PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ralph Bonnano (ranked 3838 p4p, 173 weight class) and Gabriel Ward (ranked 8644 p4p, 305 weight class). Gabriel Ward is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bonnano
vs
Ward

170 cm
25
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
27
148 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ralph Bonnano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gabriel Ward!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Felipe Paraventi and Paulo Santos.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ward swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bonnano.
Bonnano gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ward.

Ward gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bonnano to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ward working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bonnano doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bonnano manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bonnano has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bonnano's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Ward escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bonnano gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bonnano lands a couple of elbows.
Bonnano is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Bonnano avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Ward had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bonnano defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonnano is stalling in the full guard.
Bonnano has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Ward is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bonnano content to stall in guard here.

Ward is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bonnano is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ward looking to control.

Ward working for a triangle but Bonnano defends it easily.

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

Ward looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bonnano sitting in guard here, content to control.

Bonnano stands up and waves to Ward to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward dives in and grabs Bonnano's left leg, looking for a takedown. Bonnano pushes down on Ward's head and hops out.
Ward throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ward misses with a wild body shot.
Ward closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Danga de danga de dang - Ward scores with a four punch combination!
Bonnano pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ward throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bonnano sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bonnano appears to be looking for a big counter.

Bonnano drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bonnano works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bonnano in particular looking to stall.

Ward looking for submissions off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bonnano slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward is looking to control Bonnano's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ward avoid being mounted?
Bonnano prevents Ward from improving his position.
Bonnano is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Ward sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gabriel Ward will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bonnano misses with the combination.
Bonnano's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Ward connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Bonnano scrambles back to his feet.

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

Ward is looking for a triangle but Bonnano pushes his legs off easily.
Bonnano postures up and lands a big shot to Ward's brow.

Ward is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bonnano passes Ward's left leg - he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ward looking for submissions off his back.
Ward trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonnano controlling the action here.
Bonnano seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ward for as long as he can get away with.
Ward wants to improve his position but Bonnano is controlling well.

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.

Ward looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bonnano looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ward has hold of Bonnano's hands but Bonnano slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Ward actively working from the bottom here.
Bonnano takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Bonnano is trying to work for a kimura but Ward is defending well.

Bonnano is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ward sees it coming and defends easily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bonnano lands a nice short elbow.
Bonnano knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ward on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonnano seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Ward works his way to full guard. Good work.

Ward throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bonnano sitting in guard here, content to control.

Bonnano stands up from Ward's guard - Bonnano perhaps looking for a knockout.
Bonnano swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Ward swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bonnano.

Bonnano gets a double leg takedown into Ward's guard.

Bonnano got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ward has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bonnano has managed to get both his arms back between Ward's legs - danger averted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bonnano avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ward is breathing heavily.
Bonnano engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ward keeping full guard, as Bonnano tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ralph Bonnano dominated that second round.
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!

Ward shoots in for a takedown but Bonnano shows good takedown defense.

Bonnano drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Bonnano forces his way into half guard.
Bonnano not doing much here.

Ward actively working from the bottom here.
Bonnano landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bonnano is looking to advance position but Ward won't allow it.
Bonnano stalling.
Bonnano takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bonnano scores with a couple of nice shots.
Bonnano is controlling the pace.
Ward is trying to control but can't.

Ward looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ward tries to roll over but Bonnano keeps him under control.
Bonnano stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Ward looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bonnano is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ward can do to turn this around?
Ward is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Bonnano scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ralph Bonnano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ward tries to roll over but Bonnano keeps him under control.
Ward trying to control but Bonnano postures up.
Ward takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bonnano sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Ward trying to control but Bonnano postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Ward is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bonnano pulls his head out easily.

Bonnano stands up out of the half guard.
Ward throws a jab but it's blocked by Bonnano.
Bonnano is looking for a counter combo.
Ward has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Bonnano moves into the clinch successfully.

Bonnano lands a takedown into guard.

Bonnano avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Ward throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ward can't keep his opponent in guard - Bonnano advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Still in half guard, Bonnano seems content to control.
Nice strikes from Bonnano there.
Well, if Bonnano is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Ward taking some punishment here, with Bonnano in his half guard.
Ward won't allow Bonnano to pass to mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Ward looking for submissions off his back.
Ward tries to roll over but Bonnano keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ralph Bonnano showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bonnano 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ralph Bonnano!