PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Santiago Ponziabo (ranked 1306 p4p, 1971 weight class) and Barry Bonon (ranked 180 p4p, 257 weight class). Santiago Ponziabo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ponziabo
vs
Bonon

170 cm
26
164
4 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
168
3 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

Beachside Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Santiago Ponziabo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Barry Bonon!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Daniel Franklin and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bonon instigates a clinch.
Bonon tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bonon told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Bonon throws an elbow that misses.
Bonon throws an elbow that misses.
Bonon tries to work over Ponziabo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ponziabo goes for a takedown attempt but Bonon pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Bonon moves into the clinch.
Ponziabo managing to block the knees to the body from Bonon.
Ponziabo prevents a body shot from Bonon.
Ponziabo wants to take the fight to the mat but Bonon manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Bonon tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ponziabo avoids it.
Bonon misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bonon throws a head punch that misses.
Bonon tries to land a knee to the head but Ponziabo blocks with his arms.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ponziabo.
Bonon misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bonon throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Bonon lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Bonon working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ponziabo manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Ponziabo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Ponziabo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bonon defends well.
Bonon works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ponziabo's coaches at Muay Thai and BJJ | Clinchwork have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

Ponziabo looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ponziabo is doing well to control the position and prevent Bonon from advancing to side control.
Ponziabo trying to hold on to Bonon's head to control him but Bonon postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponziabo wants to improve his position but Bonon is controlling well.

Ponziabo looking for submissions off his back.
Bonon tries to pass to full mount but Ponziabo defends it.
Ponziabo is looking for a sweep. Bonon is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Ponziabo looking for submissions off his back.
Ponziabo is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ponziabo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Bonon slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Bonon wants to take a breather but Ponziabo manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Bonon.

Ponziabo isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Bonon stacks Ponziabo on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Bonon!
Ponziabo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bonon wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Bonon tries to advance to mount but Ponziabo denies him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bonon has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Ponziabo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bonon sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santiago Ponziabo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bonon looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ponziabo drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bonon sprawls and moves away.

Ponziabo tries to keep at a distance but Bonon has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ponziabo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Ponziabo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bonon smiles and moves away.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bonon enables Ponziabo to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bonon manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ponziabo trying to control the position from guard on top but Bonon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Bonon dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Bonon wants to clinch up but Ponziabo keeps it at a distance.

Bonon rushes Ponziabo and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bonon misses with a knee strike.
Ponziabo blocks a body shot from Bonon.
Bonon with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ponziabo has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Bonon after a bit of a struggle.
Bonon is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ponziabo is defending well for now.
Bonon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ponziabo has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bonon is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ponziabo is trying to pull guard but Bonon has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Santiago Ponziabo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bonon misses with an elbow strike.
Bonon scores with a shot to the side of Ponziabo's head.
Ponziabo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bonon is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ponziabo is defending well for now.
Bonon prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bonon keeps control of Ponziabo as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Ponziabo is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bonon to keep the fight standing.
Bonon with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponziabo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bonon tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ponziabo avoids it.
Ponziabo tries to pull guard but Bonon forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Ponziabo is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bonon to keep the fight standing.
Ponziabo blocking some punches.
Bonon tries to work over Ponziabo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ponziabo jumps guard but Bonon turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bonon tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Ponziabo avoids it.
Ponziabo blocking some punches.
Bonon gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Santiago Ponziabo has been cut.

Ponziabo has clasped his hands together around Bonon's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Ponziabo is looking to take a break and control but Bonon is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Ponziabo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bonon is looking for a sweep.

Ponziabo thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Ponziabo works to advance to full mount. Bonon defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Bonon is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bonon is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bonon tries to hold on but Ponziabo postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ponziabo looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Bonon tries to control the position but Ponziabo now has his back.

Ponziabo patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Santiago Ponziabo overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Ponziabo is looking for a rear naked choke here but Bonon reverses the position brilliantly into Ponziabo's guard!
Bonon wants to control from the top but Ponziabo keeps moving.

Ponziabo working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bonon doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bonon manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bonon trying to control but Ponziabo is working from the bottom.
Bonon is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Ponziabo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bonon defends well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ponziabo looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Barry Bonon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Santiago Ponziabo's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bonon tries to clinch up.
Bonon fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bonon tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ponziabo swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ponziabo feinted with a counter takedown.
Bonon is looking to clinch but Ponziabo is avoiding it.

Bonon gets a clinch.
Bonon lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Ponziabo has clasped his hands together around Bonon's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

Ponziabo is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bonon is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Bonon wants to control but Ponziabo postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ponziabo working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Ponziabo tries for a kimura but Bonon is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonon is trying to control Ponziabo's posture but Ponziabo avoids it.

Ponziabo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bonon knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Ponziabo swings around for an armbar but Bonon sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ponziabo's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bonon looking to pass the guard.
Bonon passes Ponziabo's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Ponziabo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ponziabo is staying active underneath Bonon, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Ponziabo actively working from the bottom here.

Ponziabo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonon seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ponziabo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ponziabo wants to control but Bonon passes into side.
Ponziabo tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Bonon presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Bonon controlling the position easily from mount.
Bonon wants to control the pace but Ponziabo is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ponziabo tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ponziabo reaches up and holds on to Bonon to control the position.
Ponziabo regains half guard.
Bonon wants to stand but Ponziabo has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ponziabo tries to roll over but Bonon keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Barry Bonon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bonon winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dirk Anderson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Barry Bonon!
In defeat, Santiago Ponziabo stepped up to the mic, saying 'Fuck off, I got work to do.'.