PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Taji Bolo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Monroe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Bolo might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to This is how we do. Monroe has chosen Bad boy 4 Life as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bolo
vs
Monroe

157 cm
20
130 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

170 cm
25
148 lbs
6 - 3 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Global Nutritional - ACME - (Q145 for $16)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Taji Bolo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of London, Dan Monroe!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Aafke Stam and Paul Aken.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Monroe misses.
Bolo fails to land the takedown.
Monroe thows a left - swing and a miss!
Monroe goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bolo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bolo looks for a takedown but Monroe sprawls well.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bolo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taji Bolo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolo shoots in looking for a takedown. Monroe tries to sprawl out of it but Bolo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Monroe manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Monroe stuffs the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolo misses with a head kick.
Bolo shoots for a takedown but Monroe saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Monroe swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bolo shoots in for a double leg but Monroe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Bolo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Monroe defends it nicely.
Bolo wants to clinch up but Monroe keeps it at a distance.
Monroe connects with a solid leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolo tries to clinch there but Monroe circles away.
Bolo moves out of range of the strikes.
Monroe connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Monroe lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Bolo avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Monroe connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Monroe stuffs the takedown.
Bolo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Monroe tries to avoid it but Bolo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Monroe to the ground. Monroe escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Bolo gets a takedown into half guard.
Bolo is breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Monroe controlling the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bolo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Monroe sees it coming and defends easily.

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

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Monroe manages to get to full guard.
Bolo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Monroe is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Bolo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Monroe looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Monroe looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Monroe!
Monroe is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Bolo will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Bolo is not content to let Monroe control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Monroe 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.

Monroe throws a shot to the body.
The fighters circling - Monroe throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bolo shoots for a double leg takedown but Monroe sprawls well. He's pushed Bolo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bolo tries to close the distance and clinch but Monroe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice takedown defense from Monroe. No joy for Bolo on that attempt.
Bolo shoots in for a double leg but Monroe sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taji Bolo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Monroe misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bolo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Monroe pinned against the cage. Monroe gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dan Monroe is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Monroe as Bolo shoots in.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bolo.
Monroe cracks Bolo with an open hand slap.
Monroe throws a right and a left that Bolo avoids nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bolo.
Monroe fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Bolo is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bolo.
Monroe clobbers Bolo with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Bolo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Monroe thows a body shot but no joy.
Bolo tries to score a power double leg takedown but Monroe sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bolo somewhat.
Monroe scores with a crisp jab that stopped Bolo in his tracks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monroe throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bolo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Monroe sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Monroe throws a hook but Bolo avoids it easily.
Bolo shoots for a double leg takedown but Monroe sprawls well. He's pushed Bolo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Monroe lands a body shot.
Bolo takes a jab right on the kisser.
Monroe has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Monroe drops Bolo with a hook right on the temple. He thinks about going to the ground but Bolo looks back up at him and smiles so Monroe waves him back to his feet - he obviously thinks he can knock him out after that shot landed.

Bolo is rocked!
Bolo takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Oh Bolo is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Monroe loads up on a big right hand but Bolo slips the punch.
Bolo seems to have got his legs back now.
Taji Bolo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolo tries to close the distance and clinch but Monroe swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bolo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Monroe as he jumps to the side.
Monroe jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Dan Monroe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Monroe misses with a looping left.
Bolo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Monroe.
Monroe misses with the combination.
Bolo looks for a takedown but Monroe sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Monroe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Bolo throws a leg kick that is checked
and Monroe counters with a thumping low kick.

Bolo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Bolo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Monroe keeps working.

Bolo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Monroe sees it coming and defends easily.

Bolo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Monroe doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bolo.
Monroe trying to control but Bolo postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe tries to get to full guard but Bolo has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Bolo is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bolo blocks the strikes from Monroe.

That's two 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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Monroe throws a jab but it's blocked by Bolo.
Bolo tries for a takedown but Monroe circles away easily
and Monroe cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bolo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bolo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A slapping leg kick lands for Monroe.
Bolo closes the distance looking to clinch
and Monroe counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolo takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bolo displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Monroe throws out the jab.
Bolo doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Monroe counter with a right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Taji Bolo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Monroe throws a shot to the body.
Bolo seems to be squinting his left eye. Perhaps he got a poke in that previous exchange. Monroe shows no mercy and swarms him with a barage of strikes! Bolo is backing up but Monroe catches him with a final right hook that drops him! Bolo covers up and the referee steps in to end the fight! Monroe Jumps to his feet and flashes his guns to the crowd. Oh yeah, baby! How'd you like them apples?!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dan Monroe!