PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Shaun Gonzalez (ranked 168 p4p, 213 weight class) and Gunnar Gunnarsson (ranked 28 p4p, 33 weight class). Gonzalez comes to the cage accompanied by Mind Playing Tricks On Me - Geto Boys. The crowd seem to be enjoying Gunnarsson's choice of entrance music: Björk - Army Of Me. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Gonzalez
vs
Gunnarsson

192 cm
27
205
16 - 7 - 1

193 cm
32
205
27 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Conviction
Bondi MMA 🏝️

NARCOS
Conviction

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 16 - 7 - 1, fighting out of London, Shaun Gonzalez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 18 - 1, fighting out of New York, Gunnar Gunnarsson!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Daniel Cesar and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some bone on bone action there as Gunnarsson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Gonzalez scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Gonzalez looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Gonzalez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gonzalez lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Gonzalez has Gunnarsson pressed against the cage, preventing Gunnarsson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gunnarsson is trying to break the clinch but Gonzalez is controlling him.
Gunnarsson is trying to break the clinch but Gonzalez is controlling him.
Gonzalez has Gunnarsson pressed against the cage, preventing Gunnarsson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Gunnarsson manages to break the clinch.

Gonzalez closes the distance and clinches.
Gonzalez lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Gunnarsson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gonzalez keeps control of Gunnarsson as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A body shot lands from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez lands an elbow just above Gunnarsson 's eye.
Gunnarsson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Gunnarsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Gunnarsson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Gonzalez takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez tries to clinch up
enabling Gunnarsson to counter with a crisp jab.
Gunnarsson connects with a nice looking jab.
Gonzalez lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Gonzalez bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Gunnarsson throws a body punch but Gonzalez moves out of range.
Gonzalez connects with an inside leg kick.

Gunnarsson tries to keep at a distance but Gonzalez has taken the fight into the clinch.

Gunnarsson manages to break the clinch.
Gonzalez lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Gonzalez scores with a sloppy right hand. Gunnarsson should have avoided that one.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gunnarsson takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez jabs at Gunnarsson's body.
Gonzalez dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Gunnarsson. That did some damage!
Gonzalez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gunnarsson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gunnarsson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gonzalez.
Gunnarsson throws the kick towards the body but Gonzalez avoids it.
Gunnarsson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Gonzalez can pounce on him.

Gonzalez closes the distance and clinches.

Gunnarsson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gunnarsson walks into a jab.
Gonzalez tries to clinch up.
Gonzalez misses with an uppercut
and Gunnarsson counters with a nice uppercut.
Gonzalez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Gonzalez fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Gunnarsson has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gunnarsson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gonzalez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A punch lands to the side of Gonzalez 's head but he takes it in his stride.
A good leg kick by Gonzalez.
Gunnarsson throws a head kick but Gonzalez moves out of range.
Gonzalez tries to counter by clinching up but Gunnarsson breaks away and moves out of range.
Jab, jab by Gunnarsson - just one landing.
Gonzalez doesn't manage to clinch there - Gunnarsson circles away.
Gonzalez thows a leg kick but Gunnarsson checks it
and Gunnarsson counters with a nice leg kick.
Decent striking displayed by Gonzalez there.
Gonzalez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Gunnarsson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Gonzalez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab from Gunnarsson.
Gonzalez throws a jab but it's blocked by Gunnarsson.
Gunnarsson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gonzalez.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gunnarsson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Gonzalez finds it's way round the side to connect with Gunnarsson's head.
Gunnarsson has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Gonzalez lands with a cross.
A big left from Gonzalez misses.
Gonzalez throws out a loose jab but Gunnarsson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gunnarsson follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

Gonzalez clinches up with Gunnarsson and pushes him back against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gonzalez.
Gunnarsson is trying to push Gonzalez away but Gonzalez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gunnarsson tries to throw a body punch but Gonzalez avoids it by throwing Gunnarsson back against the cage.

Gunnarsson breaks the clinch.
Gunnarsson throws a half hearted mid kick.
Gunnarsson throws out a loose jab but Gonzalez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gonzalez tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Gunnarsson manages to circle out of the way.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Shaun Gonzalez dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Gonzalez has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gunnarsson.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Gunnarsson, as that shot connected.
Gonzalez scores with a nice head shot.
Gonzalez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gonzalez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gonzalez tries to clinch but Gunnarsson is having none of it.
Gunnarsson throws a shot from downtown. Gonzalez moves away and avoids it.
Shaun Gonzalez is winning the standup battle so far.
Gonzalez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gunnarsson.
Gunnarsson misses with a looping right.
Shaun Gonzalez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Gonzalez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Gonzalez working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Gunnarsson swings wildly with an uppercut but Gonzalez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Gonzalez misses with some punches.
Gunnarsson is trying to break the clinch but Gonzalez is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gonzalez misses with the head strike.
Gonzalez lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Gunnarsson backwards.
Gonzalez softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Gonzalez tries to work over Gunnarsson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gonzalez lands with a short shot to the head.
Gonzalez keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gunnarsson's efforts to push away.
Gonzalez is working Gunnarsson over against the cage.
Gonzalez stalling against the cage.
Gunnarsson blocks a body shot from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez lands a left hand.
Come on Gonzalez - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Gunnarsson can't break the clinch.
Gunnarsson is trying to break the clinch but Gonzalez is controlling him.
Gunnarsson tries to work over Gonzalez's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Gunnarsson breaks from the clinch.
Gunnarsson throws a jab when Gonzalez was well out of range.
Gonzalez lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez loads up on a big right hand but Gunnarsson slips the punch.
Gonzalez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gunnarsson.
Gonzalez lands with a nice body kick.

Gonzalez forces Gunnarsson back against the cage and clinches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gonzalez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Gunnarsson throws a head punch that misses.
Gonzalez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Gonzalez manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Gunnarsson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Gonzalez has a couple of punches blocked by Gunnarsson.
Gonzalez content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Gunnarsson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Gunnarsson misses with a body punch.
Gonzalez lands a body punch.
Gonzalez scores with a nice hook to the head.
Gunnarsson misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gunnarsson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Gunnarsson lands a body shot.
Gonzalez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Gunnarsson can do to turn this around?
Gunnarsson working hard to break the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gonzalez.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez cracks Gunnarsson with a nice body shot.
Gunnarsson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gonzalez has him pressed against the cage.
Gonzalez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Gunnarsson tries to break free but Gonzalez pushes him back against the cage.
Gonzalez has Gunnarsson pressed against the cage, preventing Gunnarsson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gonzalez misses with some punches.
Gonzalez lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Gonzalez lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Gunnarsson dodges an elbow strike from Gonzalez.
Gunnarsson jumps guard but Gonzalez turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Gunnarsson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Gunnarsson swings widly with a right hand
and Gonzalez counters with a stiff right hand.
Gonzalez is looking to clinch.
A little jabbing left from Gunnarsson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunnarsson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Gonzalez.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Gunnarsson checks a leg kick.
Gonzalez throws a shot from downtown. Gunnarsson moves away and avoids it.
A little jabbing left from Gunnarsson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Gonzalez lands a right hook to the body.
Gunnarsson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez cracks Gunnarsson with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Gunnarsson uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gonzalez.
Gunnarsson misses with a shot to the body

and Gonzalez counters by moving into the clinch.
Gonzalez swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Gunnarsson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gunnarsson throws a body shot but no joy.
Gonzalez misses with a hook
and Gunnarsson counters with a nice uppercut.
Gunnarsson throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Gonzalez wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Gonzalez ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gonzalez connects with a single shot there.
Gunnarsson looks to land a left hand but Gonzalez moved out of range nicely.
Gunnarsson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Gunnarsson tries a head kick but it misses.
Gonzalez connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Gonzalez thuds his right hand into Gunnarsson's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Gunnarsson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gonzalez.
Gunnarsson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Gonzalez avoids the head kick by Gunnarsson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gonzalez is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
It seemed like Gunnarsson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A swing and a miss from Gonzalez.
Gonzalez throws a low kick, looking for Gunnarsson's leg but Gunnarsson calmly moves out of range.
Gunnarsson raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunnarsson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Gonzalez throws a looping overhand right but Gunnarsson ducks down to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Gunnarsson.
Gunnarsson looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Gonzalez throws a nice outside leg kick.
Gonzalez with a nice calf kick.
Gonzalez defending well as Gunnarsson loads up on a big left hand.
Gonzalez scores with a nice head shot.
Gunnarsson throws a lazy head kick
and Gonzalez connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Gunnarsson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Gunnarsson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Gonzalez.
Gunnarsson appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Gunnarsson misses with a body shot.
Gonzalez scoring well with a low kick there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Gonzalez. That snapped Gunnarsson's head back.
Gonzalez fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gunnarsson.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gunnarsson throws a hook but Gonzalez avoids it easily.
Gonzalez swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gonzalez stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Gunnarsson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Gonzalez takes a swing at Gunnarsson's ribcage but misses.
Gunnarsson swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Gonzalez moves into the clinch successfully.
Gunnarsson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Gunnarsson takes a shot to the head.
Gunnarsson tries to throw a body punch but Gonzalez avoids it by throwing Gunnarsson back against the cage.
Gunnarsson is trying to break free.
Gunnar Gunnarsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gunnarsson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters up against the cage, Gonzalez throws an elbow but misses.
Gonzalez goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gonzalez scores with a nice hook to the head.
Gonzalez lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Gunnarsson wants to break free but Gonzalez has control.
Gonzalez lands a nice shot to the body.

Gunnarsson pulls guard effortlessly.
Gonzalez controlling from the top position.

Gunnarsson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gonzalez defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Gonzalez continues to stall.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shaun Gonzalez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gonzalez, 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shaun Gonzalez!
An out of breath Shaun Gonzalez thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.