PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ezio Bonzela Franco (ranked 5162 p4p, 5398 weight class) and Terry Bricard (ranked 518 p4p, 535 weight class). Terry Bricard is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bonzela Franco
vs
Bricard

160 cm
18
240
1 - 0 - 0

216 cm
18
278
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Finnish Elite Extreme Science

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ezio Bonzela Franco!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Terry Bricard!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Ren Mimura and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bonzela Franco fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bricard looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've been told by Bonzela Franco's head coaches at Outlier Martial Arts that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Bricard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bonzela Franco is fending him off so far but Bricard persists. Nope, Bonzela Franco circles away and we're back to standing.
Bonzela Franco misses with a takedown attempt

so Bricard counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Bricard is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bonzela Franco working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bricard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bricard prevents Bonzela Franco from getting back to his feet.
Bricard postures up in Bonzela Franco's guard and throws a big left but Bonzela Franco blocks it.
Bonzela Franco could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Bonzela Franco working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonzela Franco seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Bricard controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Bricard wants to control from the top but Bonzela Franco keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bricard looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bonzela Franco is fending him off so far but Bricard persists. Nope, Bonzela Franco circles away and we're back to standing.
Ezio Bonzela Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Terry Bricard.

Bonzela Franco tries to keep at a distance but Bricard has taken the fight into the clinch.
Bricard is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Bonzela Franco wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

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.

Bricard manages to break the clinch.
Bricard fails with the takedown.

Bricard moves into the clinch successfully.
Bricard stops a takedown attempt from Bonzela Franco.

Bricard decides to pull guard.

Bricard is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Bonzela Franco is aware though and is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonzela Franco wants to control from the top but Bricard keeps moving.

Bricard working for a triangle but Bonzela Franco defends it easily.

Bonzela Franco got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bricard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bonzela Franco has managed to get both his arms back between Bricard's legs - danger averted.
Bonzela Franco distracts Bricard with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bonzela Franco lands a couple of digs.

Bricard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bonzela Franco gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bonzela Franco pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bricard is keeping the position for now.

That's four 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.
Bonzela Franco postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Bonzela Franco trying to control the position from guard on top but Bricard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bonzela Franco stands and steps away. Bricard gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Bonzela Franco throws a head kick but Bricard moves out of range.
Bricard goes for a double leg but Bonzela Franco avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bonzela Franco continues to drive forward.

Bonzela Franco tries to sprawl but Bricard drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bricard landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bricard performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Bricard wants to take a breather but Bonzela Franco is having none of it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Terry Bricard dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bricard gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Bricard decides to pull guard.
Bonzela Franco tries to free his leg and advance position but Bricard is retaining full guard.

Bricard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bonzela Franco distracts Bricard with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Bricard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bonzela Franco can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Bricard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bonzela Franco is working Bricard over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bricard can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bonzela Franco controls the pace.
Bricard has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bricard working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bonzela Franco doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bonzela Franco manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bonzela Franco lands a couple of elbows.
Bonzela Franco working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bonzela Franco postures up and lands a big shot to Bricard's brow.
Bonzela Franco content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bricard looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Bricard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bonzela Franco showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bonzela Franco lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bricard keeping full guard, as Bonzela Franco tries to pass.
Bonzela Franco wants to control from the top but Bricard keeps moving.

Bricard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bonzela Franco defends well.
Bricard being controlled here, momentarily.
Bonzela Franco postures up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonzela Franco controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bonzela Franco shoots in looking for a takedown. Bricard tries to sprawl out of it but Bonzela Franco keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bricard manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bricard looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Bonzela Franco fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bricard shoots in for a takedown but Bonzela Franco shows good takedown defense.

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.

Bricard closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bricard tries to work over Bonzela Franco's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Bricard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bonzela Franco avoids the body shot from Bricard.
It looked like Bonzela Franco was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Bricard moves into the clinch.

Bricard's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bricard shoots in and drives through. Bonzela Franco sprawls well.
Bonzela Franco attempts a counter takedown but Bricard avoids it well and moves away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bonzela Franco dodges the punch combination from Bricard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Terry Bricard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Bonzela Franco changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bricard tries to avoid it but Bonzela Franco manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bricard to the ground. Bricard escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bricard pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bricard shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bonzela Franco as he avoids it easily.
Bricard swats away the attempt to clinch by Bonzela Franco.
Bricard tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bonzela Franco defends well and Bricard ends up having to push Bonzela Franco into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bricard lands with a right hand.

It looks like Ezio Bonzela Franco has been cut.
Ezio Bonzela Franco is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bricard is defended easily by Bonzela Franco.
Ezio Bonzela Franco has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Terry Bricard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bricard misses with a double jab.
Bricard misses with a double jab.
Bricard misses with a two punch combination.
Bonzela Franco is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bricard sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bricard rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bonzela Franco moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Bonzela Franco shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Bonzela Franco was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bricard tries to bench press Bonzela Franco off him but Bonzela Franco keeps the position.
Bonzela Franco scores with a couple of short elbows.
Bricard sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bonzela Franco is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bricard defends it well.
Bonzela Franco seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bricard does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bonzela Franco missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bricard tries to get to full guard but Bonzela Franco has control of the leg.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bricard manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bricard tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bonzela Franco wants to control from the top but Bricard keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonzela Franco tries to free his leg and advance position but Bricard is retaining full guard.
Bricard is trying to keep Bonzela Franco in close.

Bonzela Franco avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bonzela Franco cracks Bricard with a solid left hand.

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

Bricard is looking for a triangle here but Bonzela Franco uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Bricard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four 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.
Bricard tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bonzela Franco wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Bonzela Franco wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bricard, who protects the arm well.
Bonzela Franco working away.
Terry Bricard is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Bonzela Franco working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bonzela Franco wants to control but Bricard is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ezio Bonzela Franco showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bricard has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Terry Bricard!
Terry Bricard very nearly forgot to thank Finnish Elite Extreme Science amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.