PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Brett Shoenfeld (ranked 1418 p4p, 1672 weight class) and Tico Tico (ranked 96 p4p, 107 weight class). Tico has chosen Paco De Lucia - Tico Tico as his entrance music. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Shoenfeld
vs
Tico

166 cm
34
142
23 - 17 - 0

163 cm
28
139
17 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bondi MMA 🏝️

Northern Zombie

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 23 - 17 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brett Shoenfeld!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tico Tico!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Colin Fotheringham and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tico tries to bum rush Shoenfeld with a series of wild strikes but Shoenfeld uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shoenfeld attempts a counter takedown but Tico avoids it well and moves away.
Shoenfeld uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tico.
Shoenfeld uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tico.
Tico lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Tico throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Tico throws a leg kick that is checked

and Shoenfeld counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Shoenfeld.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shoenfeld won't allow Tico to sweep him here.
Shoenfeld trying to move into half guard but instead Tico has managed to sweep!

Shoenfeld looking for a sweep. Not yet Shoenfeld, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tico not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Shoenfeld is looking to sweep but instead, Tico has passed into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Tico in particular looking to stall.
Shoenfeld's coaches at New York Public Gym 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.
Shoenfeld tries to get to full guard but Tico has control of the leg.
Tico is thwarting Shoenfeld's attempts to control the position.
Tico performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Shoenfeld regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Shoenfeld has control of Tico's left arm, preventing Tico from doing any damage.

Tico got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shoenfeld has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Tico has managed to get both his arms back between Shoenfeld's legs - danger averted.
Shoenfeld is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Tico wants to control from the top but Shoenfeld keeps moving.
Shoenfeld manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tico manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tico pulls Shoenfeld in close to prevent any damage.
Shoenfeld has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Shoenfeld postures up.
Shoenfeld stands and throws Tico's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Tico is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tico prevents Shoenfeld from improving position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tico is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Tico wants to improve his position but Shoenfeld is controlling well.
Tico trying to control from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Tico is positioning himself well to prevent Shoenfeld advancing to mount.

Shoenfeld is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Tico still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Tico has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tico Tico dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Tico scores with a jab to the body.
Tico just misses with a punch to the body.
Shoenfeld ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tico scores with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Tico finds it's way through Shoenfeld's defenses.
A swing and a miss from Tico.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tico chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A nice leg kick from Tico, right into the meat of the thigh.
Tico has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Shoenfeld moves out of range as Tico strikes.
Shoenfeld drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Tico's jab looks to have found its range, popping Shoenfeld under the eye.
Tico throws a big shot that misses.
Shoenfeld slips a jab from Tico.
Shoenfeld appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Tico misses the shot to the body.
Shoenfeld feinted with a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lazy body kick from Tico

and Shoenfeld counters with a takedown into side control.

Shoenfeld working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Shoenfeld working away.
Tico stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Shoenfeld tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Shoenfeld has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
You can see the frustration on Tico's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tico is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Shoenfeld off and has taken his back!
Shoenfeld looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Shoenfeld rolls, trying to escape but Tico keeps control of the position.
Shoenfeld trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tico is hanging on to Shoenfeld's back as he tries to escape.
Tico is trying to stick to Shoenfeld's back but Shoenfeld is turning into Tico. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Tico's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Shoenfeld.
Tico is pulling down on Shoenfeld's head. It's preventing any offense from Shoenfeld, at least for the moment.
Shoenfeld looking to pass the guard.
Tico is pulling down on Shoenfeld's head. It's preventing any offense from Shoenfeld, at least for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tico Tico showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! 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.

Tico misses with a combination

and Shoenfeld counters with a single leg into guard. Tico didn't expect that.
Tico keeping moving, preventing Shoenfeld from controlling successfully.
Tico has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shoenfeld stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tico swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tico bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shoenfeld's guard.

Shoenfeld wants to sweep but no luck.
Tico controls from within his opponent's guard.
Shoenfeld looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tico is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Tico is stalling in the full guard.
Shoenfeld looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Shoenfeld trying to keep a closed guard but Tico is proving a slippery customer.
Shoenfeld wants to improve his position but instead Tico has moved into half guard.

Shoenfeld actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tico passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Shoenfeld!
Tico trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Shoenfeld is trying to escape the mount.
Shoenfeld bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tico tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tico pulls Shoenfeld in close to prevent any damage.
Shoenfeld wants to control from the top but Tico keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shoenfeld wants to pass the guard but Tico is keeping the position.
Brett Shoenfeld has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tico Tico is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Shoenfeld throwing strikes from guard but Tico blocks nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brett Shoenfeld showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tico 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tico Tico!
Tico Tico decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.