PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Martin Gustavsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruslan Bonjasky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martin Gustavsson had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Gustavsson
vs
Bonjasky

191 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Martin Gustavsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ruslan Bonjasky!
The judges for this bout are Patrick Alders, Albert Achterberg and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bonjasky moves out of range of the body kick.
Gustavsson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bonjasky swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Gustavsson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bonjasky to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gustavsson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Bonjasky is controlling him.
Bonjasky trying to control but Gustavsson is working from the bottom.
Bonjasky won't allow Gustavsson to get back to his feet.
Gustavsson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Bonjasky thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bonjasky stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gustavsson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gustavsson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gustavsson wants to stand but Bonjasky is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bonjasky shoots in and drives through. Gustavsson sprawls well.

Bonjasky scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Bonjasky is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bonjasky stops Gustavsson from getting back to his feet.

Bonjasky decides to stand and escape the position.
Gustavsson throws the left hand but Bonjasky avoids the punch easily.
Gustavsson fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Bonjasky is out of range.
Bonjasky looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gustavsson is fending him off so far but Bonjasky persists. Nope, Gustavsson circles away and we're back to standing.
Bonjasky looks gassed!
A head kick misses from Bonjasky.
Gustavsson wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustavsson doesn't manage to clinch there - Bonjasky circles away.
Bonjasky shoots in for a double leg but Gustavsson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Martin Gustavsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Bonjasky.
Bonjasky keeps the fight on the outside.

Bonjasky closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Bonjasky throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gustavsson tries to kick Bonjasky off but Bonjasky keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Bonjasky is trying to control. Gustavsson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Gustavsson is looking to escape.
Bonjasky wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gustavsson keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gustavsson is defending against the submission attempts here by Bonjasky.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bonjasky takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Gustavsson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gustavsson misses with a low kick.

Bonjasky shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Bonjasky drops back looking for a leg! Gustavsson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gustavsson manages to kick Bonjasky off! Bonjasky jumps back into Gustavsson's guard.
Gustavsson wants to get back to his feet but Bonjasky is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonjasky trying to control the position from guard on top but Gustavsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bonjasky thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gustavsson wants to stand and escape but Bonjasky is having none of it.
Bonjasky advances to half guard.

Bonjasky is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Gustavsson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bonjasky.
Bonjasky trying to control the action but Gustavsson is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bonjasky shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gustavsson's guard.
Bonjasky stops Gustavsson from standing up.
Bonjasky throwing strikes but missing.

Bonjasky drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Gustavsson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Bonjasky has Gustavsson in his guard.
Bonjasky bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gustavsson's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gustavsson wants to get back to his feet but Bonjasky is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bonjasky forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustavsson is trying to stand back up but Bonjasky is controlling him
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Bonjasky is looking for a kimura here.
Bonjasky is trying to control the action in half guard but Gustavsson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Bonjasky is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Gustavsson is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bonjasky uses his free foot to push down on Gustavsson's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Gustavsson.
Gustavsson is squirming around, avoiding Bonjasky's attempts to control the action.
Gustavsson is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Bonjasky stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Gustavsson throws a low kick, looking for Bonjasky's leg but Bonjasky calmly moves out of range.

Bonjasky shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Gustavsson is trying to defend but Bonjasky finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Gustavsson pushes Bonjasky off looking to stand but Bonjasky dives back in and keeps control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonjasky not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bonjasky throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gustavsson pushes Bonjasky off looking to stand but Bonjasky dives back in and keeps control.

Bonjasky is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Bonjasky is looking to take a break and control but Gustavsson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bonjasky slows the pace down in half guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bonjasky shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gustavsson but Gustavsson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Gustavsson instigates a clinch.
Bonjasky prevents Gustavsson from breaking the clinch.
Gustavsson can't break the clinch.
Bonjasky keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Gustavsson's efforts to push away.
Gustavsson is trying to force a seperation but Bonjasky has the dominant position.
Bonjasky has Gustavsson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gustavsson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Bonjasky showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A solid leg kick lands there for Gustavsson.
Gustavsson misses with a few strikes there.
Gustavsson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Bonjasky swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bonjasky avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gustavsson misses with a low kick.
Bonjasky moves out of range of the body kick from Gustavsson.
Horrible takedown by Bonjasky or perhaps it was just good defense by Gustavsson which made him look bad.
Gustavsson tries a low kick but Bonjasky avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bonjasky shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gustavsson but Gustavsson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Bonjasky looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bonjasky missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonjasky wants to pass to mount but Gustavsson is defending the position.
Ruslan Bonjasky has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bonjasky is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Gustavsson looks like he's trying to stand up.
Bonjasky throwing shots but Gustavsson is blocking nicely.
Gustavsson won't allow Bonjasky to pass to mount.
Gustavsson is trying to stand.

Bonjasky is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gustavsson dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bonjasky. That did some damage!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Gustavsson is looking to clinch but Bonjasky is avoiding it.

Bonjasky fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gustavsson, pushing him back against the cage.
Bonjasky has Gustavsson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gustavsson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Martin Gustavsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Bonjasky.
Bonjasky has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Gustavsson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Gustavsson working hard to break the clinch.

Bonjasky has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Gustavsson regains guard immediately.

Bonjasky drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Bonjasky jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Bonjasky loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bonjasky loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustavsson is looking to stand up but Bonjasky isn't so interested in that idea.
Bonjasky is stalling in the full guard.

Bonjasky drops back looking for a leg! Gustavsson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gustavsson manages to kick Bonjasky off! Bonjasky jumps back into Gustavsson's guard.
Bonjasky trying to control but Gustavsson is working from the bottom.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A leg kick checked by Bonjasky.
Ruslan Bonjasky is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gustavsson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Bonjasky checks it well.

Bonjasky darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Bonjasky wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gustavsson keeps working.
Bonjasky not doing much here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruslan Bonjasky comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bonjasky 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 Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruslan Bonjasky!