PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sau Minneo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fantinaz Del Norte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Minneo comes to the cage accompanied by PowerTrip by Monster Magnet. Del Norte is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by La Coka Nostra - Malverde Market. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Minneo
vs
Del Norte

167 cm
28
141 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

165 cm
28
130 lbs
8 - 3 - 1

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

[IMMA] DTK Designs (Laundry)

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sau Minneo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Fantinaz Del Norte!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Timothy Bukovac and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Del Norte stuffs the takedown.
Del Norte closes the distance and clinches up with Minneo, looking for a takedown. Del Norte pushes Minneo against the cage but Minneo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Del Norte swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Minneo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Del Norte pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Del Norte throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Minneo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Del Norte!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Del Norte wants to get back to his feet but Minneo drags him back down.

Minneo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Del Norte is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Del Norte is looking for a sweep.

Minneo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Del Norte is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Minneo stands up and beckons Del Norte to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Del Norte, right into the meat.

Del Norte is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Minneo's half guard.
Del Norte thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Minneo's head.
Del Norte is looking to take a break and control but Minneo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Del Norte seems to be working for a kimura but Minneo defends the submission attempt.
Del Norte missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Minneo is trying to get back to full guard.
Minneo is pressing down on Del Norte's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Del Norte is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Minneo is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Minneo has escaped and now he's on top!
Del Norte keeping moving, preventing Minneo from controlling successfully.
Minneo prevents Del Norte from getting back to his feet.

Del Norte has his foot on Minneo's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Minneo works his way back into a safe position though.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Minneo is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Del Norte is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Minneo is controlling him.
Minneo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Del Norte is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Minneo is controlling him.

Minneo drops back looking for a leg! Del Norte is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Del Norte manages to kick Minneo off! Minneo jumps back into Del Norte's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Del Norte has a closed guard, preventing Minneo from standing up.
Minneo won't allow Del Norte to sweep him here.
Del Norte is looking to stand up but Minneo isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Minneo is looking to stand up but Del Norte won't let him.
Del Norte looking to control.
Minneo wants to control from the top but Del Norte keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A head kick misses from Minneo.
Del Norte takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Del Norte slaps away a takedown attempt from Minneo, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Del Norte misses with a looping left.
Del Norte throws a head kick that misses.
A slapping body kick lands there for Minneo.
Del Norte throws a jab when Minneo was well out of range.
Del Norte is looking to clinch but Minneo is avoiding it.
Del Norte tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Minneo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Minneo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Minneo blocks a head kick by Del Norte.
Minneo tries a head kick but it misses.
Minneo uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Del Norte.

Del Norte gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Minneo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Minneo lands with a thumping leg kick.
Del Norte shoots in for a takedown but Minneo shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Minneo misses with a wild combination.
Minneo misses with a head kick.
Minneo takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Del Norte tries to clinch but Minneo is having none of it.
Del Norte throws out a leg kick but Minneo moves out of range and Del Norte only half commits.
Del Norte looks for a takedown but Minneo sprawls well.
Del Norte fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sau Minneo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fantinaz Del Norte.
Minneo looks to land a left hand but Del Norte moved out of range nicely.
Minneo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Fantinaz Del Norte seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Minneo bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A jab from Del Norte misses.
Del Norte avoids the head kick by Minneo.
Minneo moves out of range as Del Norte strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Norte shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Minneo but Minneo pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Minneo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Minneo.
Del Norte scores with a crisp jab that stopped Minneo in his tracks.
Minneo throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Minneo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Minneo throws a head kick that misses.
Del Norte avoids the head kick by Minneo.
Minneo tries a head kick but it misses.
Del Norte is trying hard to land a takedown here. Minneo sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Del Norte tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Minneo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Fantinaz Del Norte is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Del Norte misses with a jab, cross combination.
Del Norte tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Minneo cracks Del Norte with a right hand to the side of the head.
Sau Minneo is winning the standup battle so far.
Minneo pivots, looking for a leg kick but Del Norte is out of range and Minneo settles back down.
Del Norte throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Del Norte looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Del Norte blocks the body kick.

Del Norte gets the takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Del Norte lands a nice forearm strike.
Del Norte cracks Minneo with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Del Norte working away.
Minneo sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Del Norte is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Del Norte is breathing heavily.
Del Norte drops an elbow to the side of Minneo's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Del Norte working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Minneo won't allow Del Norte to pass to mount.

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

Minneo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

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

Del Norte is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Del Norte thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Minneo's head.

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

Minneo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Del Norte pulls his head out easily.
Del Norte is keen to just control but Minneo is a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Del Norte missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Minneo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Del Norte pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fantinaz Del Norte showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. And we move into the final round!

Del Norte works over Minneo's head and body with a nice combination.
Minneo plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Minneo tries a head kick but it misses.

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

Minneo is looking for a kimura here.
Minneo wants to stand up but Del Norte is controlling the position.
Del Norte is looking to escape.
Minneo seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Del Norte is trying to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Del Norte is looking to get back to is feet but Minneo passes into side control.

Minneo stands up and beckons Del Norte to his feet.
Del Norte blocks a head kick by Minneo.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Del Norte shoots for a double leg takedown but Minneo sprawls well. He's pushed Del Norte's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Del Norte gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Minneo counters with a good, hard body kick but Del Norte shrugs it off.
Minneo misses with a head kick.
Minneo stalks Del Norte and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Del Norte's face. Del Norte staggers backwards, shaken.
Minneo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Del Norte.
Del Norte avoids the head kick by Minneo.
Del Norte swinging wildly here.
Minneo throws an ugly left hook that misses
letting Del Norte counter with a right hand.
Nice cross by Del Norte.
Del Norte throws a right and a left that Minneo avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minneo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Del Norte slips a jab from Minneo.
Del Norte works over Minneo's head and body with a nice combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Minneo swats away the attempt to clinch by Del Norte.
Del Norte lands with a kick to the temple. Minneo shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Minneo throws a head kick that misses.
Del Norte shoots in for a takedown but Minneo shows good takedown defense.
Sau Minneo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fantinaz Del Norte.
Del Norte fails with an attempt to clinch.
Del Norte tries to clinch but Minneo is having none of it.
Minneo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Minneo throws a head kick but Del Norte moves out of range.
Minneo goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Minneo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Del Norte is defended easily by Minneo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minneo throws a sloppy head kick and Del Norte moves out of range easily.
A left lands for Del Norte.
Del Norte throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Del Norte throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Minneo was covering up waiting for the punch and Del Norte finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Del Norte passes into half guard.
Minneo slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Del Norte is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Minneo working for a triangle but Del Norte defends it easily.
Minneo wants to sweep but no luck.
Del Norte stands up over Minneo, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Minneo keeping moving, preventing Del Norte from controlling successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Del Norte postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Del Norte is looking to work some ground and pound but Minneo has wrist control.
Minneo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Del Norte forces his way into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Fantinaz Del Norte.
Well Del Norte has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Fantinaz Del Norte!
A less than humble Fantinaz Del Norte misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.