PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Julian Bashir (ranked 3650 p4p, 3728 weight class) and Andres Bonifacio (ranked 186 p4p, 190 weight class). Bashir comes to the cage accompanied by Exodus - The Toxic Waltz. Bonifacio comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Don't Stop Me Now- Queen kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Andres Bonifacio told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Bashir
vs
Bonifacio

170 cm
19
140
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
140
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

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, Julian Bashir!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Andres Bonifacio!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bashir takes the fight into the clinch.
I was talking to Bashir's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Bonifacio breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bashir fails with a takedown attempt.
Bashir with a hook.
Bonifacio lands a glancing blow to the side of Bashir's head.
Bashir shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bonifacio throws a looping overhand right but Bashir ducks down to avoid it.
A counter left hand to the body from Bashir misses its target.
Bonifacio smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bonifacio swats away the attempt to clinch by Bashir.
Bashir has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Bonifacio finds it's way round the side to connect with Bashir's head.
Bonifacio scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonifacio jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bashir takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Bashir takes the fight into the clinch.
Bashir keeps control of Bonifacio as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bonifacio is trying to break the clinch but Bashir has him pressed against the cage.
Bonifacio wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bashir throws a head punch that misses.
Bashir is trying to drag Bonifacio to the mat but Bonifacio just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julian Bashir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bashir prevents Bonifacio from breaking the clinch.
Bashir keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bonifacio's efforts to push away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bashir has Bonifacio pressed against the cage, preventing Bonifacio from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bashir lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Bonifacio prevents a body shot from Bashir.
Bashir can't find room to land a body shot as Bonifacio controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bashir.

Bonifacio breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bashir ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Bashir gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bonifacio blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bashir scores with a nice hook to the head.
Bashir has a couple of punches blocked by Bonifacio.
Bonifacio is trying to push Bashir away but Bashir has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bashir swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bashir tries to throw a body punch but Bonifacio avoids it by throwing Bashir back against the cage.
Bonifacio has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Bashir seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Bonifacio can turn it around.
Bashir wants a takedown.

Bashir pulls guard successfully.
Bashir trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Bashir trying to control the position.
Bashir tries to strike from the bottom.
Bonifacio postures up.
Bonifacio trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bashir's guard.

Bashir had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bonifacio defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonifacio won't allow Bashir to sweep him here.
Bonifacio wanted to stand there but Bashir had control of the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bashir shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bonifacio sprawls well. Bonifacio wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bashir gets slowly back to his feet.
Bonifacio fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bashir manages to avoid it.
Bashir half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Bonifacio takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Bashir misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bashir looks for a takedown but Bonifacio sprawls well.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bonifacio! But no joy.
Bashir uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bonifacio.
Bonifacio connects with a single shot there.
Bashir will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bonifacio! But no joy.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Andres Bonifacio dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bashir moves in looking to clinch but Bonifacio pushes him off.

Bashir clinches.
Bashir tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bashir is looking for a takedown.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A right hand to the body from Bashir.
Bashir throws a head punch that misses.
Bashir goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Bonifacio breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bashir ducks under a wild hook from Bonifacio.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bonifacio connects with a body shot.
Bashir slips a jab from Bonifacio.
Bashir tries to close the distance and clinch but Bonifacio swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Bashir instigates a clinch.
Bashir misses with a body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bashir tries to pull guard but Bonifacio holds him up against the cage and eventually Bashir drops back down to his feet.
Bonifacio blocks an uppercut.
Bonifacio has had enough of the clinch but Bashir keeps him there for the moment.
Bashir tries for a takedown but Bonifacio manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Julian Bashir. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bonifacio pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bashir fails with an attempt to clinch.
Andres Bonifacio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jab, jab by Bonifacio - just one landing.
Bonifacio scores with the left hand. Bashir knows he should have avoided that one.
Bonifacio leaves Bashir with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bonifacio misses with a straight right.
Bashir appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Bonifacio lands with an uppercut that bounces Bashir off the cage and back into range.
Bashir throws a jab but it's blocked by Bonifacio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bashir has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Andres Bonifacio seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice shot by Bonifacio.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bonifacio throws a series of punches but Bashir moves out of range.
Bashir is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bonifacio rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Bashir counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bonifacio won't be happy with that.
Bashir trying to control the action but Bonifacio is working from the bottom.
Bashir is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bonifacio is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Bashir 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.
Bonifacio is trying to get back to his feet.
Bonifacio avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Bashir.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bashir postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Bashir in side control, throwing shots but Bonifacio defends.
Bashir working the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bashir is looking to take a break and control but Bonifacio is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bashir passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Bonifacio!
Bashir throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Bonifacio takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bonifacio can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bonifacio's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Bashir working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Bashir cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Bashir throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Bonifacio because Bashir loaded up on that one.
A nice elbow there by Bashir.
Bashir dominating with strikes here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bashir connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Bashir throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

Bashir looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Bashir thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Bonifacio trying desperately to get to his feet.
Bashir working away from the top, dropping strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Julian Bashir dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bonifacio throws the left hand but Bashir avoids the punch easily.
Bashir tries to clinch up.
Andres Bonifacio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bonifacio moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Bashir has Bonifacio up against the cage in a clinch.
Bashir scores with a nice hook to the head.
Bonifacio is trying to push Bashir away but Bashir has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bashir.
Bashir has Bonifacio pressed against the cage, preventing Bonifacio from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bonifacio's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A swing and a miss from Bonifacio.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bashir can't find room to land a body shot as Bonifacio controls the action.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bashir throws a head punch that misses.
Bashir misses with some punches.
Bashir tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bonifacio's elbow.
Bonifacio blocks an uppercut.
Bonifacio gets underhooks to prevent Bashir's takedown attempt.
Bashir wants a takedown but no success here.
Bashir can't find room to land a body shot as Bonifacio controls the action.

Bashir has picked Bonifacio up - he's going for a ride! Bashir dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Bashir prevents Bonifacio from standing back up.
Bonifacio really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bashir. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bashir missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bashir trying to pass the guard but Bonifacio defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bonifacio blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bashir.
Bashir trying to mount his opponent but Bonifacio defends it.
Ground and pound from Bashir.
Bashir is trying to control. Bonifacio wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bashir is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Bonifacio is looking to escape.
Bashir thows a huge punch but Bonifacio dodges it nicely.
Bashir is stalling here. Bonifacio is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Bashir seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Bonifacio has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bashir tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Julian Bashir overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bashir is working hard here to advance position.
Bashir gets back to half guard.
Bashir moves into full guard.
Bashir is looking to sweep but instead, Bonifacio has passed into half guard.
Bashir regains full guard. Nicely done.
Bashir looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bonifacio must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bashir lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bashir looking to sit in guard and control but Bonifacio gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bashir tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bashir bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bonifacio's guard.

Bonifacio can't keep his opponent in guard - Bashir advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Bashir throwing shots but Bonifacio is blocking nicely.
Bonifacio is looking to escape.
Bashir is keen to just control but Bonifacio is a slippery customer.
Bashir not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Julian Bashir showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bashir has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julian Bashir!
Julian Bashir bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.