PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Cezar Afonso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bart Bauwens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Afonso might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Tupac - Ambitionz Az a Ridah. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Afonso
vs
Bauwens

170 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cezar Afonso!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bart Bauwens!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Daniel Franklin and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bauwens finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Afonso drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bauwens sprawls and moves away.
Bauwens throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bauwens throws a shot to the body.
Bauwens lands a slapping body shot.
Bauwens smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Bauwens misses the shot to the body.
Afonso appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Good shot there by Bauwens.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bauwens misses with a left hand

and Afonso counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Afonso.
Afonso throws a big right hand that misses.
Afonso trying to control but Bauwens is working from the bottom.
Afonso loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bauwens really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Afonso. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bauwens has his hands on Afonso's head, controlling the position.
Bauwens keeping moving, preventing Afonso from controlling successfully.
Afonso engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Afonso trying to control but Bauwens is working from the bottom.

Afonso drops back looking for a leg! Bauwens is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bauwens manages to kick Afonso off! Afonso jumps back into Bauwens's guard.
Bauwens is pulling down on Afonso's head. It's preventing any offense from Afonso, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Bauwens's jab looks to have found its range, popping Afonso under the eye.
Afonso moves out of range as Bauwens strikes.
Afonso feinted with a counter takedown.
Bauwens is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Afonso.
Bauwens misses with a body kick.
Bart Bauwens seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bauwens misses with a hook.
Afonso changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Afonso gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bauwens tries to land a body kick

and Afonso counters with a takedown into side control.
Bauwens gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Afonso is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Bauwens to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Bauwens shrugs it off.
Bauwens avoids a series of strikes thrown by Afonso.
Afonso unloads with some shots from mount but Bauwens bucks and avoids them well.
Poor strikes thrown by Afonso there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Afonso throws some wild stikes that Bauwens manages to avoid easily.

Afonso looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Afonso working for a guillotine from mount but Bauwens is in no mood to give up.
Bauwens blocking the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Afonso working for a submission but Bauwens is keeping him at bay.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Afonso is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Bauwens is surviving well by controlling Afonso's body position as best he can.
Afonso with the ground and pound from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Afonso lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Afonso looking to secure an arm triangle but Bauwens defends it well.
Bauwens wants to control but Afonso is having none of it.
Afonso can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bauwens is looking to escape.
Bauwens tries to lock up and control but Afonso gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cezar Afonso dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Bauwens misses with an uppercut

and Afonso counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Bauwens!
Afonso is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bauwens can do to turn this around?

Afonso is trying to get an arm triangle but Bauwens is defending well.
Bauwens is not content to let Afonso control the position.
Bauwens is looking for a sweep.
Afonso wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bauwens keeps working.
The strikes coming from Afonso are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Afonso looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Afonso tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bauwens gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Afonso punching from mount but Bauwens doing a good job of avoiding damage.

Afonso goes for an armbar but Bauwens turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Bauwens.
Bauwens stopping the sweep attempt from Afonso.
Bauwens is looking to work some ground and pound but Afonso has wrist control.
Afonso working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bauwens.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Afonso is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bauwens is stalling in the full guard.

Afonso has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bauwens can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Cezar Afonso overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Afonso escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bauwens gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bauwens must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bauwens throws a big right hand that misses.
Bauwens is looking to work some ground and pound but Afonso has wrist control.
Bauwens trying to control the position from guard on top but Afonso is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bauwens tries to free his leg and advance position but Afonso is retaining full guard.

Afonso looking for a guillotine here but Bauwens defends easily.

Afonso is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four 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.
Bauwens forces his way into half guard.

Afonso looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Still in half guard, Bauwens seems content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cezar Afonso dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Afonso staying out of range there.
Bauwens looks to land a right hand but Afonso moved out of range.
Bauwens thows a leg kick but Afonso checks it

so Afonso counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Afonso stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bauwens swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bauwens managing to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Let's hope that Bauwens has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Afonso missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bauwens seems keen to control Afonso's posture.
Afonso 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.
Bauwens keeping moving, preventing Afonso from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Afonso walks into a jab.
Bauwens swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Afonso tries to counter with a takedown but Bauwens is quick to defend against it.
Bauwens misses with an uppercut

and Afonso counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Bauwens!
Bart Bauwens has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Afonso thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Afonso working away.
Afonso tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Afonso is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Bauwens has escaped the position, nice work there.
Afonso creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Bauwens sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Afonso wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bauwens keeps working.
Bauwens is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Afonso trying to control the action but Bauwens is working from the bottom.

Afonso is looking for a kimura here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bauwens is refusing to be controlled, as Afonso sits in half guard.
Afonso not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Afonso working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Bauwens is controlling Afonso's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Afonso tries to pass to full mount but Bauwens defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Afonso sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bauwens defending well though.
Afonso not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bauwens is controlling Afonso's trapped leg to prevent Afonso from advancing to side control.
Afonso landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

Afonso is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bauwens is just riding it out for now. Afonso eventually gives up the hold.
Cezar Afonso is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bauwens is doing well to control the position and prevent Afonso from advancing to side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Afonso wants to free his trapped foot but Bauwens is holding on for dear life with his legs.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cezar Afonso showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Afonso, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cezar Afonso!
After the fight, Cezar Afonso was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.