PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Paul (ranked 2609 p4p, 3675 weight class) and Ezio Bonzela Franco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Paul
vs
Bonzela Franco

200 cm
28
255
5 - 3 - 0

160 cm
28
255
7 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Urban Fighter

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Paul!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ezio Bonzela Franco!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bonzela Franco looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

It looks like Ezio Bonzela Franco has been cut.
Bonzela Franco keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bonzela Franco tries to counter with a clinch but Paul shakes him off and moves away.
Paul pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bonzela Franco tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Paul throws a shot from downtown. Bonzela Franco moves away and avoids it.

Bonzela Franco shoots in and gets a takedown into Paul's guard.
Bonzela Franco throws an elbow that misses. Paul uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bonzela Franco's guard. Nice move by Paul!

Paul trying to control the position from guard on top but Bonzela Franco is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Paul scoring with some ground and pound.
Paul wants to pass the guard but Bonzela Franco is keeping the position.
Paul won't allow Bonzela Franco to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonzela Franco keeping moving, preventing Paul from controlling successfully.
Paul controls from within his opponent's guard.
Paul working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bonzela Franco's head.
Paul wants to control from the top but Bonzela Franco keeps moving.
Paul sitting in guard here, content to control.
Bonzela Franco is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Paul pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bonzela Franco is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Bonzela Franco keeping moving, preventing Paul from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bonzela Franco avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Paul tries to free his leg and advance position but Bonzela Franco is retaining full guard.
Paul stops Bonzela Franco from standing up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bonzela Franco has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Paul finds it's way round the side to connect with Bonzela Franco's head.
Bonzela Franco uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Paul.
Nice sprawl there from Bonzela Franco as Paul shoots in.
Paul motions for Bonzela Franco to come forward. Paul throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Paul lands with a nice body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonzela Franco shoots in but no luck this time.
Paul drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bonzela Franco sprawls and moves away.
Paul misses with a body shot.
Paul misses with a hook.
Paul with a hook.
Bonzela Franco stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Paul.
Paul is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Paul dips to his left and cracks Bonzela Franco with an uppercut!
Bonzela Franco shoots and misses
and Paul counters with a stiff right hand.
Nice takedown defense from Paul. No joy for Bonzela Franco on that attempt.
John Paul has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ezio Bonzela Franco.
Paul throws a body shot but no joy.
Bonzela Franco looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
John Paul seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paul swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Paul scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Bonzela Franco is defended easily by Paul.
Bonzela Franco checks a leg kick nicely.
Paul looks to throw the jab but Bonzela Franco is out of range.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bonzela Franco moves out of range as Paul strikes.
Paul throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Bonzela Franco on the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bonzela Franco scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Paul dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ezio Bonzela Franco'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.

Bonzela Franco has his takedown stuffed
and Paul counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Paul paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Bonzela Franco stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Paul.
Bonzela Franco shoots in looking for a takedown but Paul manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bonzela Franco's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bonzela Franco with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Paul to score with a decent uppercut.
Paul scores with a crisp jab that stopped Bonzela Franco in his tracks.

That has opened up Ezio Bonzela Franco's cut even more.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bonzela Franco avoids the body shot from Paul.
Paul misses with a body punch

and Bonzela Franco counters with a nice double leg into side control. Paul won't be happy with that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Paul stops Bonzela Franco from passing to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paul is trying to improve his position.
Paul is holding Bonzela Franco down, trying to stall.
Bonzela Franco misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bonzela Franco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Paul keeps working.
Paul manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Paul moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bonzela Franco throws an elbow that misses. Paul uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bonzela Franco's guard. Nice move by Paul!

Bonzela Franco keeping full guard, as Paul tries to pass.
Bonzela Franco trying to control the position.
Paul controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Paul stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bonzela Franco swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Paul scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paul looking to pass the guard.
Paul controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Paul is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bonzela Franco can do to turn this around?
Paul throws a big right hand that misses.
Paul postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Paul with a nice head shot there.
Bonzela Franco working a defensive guard here.
Paul tries to free his leg and advance position but Bonzela Franco is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four 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.
Paul connects with a single shot there.
Paul misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bonzela Franco.
A left lands for Paul.
Paul connects with a single shot there.

The cut above Ezio Bonzela Franco's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Paul misses with a looping left.
Bonzela Franco takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bonzela Franco shoots in but Paul avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

John Paul dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ezio Bonzela Franco's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Paul stuffs the takedown.
Paul tried to counter with a leg kick but Bonzela Franco avoided it.
Bonzela Franco checks the leg kick.
And Bonzela Franco tries to counter it with a takedown but Paul pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Bonzela Franco closes this distance looking for a takedown but Paul circles away.
Paul connects with a body shot that sends Bonzela Franco's belly button to the back.
Nice body punch from Paul.
Paul lands the left hand.
Paul buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Paul finds it's way through Bonzela Franco's defenses.
Paul darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Ezio Bonzela Franco's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
The crowd cheers as Paul lands an impressive looking overhand right. Bonzela Franco doesn't seem phased though.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Ezio Bonzela Franco's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:11 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). John Paul!