PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Luigi Bonifacio (ranked 953 p4p, 1091 weight class) and Balthazar Bolleke (ranked 127 p4p, 152 weight class). Bonifacio comes to the cage accompanied by Karate - Kennedy. Luigi Bonifacio has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bonifacio
vs
Bolleke

184 cm
39
163
16 - 18 - 0

172 cm
22
155
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Northern Zombie
Shadow Realm Apparel

Shadow Realm Apparel
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Luigi Bonifacio !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Balthazar Bolleke!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Radbod Blank and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bolleke.
Bonifacio thuds his right hand into Bolleke's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Bolleke lands with an overhand left.
Bolleke throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bonifacio scores with a nice right hand.
No joy there for Bonifacio , who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bolleke steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bonifacio .
Bolleke avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bolleke misses with a looping right.
A jab from Bolleke misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bonifacio tries to clinch there but Bolleke circles away.
Bonifacio changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bonifacio moves out of range as Bolleke strikes.
Bolleke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bolleke ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bonifacio moves away.
Bolleke scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Bonifacio doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonifacio thows a left - swing and a miss!
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bolleke! But no joy.
Bolleke shoots in and drives through. Bonifacio sprawls well.
Bonifacio scores with a jab to the body.
Bonifacio uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Bolleke throws a series of punches but Bonifacio avoids them all with ease.
Bolleke throws a jab when Bonifacio was well out of range.
Bonifacio misses with the combination.
Bolleke is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bonifacio .
Bolleke scores with a jab to the body.
Bonifacio moves into range and connects with a jab.
Bolleke tries to close the distance and clinch but Bonifacio swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Bolleke manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Bonifacio on his heels. He'll look to pass Bonifacio 's guard now, I'm sure.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bolleke being controlled here momentarily.
Bonifacio will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bolleke throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke throwing strikes from guard but Bonifacio blocks nicely.
Bonifacio keeping moving, preventing Bolleke from controlling successfully.
Bonifacio keeping full guard, as Bolleke tries to pass.
Bolleke with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bolleke with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bolleke missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bolleke postures up in Bonifacio 's guard and throws a big left but Bonifacio blocks it.
Bolleke controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke wants to control from the top but Bonifacio keeps moving.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Bolleke content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bonifacio being controlled here, momentarily.
Bolleke has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
It looks like Bolleke might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bolleke looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bolleke misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bonifacio looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A left lands for Bonifacio .

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bolleke jumps guard but Bonifacio stands there with Bolleke around his waist. Bolleke gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Luigi Bonifacio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Balthazar Bolleke.
Bolleke misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bolleke is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Bonifacio lands a body punch.
Bonifacio stalling in the clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Bolleke takes a shot to the head.
Bonifacio swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bonifacio blocking some punches.
Bolleke throws a head punch that misses.
Bolleke tries to pull guard but Bonifacio forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Bonifacio .
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Luigi Bonifacio will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Bonifacio doesn't manage to clinch there - Bolleke circles away.
Bolleke keeps the fight on the outside.
Bonifacio keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Bonifacio tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bolleke manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bonifacio thuds a left hand into Bolleke's body.
Bonifacio is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Bonifacio lands with a cross.
Bonifacio tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bolleke manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bolleke throws a big shot that misses.
Bolleke takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A jab from Bonifacio misses.
Bonifacio slips a straight right by Bolleke.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolleke swats away the attempt to clinch by Bonifacio .
Bolleke looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bonifacio misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bonifacio misses with a wild body shot.
Bolleke doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bonifacio takes the fight into the clinch.
Bonifacio pushes Bolleke back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Bonifacio 's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bolleke throws a head punch that misses.
Bonifacio lands a shoulder strike.
Bolleke jumps guard but Bonifacio turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bolleke struggles to land a body shot inside as Bonifacio controls his hands.
Bonifacio lands a body punch in the clinch.

Bolleke drags the fight down to the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

Bolleke working for a triangle but Bonifacio defends it easily.
Bonifacio wants to control from the top but Bolleke keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bonifacio avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bonifacio has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bonifacio preventing the sweep.
Bonifacio stands and throws Bolleke's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Bolleke is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Bolleke's face as Bonifacio controls the position.
Bonifacio trying to control the position but Bolleke is working away.
Bonifacio working away.
Bolleke is trying to get back to half guard.
Bolleke felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Bolleke is still trying to improve position.
Bonifacio knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bolleke on the ground.
Bonifacio slows the pace down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bolleke tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bonifacio taking a breather here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bonifacio tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bolleke is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Bonifacio scores with a hook to the body. Bolleke takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Bonifacio tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bolleke manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Luigi Bonifacio seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bonifacio tries to clinch up.
Bonifacio cracks Bolleke with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bonifacio cracks Bolleke with a right hand to the side of the head.
Bonifacio fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bonifacio lands a jab to the head.
Bonifacio throws a shot to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Luigi Bonifacio dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bonifacio tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bolleke was well out of range. Poor timing from Bonifacio .
Bonifacio looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Left hook, right uppercut from Bonifacio .
Bolleke avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bolleke cracks Bonifacio with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Bonifacio is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Bonifacio lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Bonifacio cracks Bolleke with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nice shot lands for Bolleke.
Luigi Bonifacio is winning the standup battle so far.

Bolleke clinches.

Bolleke manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

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

Bonifacio got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bolleke has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bonifacio has managed to get both his arms back between Bolleke's legs - danger averted.
Bonifacio looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bolleke looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Bonifacio has picked Bolleke up and slammed him! Bolleke can't keep hold of the triangle and Bonifacio manages to pass to side control!
Bonifacio is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bolleke can do to turn this around?
Bolleke struggling a bit here.
A lull in the action here as Bonifacio stalls from top position.
Bolleke struggling a bit here.
Bolleke is looking to reverse the position.
Balthazar Bolleke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Luigi Bonifacio is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bonifacio is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Bolleke will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Bonifacio is looking to take a break and control but Bolleke is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bolleke is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Bonifacio stalls from top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bolleke with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Bonifacio punishes Bolleke's body with a nice straight punch.
Luigi Bonifacio is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bonifacio misses with a jab, cross combination.

Bonifacio moves into the clinch successfully.
Bolleke misses with some punches.
Bolleke trying to stall but Bonifacio improves his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolleke drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bolleke tries to pull guard but Bonifacio won't allow it.
Bonifacio lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Bolleke has a couple of punches blocked by Bonifacio .
Bolleke doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bolleke.
Bolleke misses with a shot to the kidneys.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bolleke misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bolleke tries a body shot but Bonifacio blocks it.
Bolleke jumps guard but Bonifacio turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luigi Bonifacio showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bonifacio , 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 Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 30:27
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Luigi Bonifacio !
Luigi Bonifacio was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.