PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Marco Soprano (ranked 4559 p4p, 480 weight class) and Earl Fonalleda (ranked 6653 p4p, 558 weight class). Earl Fonalleda struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 171.2lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. On his way into the cage it seems that Marco Soprano has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Marco Soprano seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Soprano
vs
Fonalleda

175 cm
27
169 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
19
184 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Marco Soprano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Earl Fonalleda!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, Chad Campbell and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fonalleda keeps the fight on the outside.
Soprano throws a front kick aimed at Fonalleda's knee but Fonalleda avoids it well.

Fonalleda gets a double leg takedown into Soprano's guard.
Fonalleda is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Soprano working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fonalleda.
Fonalleda scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Fonalleda looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Fonalleda landing with the ground and pound.
Fonalleda sitting in guard, not really doing much.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fonalleda throws an elbow that misses. Soprano uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fonalleda's guard. Nice move by Soprano!

Fonalleda looking to hit a scissor sweep but Soprano is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Fonalleda has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Soprano off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Soprano throws a series of punches but Fonalleda moves out of range.
Fonalleda is looking for the big counter here.
Soprano pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Fonalleda back to the cage. Soprano follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Soprano definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Soprano will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Fonalleda throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Soprano's head.
Fonalleda throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Soprano's waist but Soprano gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fonalleda off to one side.
Soprano is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Fonalleda.
Soprano throws a right and a left that Fonalleda avoids nicely.
Fonalleda lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Fonalleda swats away the attempt to clinch by Soprano.
Despite the aggression on Fonalleda's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fonalleda stuffs the takedown attempt from Soprano. Soprano gets slowly back to his feet.
Despite the aggression on Fonalleda's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Soprano closes this distance looking for a takedown but Fonalleda circles away.
Despite the aggression on Fonalleda's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Fonalleda drives through with a takedown into guard.
Fonalleda not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Fonalleda cracks Soprano with a solid left hand.
Fonalleda throws a big right hand that misses.
Fonalleda tries to free his leg and advance position but Soprano is retaining full guard.
Fonalleda is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Fonalleda must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Fonalleda wants to pass the guard but Soprano is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fonalleda lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Soprano working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fonalleda.
Fonalleda really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Soprano. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fonalleda working some strikes from top position.
Fonalleda cracks Soprano with a solid left hand.

Soprano is rocked!
Soprano is breathing heavily.
Fonalleda content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Oh Soprano is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Fonalleda working some strikes from top position.
Fonalleda scoring with punches to the head and body.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fonalleda throwing strikes from guard but Soprano blocks nicely.
Fonalleda tries to free his leg and advance position but Soprano is retaining full guard.
Soprano seems to have got his legs back now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fonalleda scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Fonalleda is working Soprano over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Fonalleda controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Fonalleda with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Fonalleda works over Soprano with some ground and pound from guard.
Fonalleda lands a couple of elbows.
Fonalleda stops Soprano from standing up.
Fonalleda scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Fonalleda gets to his feet and stands over Soprano, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Soprano felt that one! Fonalleda unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Soprano from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Earl Fonalleda!