PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Echart Tolle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Willy Bonaparte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tolle
vs
Bonaparte

180 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
26
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Echart Tolle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Willy Bonaparte!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Eliza Hachem and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bonaparte closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Bonaparte jumps into guard, dragging Tolle to the mat.
Tolle trying to control the position from guard on top but Bonaparte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tolle is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Tolle wants to control from the top but Bonaparte keeps moving.
Tolle slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Echart Tolle.

Bonaparte looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Tolle with the active half guard here but Bonaparte passes nicely into side control.
Tolle can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolle tries to bench press Bonaparte off him but Bonaparte keeps the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bonaparte working the ground and pound but Tolle is defending the strikes.
Bonaparte just content to control the position.
Bonaparte trying to control the position but Tolle is working away.
Bonaparte staying calm.
Tolle struggling a bit here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Bonaparte takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bonaparte's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Tolle gets a double leg takedown into Bonaparte's guard.
Tolle advances to half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tolle keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Tolle is pressing down on Bonaparte's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bonaparte is holding on for now.

Tolle wants to work for an arm triangle but Bonaparte is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bonaparte tries to get to full guard but Tolle has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tolle is trying to control. Bonaparte wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Tolle is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bonaparte is just riding it out for now. Tolle eventually gives up the hold.
Tolle trying to control from half guard but Bonaparte is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonaparte desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Tolle perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bonaparte wants to improve his position but Tolle is controlling well.
Tolle is trying to control. Bonaparte wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Bonaparte is defending against the submission attempts here by Tolle.

Bonaparte looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tolle is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bonaparte is trying to stand.
Tolle trying to control from half guard but Bonaparte is working away.

Bonaparte manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Echart Tolle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Tolle.

Tolle changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bonaparte looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bonaparte looks gassed!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tolle is looking to take a break and control but Bonaparte is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tolle controlling from side mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Echart Tolle dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bonaparte drives through with a takedown into Tolle's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Bonaparte avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bonaparte in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tolle keeping full guard, as Bonaparte tries to pass.
Tolle is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tolle keeping full guard, as Bonaparte tries to pass.

Tolle is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bonaparte is aware though and is defending well.

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

Tolle throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Bonaparte escapes and throws Tolle's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolle is letting Bonaparte control him for a moment.
Bonaparte trying to control the position but Tolle is working away.
Tolle is trying to control Bonaparte's posture but Bonaparte avoids it.
Sloppy strikes there by Bonaparte.
Tolle wants to control but Bonaparte postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolle stops Bonaparte from passing to mount.
Tolle sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Bonaparte seems to be working for a kimura but Tolle defends the submission attempt.

Tolle looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Tolle trying to control from the bottom.
Tolle is positioning himself well to prevent Bonaparte advancing to mount.
Bonaparte is trying to control. Tolle wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolle has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bonaparte is working away from the top position though.

Tolle actively working from the bottom here.
Tolle blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bonaparte.
Tolle is trying to control but can't.
The fighters are battling for position here. Tolle manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Tolle escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bonaparte gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Tolle is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Tolle looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bonaparte passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonaparte is keen to just control but Tolle is a slippery customer.
Bonaparte sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Tolle actively working from the bottom here.
Tolle wants to control but Bonaparte is keeping busy.

Tolle looking for submissions off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bonaparte wants to free his trapped foot but Tolle is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Echart Tolle will probably get the nod.
That's time! Tolle's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Tolle shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bonaparte counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Tolle trying to hold on to Bonaparte's head to control him but Bonaparte postures up.
Bonaparte prevents Tolle from improving his position.

Tolle looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bonaparte thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bonaparte controlling the action here.
Tolle is trying to control but can't.
Echart Tolle overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolle is staying active underneath Bonaparte, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tolle has his takedown stuffed

and Bonaparte counters by clinching up.

Bonaparte's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tolle with a poor takedown

and Bonaparte counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tolle's guard now.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Echart Tolle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bonaparte trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tolle is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bonaparte tries to free his leg and advance position but Tolle is retaining full guard.

Tolle throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Bonaparte escapes and throws Tolle's legs to the side, diving into side control!
A control attempt from Tolle but he's now mounted!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tolle tries to control the position but Bonaparte now has his back.
Bonaparte not allowing Tolle to control his hands.
Tolle is in bad spot here.

Tolle showing good submission defense here.

Bonaparte is persistently looking for the submission but Tolle is defending it well.
Bonaparte gets his hands free as Tolle looks to control.
Tolle rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tolle actively working from the bottom here.

Tolle looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Tolle actively working from the bottom here.
Tolle avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bonaparte.
Bonaparte wants to pass the guard but Tolle is defending well.

Tolle is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bonaparte pulls his head out easily.

Bonaparte stands up out of the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tolle shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Bonaparte's guard.
Bonaparte has Tolle pulled in close to control his posture.
Tolle trying to control the position from guard on top but Bonaparte is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bonaparte wants to stand up but Tolle is controlling him.
Tolle trying to control but Bonaparte is working from the bottom.
Tolle showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

We're going to have a standup here because Echart Tolle wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Tolle fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bonaparte sprawls well initially but Tolle persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Willy Bonaparte has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Echart Tolle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bonaparte tries to get to full guard but Tolle has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Willy Bonaparte.
I think Tolle has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Hugh Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Echart Tolle!