PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Dan Sergeant (ranked 2658 p4p, 135 weight class) and Ralph Bonnano (ranked 4090 p4p, 204 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Sergeant
vs
Bonnano

175 cm
32
139 lbs
17 - 15 - 1

170 cm
26
144 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Intelligent

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 17 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dan Sergeant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ralph Bonnano!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Alyssa Summers and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Bonnano. No joy for Sergeant on that attempt.
A left and a right from Bonnano both land. Nice combination.

Sergeant closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Bonnano struggling a bit here.
Bonnano is looking for a sweep.
Bonnano is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Sergeant's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Bonnano looking for submissions off his back.

Sergeant seems to be looking for submissions.
Bonnano manages to get to full guard.
Sergeant wants to pass the guard but Bonnano is keeping the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonnano manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sergeant manages to get himself to full guard.

Bonnano is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Sergeant is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Sergeant has escaped and now he's on top!

Bonnano working a defensive guard here.
Sergeant controlling from the top position.
Sergeant with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Sergeant wants to control from the top but Bonnano keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sergeant scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sergeant controlling from the top position.
Bonnano wants to sweep here but Sergeant controlling him for the moment.
Sergeant passes Bonnano's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bonnano is staying active underneath Sergeant, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bonnano is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Sergeant is working for a kimura but Bonnano is defending it quite comfortably.
Sergeant is thwarting Bonnano's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sergeant trying to control the pace.
Bonnano tries to roll over but Sergeant keeps him under control.
Sergeant 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.
Sergeant is stalling here. Bonnano is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Sergeant seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Bonnano has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Sergeant is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Bonnano is controlling him well.
I wouldn't like to be where Sergeant is right now.
Sergeant is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonnano trying to control the position but Sergeant is working away.
Bonnano working away.
Bonnano wants to control but Sergeant is keeping him busy.

Bonnano tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Sergeant is looking for a sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bonnano tries to advance to mount but can't.

Bonnano working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph Bonnano dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Sergeant shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bonnano as he avoids it easily.

Sergeant changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bonnano looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bonnano is trying to control Sergeant's posture but Sergeant avoids it.
Sergeant controlling from side mount.
Sergeant wants to control but Bonnano is keeping him busy.
Sergeant happy to just control the position for now.
Bonnano wants to control but Sergeant postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bonnano is looking to regain half guard here but Sergeant keeps moving and retains side control.
Bonnano struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonnano tries to improve position but can't.
A lull in the action here.
Sergeant's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Bonnano is looking for a sweep.
A control attempt from Bonnano but he's now mounted!
Bonnano can't escape the position.
Sergeant trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bonnano is bucking up trying to escape but Sergeant cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sergeant controlling his opponent.
Further stalling from Sergeant.
Sergeant seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bonnano for as long as he can get away with.
Bonnano is trying to escape the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bonnano is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bonnano in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonnano can't escape the position.

Sergeant goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Bonnano is on top in guard.
Sergeant is adopting a defensive guard.
Bonnano tries to free his leg and advance position but Sergeant is retaining full guard.
Sergeant looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sergeant wants to stand but Bonnano is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sergeant is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bonnano is aware though and is defending well.
Bonnano slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Bonnano swings around for an armbar but Sergeant sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Bonnano's guard.

Sergeant got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bonnano has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sergeant has managed to get both his arms back between Bonnano's legs - danger averted.
Sergeant scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sergeant trying to control the position from guard on top but Bonnano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sergeant with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bonnano keeping full guard, as Sergeant tries to pass.

Bonnano is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Sergeant dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Sergeant dives in for a single leg takedown but Bonnano sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Bonnano looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Sergeant!

Bonnano is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sergeant knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sergeant is not content to let Bonnano control the position.
Dan Sergeant overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sergeant is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Bonnano has just dragged him back down to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bonnano tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Bonnano is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sergeant has escaped the position, nice work there.
Sergeant on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sergeant tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bonnano goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Sergeant rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Bonnano's guard! Nice work there by Sergeant!
Sergeant pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bonnano is keeping the position for now.
Sergeant has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Sergeant slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

Bonnano pushes a forearm under Sergeant's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Sergeant is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ralph Bonnano!