PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ruslan Bonjasky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Japanese Assassin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Bonjasky
vs
Assassin

188 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ruslan Bonjasky!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Japanese Assassin!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Daniel Blasius and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Assassin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Assassin closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Bonjasky wants to control but Assassin postures up.
Bonjasky takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Bonjasky takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Bonjasky tries to bench press Assassin off him but Assassin keeps the position.
Bonjasky struggling a bit here.
Bonjasky is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Assassin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Assassin is trying to work for a kimura but Bonjasky is defending well.
Bonjasky is looking to control Assassin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bonjasky avoid being mounted?
Bonjasky is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Assassin scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonjasky regains full guard. Nicely done.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Assassin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bonjasky's head.
Assassin throws and elbow that misses. Bonjasky uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Assassin's guard. Nice move by Bonjasky!

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

Assassin looking for submissions off his back.
Bonjasky blocks the strikes from Assassin.
Assassin manages to get to full guard.
Bonjasky trying to control but Assassin is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Assassin trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

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

Assassin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bonjasky is aware though and is defending well.
Assassin looks gassed!
Bonjasky pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Assassin is keeping the position for now.

Assassin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Assassin working for submissions but it's allowed Bonjasky to get to half guard.
Bonjasky thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Assassin landing small, sideways elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bonjasky is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Assassin sees it coming and defends easily.
Assassin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Assassin landing rabbit punches to the side of Bonjasky's head. Not doing much damage but still scoring a few points.
Assassin gets full guard.
Bonjasky trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Assassin punching to the body, from the bottom.

Assassin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Assassin is looking for a triangle here but Bonjasky uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Bonjasky throws a strike aimed at the side of Assassin's head but Assassin avoids it well.
Assassin manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Assassin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Assassin misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Assassin wants to get back to full guard.
Assassin wants to control but Bonjasky is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Assassin looking for submissions off his back.

Assassin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Assassin closes the distance and clinches up with Bonjasky, looking for a takedown. Assassin pushes Bonjasky against the cage but Bonjasky circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Assassin shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Bonjasky is trying to defend but Assassin finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Assassin lands a nice short elbow.
Assassin drops an elbow to the side of Bonjasky's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bonjasky gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Bonjasky throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Assassin landing with the ground and pound.

Assassin is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Assassin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bonjasky works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Assassin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Assassin stands up over Bonjasky, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Assassin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Assassin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Assassin is in close to Bonjasky's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Assassin scoring with punches to the head and body.
Assassin is working Bonjasky over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Assassin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Assassin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bonjasky works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Bonjasky working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Assassin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Assassin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Assassin works over Bonjasky with some ground and pound from guard.
Bonjasky is trying to control the position but Assassin postures up.
Assassin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
No luck for Assassin with that takedown attempt.
Bonjasky shoots and misses

and Assassin counters with a shoot takedown. Bonjasky fights it but they end up in guard.
Bonjasky is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Assassin is in close to Bonjasky's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bonjasky is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Assassin is controlling him.
Assassin is working Bonjasky over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bonjasky looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Assassin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bonjasky avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Bonjasky gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Assassin to score an easy takedown into full guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bonjasky not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Assassin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Assassin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Assassin trying to control but Bonjasky is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Assassin postures up and lands a big shot to Bonjasky's brow.
Assassin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Assassin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bonjasky's head.
Assassin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Assassin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Assassin passes into half guard.
Assassin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Assassin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Assassin seems to be looking for submissions.
Japanese Assassin has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Assassin thows a huge punch but Bonjasky dodges it nicely.
Assassin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Bonjasky is defending against the submission attempts here by Assassin.
Assassin working the head and body with strikes.
Assassin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Assassin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Assassin looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Assassin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bonjasky sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Japanese Assassin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Assassin misses with a takedown

and Bonjasky counters with a single leg into guard. Assassin didn't expect that.

Assassin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bonjasky wants to control from the top but Assassin keeps moving.

Assassin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bonjasky slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Assassin is looking for a sweep.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Bonjasky decides to stand back up.
Assassin doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Bonjasky counters with a shoot takedown. Assassin fights it but they end up in guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Assassin looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Assassin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bonjasky slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Bonjasky advances nicely into full mount.
Assassin regains half guard.
Bonjasky blocks the strikes from Assassin.

Bonjasky seems to be looking for submissions.
Assassin punching from the bottom.
Bonjasky wants to stand up but Assassin has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Assassin is staying active underneath Bonjasky, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bonjasky is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Assassin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bonjasky.

Assassin looking for submissions off his back.
Ruslan Bonjasky has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Assassin scores with a few weak punches.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bonjasky tries to close the distance and clinch up but Assassin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Assassin slaps away a takedown attempt from Bonjasky, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Assassin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bonjasky's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Assassin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bonjasky wants to sweep here but Assassin controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bonjasky is looking for a triangle but Assassin pushes his legs off easily.
Assassin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Assassin scoring with punches to the head and body.

Bonjasky throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Assassin postures up and lands a big shot to Bonjasky's brow.
Assassin works over Bonjasky with some ground and pound from guard.

Bonjasky is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bonjasky keeping moving, preventing Assassin from controlling successfully.
Assassin stands up over Bonjasky, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

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.
Assassin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bonjasky is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Assassin throwing strikes from guard but Bonjasky blocks nicely.
Assassin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bonjasky slips under a jab.

Assassin feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Assassin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Assassin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Assassin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Assassin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Assassin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bonjasky is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Ruslan Bonjasky.
I think Assassin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Japanese Assassin!