PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cory Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raul Bonaza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steel kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Immortal Technique-Point of no return. Bonaza comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Mnemic-Deathbox kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Steel
vs
Bonaza

184 cm
29
212 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

195 cm
21
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

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 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cory Steel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Raul Bonaza!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bonaza works over Steel's head and body with a nice combination.
Steel blocks a head kick by Bonaza.

Steel closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bonaza to the mat! Bonaza manages to get full guard.
Bonaza keeping moving, preventing Steel from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bonaza wants to stand up but Steel is controlling him.
Steel trying to control the position from guard on top but Bonaza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bonaza wants to control but Steel passes easily into half guard.
Steel trying to mount his opponent but Bonaza defends it.
Steel throwing shots but Bonaza is blocking nicely.
Steel thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Steel trying to control from half guard but Bonaza is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Steel seems to be looking for submissions.
Steel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bonaza's head.

Steel wants to work for an arm triangle but Bonaza is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Steel 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.

Steel seems to be looking for submissions.
Bonaza won't allow Steel to pass to mount.
Bonaza moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Bonaza is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Steel is controlling him.
Bonaza avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Bonaza keeping moving, preventing Steel from controlling successfully.
Steel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bonaza wants to get back to his feet but Steel is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Steel is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Bonaza is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Bonaza has escaped and now he's on top!
Bonaza won't allow Steel to sweep him here.
Steel is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Steel might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Steel looking for subs off his back but Bonaza has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel is looking to control Bonaza's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Steel avoid being mounted?
Bonaza works his foot free and advances to mount.
Bonaza avoids the attempt from Steel to control.
Bonaza trying to control but Steel is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Steel is desperately trying to improve his position but Bonaza has a good base and remains in mount.
Bonaza looking to control and managing it successfully.
Steel is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Bonaza dominated that 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.

Steel takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Bonaza scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Steel getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

It looks like Raul Bonaza has been cut.
Bonaza throws a head kick that misses.
Bonaza lands a head shot.
Bonaza throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Steel slips a jab and a cross from Bonaza.
Bonaza misses with a wild combination.
Bonaza ducks under a wild hook from Steel.
Steel takes a jab right on the kisser.
Steel shoots in but no luck this time.
Steel swings widly with a right hand
and Bonaza counters with a three punch combo that has Steel backing up. Steel nods at Bonaza to acknowledge the strikes.
Steel throws a right hand that misses
and Bonaza counters with a one-two to the body.
A left lands for Steel.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bonaza lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Steel misses with a double jab.
Steel will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bonaza misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel avoids a punch combination nicely.
Steel throws a poor cross that misses
and Bonaza counters with a right hand to the body.
Cory Steel is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Bonaza.
Bonaza will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A punch combination from Bonaza misses.
Bonaza throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bonaza throws a body punch but Steel moves out of range.
Steel shoots in for a takedown but Bonaza shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cory Steel. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A nice leg kick lands there from Bonaza.
A cross from Bonaza lands.
Bonaza looks to land a combination but Steel avoids it well.
Bonaza fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Steel has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Some wild striking there from Bonaza.

Bonaza gets caught flat footed, as Steel shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Steel trying to control the position from guard on top but Bonaza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bonaza has Steel pulled in close to control his posture.
Steel is looking to work some ground and pound but Bonaza has wrist control.
Bonaza keeping moving, preventing Steel from controlling successfully.
Steel stands up over Bonaza, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Steel stops Bonaza from standing up.
Steel throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bonaza works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Steel prevents Bonaza from getting back to his feet.
Bonaza trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bonaza looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bonaza plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A swing and a miss from Steel.
Steel takes a swing at Bonaza's ribcage but misses.
Bonaza stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bonaza wants it to stay on the feet.
Steel misses with a lunging right hand
and Bonaza counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Bonaza lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Steel circles away quickly and effectively.
Cory Steel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bonaza blocks a jab.
Steel has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Bonaza.
Bonaza throws a head kick that Steel semi-blocks.
Bonaza misses with a wild combination.
Raul Bonaza seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bonaza throws a series of punches but Steel moves out of range.
Bonaza misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonaza looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bonaza chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A head kick from Bonaza lands but Steel takes it in his stride.
Steel on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Steel scores with a nice head shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Steel shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Steel stops Bonaza from getting back to his feet.
Bonaza controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

Bonaza is defending against the submission attempts here by Steel.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bonaza looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raul Bonaza showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Raul Bonaza's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bonaza moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Bonaza displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Steel throws out the jab.
Steel throws a hook but Bonaza blocks it.
Bonaza swinging wildly here.
Steel swinging wildly here.
Steel is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Steel throws a poor cross that misses
and Bonaza counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Steel throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Steel fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bonaza throws a combination. Steel tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Steel throws a predictable looking body shot
and Bonaza counters with a straight right hand.
Bonaza takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Steel misses with a wild body shot.
Steel stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bonaza.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice straight punches there by Bonaza. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Bonaza.
Steel is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Steel stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bonaza.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Bonaza can pounce on him.
Bonaza throws a nice outside leg kick.
Bonaza scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Steel doesn't seem bothered though.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Bonaza!
Steel avoids a punch combination nicely.
Steel is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Bonaza.
Steel takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Raul Bonaza is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A right-left combo lands from Bonaza.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bonaza lands a head kick. Steel smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Steel on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Jab from Bonaza.
Bonaza misses with a head kick.
Steel swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bonaza has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Bonaza misses with a double jab.
Bonaza leaves Steel with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Bonaza misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bonaza thuds his shin into the meat of Steel's side.
Bonaza lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Steel backs up against the cage.
Bonaza lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Steel backs up against the cage.
Bonaza lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Bonaza explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Steel drops his hands momentarily and Bonaza takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Bonaza connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Steel momentarily.
Bonaza lands with a hook. Steel tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Danga de danga de dang - Bonaza scores with a four punch combination!
Bonaza throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Bonaza throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Steel showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bonaza.
Bonaza scores with a head kick. Steel tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Bonaza cracks Steel with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Left hook, right uppercut from Bonaza.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonaza lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Bonaza throws a head kick that half lands.
Bonaza walks into a jab.
Bonaza is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Bonaza's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Bonaza duly obliges.
Steel throws a nice looking combination but Bonaza bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bonaza takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Bonaza fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Bonaza cracks Steel with a right hand to the side of the head.
Steel takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bonaza lands a jab-cross combination.
Steel shoots for a double leg takedown but Bonaza sprawls well. He's pushed Steel's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bonaza misses with a few strikes there.
Bonaza lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Bonaza lands with a nice combination. Steel backs away looking to recover.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Steel slips a jab and a cross from Bonaza.
Bonaza lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonaza scores with a one two! Steel had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Bonaza throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Bonaza has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bonaza lands a head shot.
A shot to the liver by Bonaza. Beautiful body shot.
Steel takes a kick to the side of the head.
Steel looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Bonaza fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Steel.
Bonaza throws a nice head kick!
Steel misses with a double jab
and Bonaza counters with an outside leg kick.
Cory Steel has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bonaza lands a jab.
Bonaza fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Steel on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Bonaza. Bonaza obviously looking to wear him down.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bonaza.
A right-left combo lands from Bonaza.
Raul Bonaza is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bonaza misses with a two punch combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raul Bonaza comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bonaza winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 26:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raul Bonaza!