonner has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Bonner moves in looking to clinch but Cormier pushes him off.
Bonner tries to clinch up but Cormier circles away and keeps his distance.
Cormier wants to counter the offense by Bonner and move into the clinch position.
Bonner lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Bonner uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Cormier has time to react.

Bonner pushes Cormier up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cormier wants to stall.

Bonner is fighting off a takedown attempt but Cormier is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Bonner to the mat. Bonner regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Bonner tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cormier trying to control but Bonner is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonner trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cormier's guard.
Bonner makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bonner loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bonner trying to stand up but can't free himself from Cormier's guard.
Bonner landing some decent shots from guard.
Bonner working some strikes from top position.
Cormier trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Bonner wants to stand but Cormier has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Cormier looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bonner passes into side control.
Bonner scores with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bonner tries to stand but Cormier is controlling his head.
Cormier manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Cormier is trying to get back to full guard.

Bonner is trying for a kimura here. Cormier looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Bonner wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Shawn Bonner!