PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stephan Bonnar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carling Foster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carling Foster has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Bonnar
vs
Foster

190 cm
27
205 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

185 cm
20
205 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Stephan Bonnar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Carling Foster!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Andrew Berry and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Foster blocks the body kick.

Foster closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bonnar to the mat! Bonnar manages to get full guard.
Foster wants to control from the top but Bonnar keeps moving.

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

Foster drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Foster jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Bonnar has his foot on Foster's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Foster works his way back into a safe position though.
Foster looking to sit in guard and control but Bonnar gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Foster wants to sweep here but Bonnar controlling him for the moment.
Foster working a defensive guard here.
Bonnar looking to sit in guard and control but Foster gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonnar is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Foster pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bonnar is keeping the position for now.
Foster slips nicely into half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Foster is trying to control the action in half guard but Bonnar is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Foster tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Foster wants to pass the guard but Bonnar is defending well.

Bonnar is defending against the submission attempts here by Foster.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bonnar moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Foster wants to control from the top but Bonnar keeps moving.
Bonnar tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Foster stands up from Bonnar's guard - Foster perhaps looking for a knockout.
Bonnar is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bonnar pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Foster is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bonnar's half guard.

Foster is looking for a kimura but Bonnar is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Foster to get the leverage.
Bonnar controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Bonnar is breathing heavily.
Bonnar tries to get to full guard but Foster has control of the leg.
Foster trying to control from Bonnar's half guard. Bonnar has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Foster passes Bonnar's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Foster is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Foster passes into side control, despite Bonnar's attempt to control the position.

Foster goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Bonnar rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Foster's guard! Nice work there by Bonnar!
Bonnar trying to control but Foster is working from the bottom.

Foster working for a triangle but Bonnar defends it easily.
Foster manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bonnar manages to get himself to full guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Foster lands a couple of digs.
Foster thows a big elbow that misses.

Foster drops back looking for a leg! Bonnar is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bonnar manages to kick Foster off! Foster jumps back into Bonnar's guard.
Foster wants to control from the top but Bonnar keeps moving.
Foster missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bonnar keeping full guard, as Foster tries to pass.

Foster drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Bonnar manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Foster has Bonnar in his guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Foster utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bonnar trying to control but Foster is working from the bottom.
Foster controlling the position.

Foster is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bonnar defends well.
Foster wants to sweep here but Bonnar controlling him for the moment.
Foster is adopting a defensive guard.
Foster is trying to keep Bonnar in close.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Foster looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Foster is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bonnar with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bonnar loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Foster wants to slow Bonnar down by chopping away at his legs.

Foster shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Foster looking for a guillotine from mount but Bonnar is having none of it.
Bonnar is desperately trying to improve his position but Foster has a good base and remains in mount.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Foster manages to capitalize on a mistake by Bonnar to take his back!
Foster struggling to keep hold of the position.

Foster is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Bonnar is defending well though. Foster let's go of the attempt for now.

Foster is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Bonnar turns into Foster and is now in his guard.
Bonnar throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Foster wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Bonnar postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Bonnar got a little sloppy there for a moment and Foster has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bonnar has managed to get both his arms back between Foster's legs - danger averted.
Foster avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bonnar throws a strike but Foster rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bonnar is trying to keep Foster in close.
Foster passes into half guard.
Foster working the head and body with strikes.
Bonnar is trying is best to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carling Foster dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Foster throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Foster moves into the clinch.
Bonnar can't get the takedown.
A bit of stalling here from Foster.
Foster prevents the takedown attempt.

Foster is working on a single leg takedown against the ropes. Bonnar can't fight it off and eventually Foster manages to take the fight to the floor. Bonnar looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Foster is pushing down on Bonnar's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bonnar is fighting to maintain full guard but Foster has managed to sneak the leg through.
Foster winds up and cracks Bonnar with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Foster is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bonnar is just riding it out for now. Foster eventually gives up the hold.
Bonnar is looking for a sweep. Foster is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bonnar is working hard here to advance position.
Foster is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Foster looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Carling Foster has got the better of the ground game so far.
Foster trying to control the action but Bonnar is working from the bottom.

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.

Foster is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bonnar is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Foster scores with a couple of nice shots.
Bonnar tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Foster trying to control from half guard but Bonnar is working away.

Foster is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Bonnar sees it coming and defends easily.
Bonnar is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Foster is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bonnar doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Foster.

Bonnar is defending against the submission attempts here by Foster.
Foster not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Foster is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Foster is looking to stall here but Bonnar recovers full guard.

Bonnar is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Foster defends well.
Foster trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Foster working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Foster stands and throws Bonnar's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Foster thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Foster stands up.
Foster throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Foster drives through with a takedown into guard.
Foster won't allow Bonnar to sweep him here.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Bonnar keeping moving, preventing Foster from controlling successfully.
Foster is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Foster is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Foster trying to control the position from guard on top but Bonnar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bonnar looking for a guillotine here but Foster defends easily.
Foster is in close to Bonnar's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Bonnar keeping moving, preventing Foster from controlling successfully.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bonnar darts in trying to clinch

and Foster counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Bonnar's guard now.
Carling Foster is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Foster trying to control the position from guard on top but Bonnar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Bonnar is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The fighters are battling for position here. Foster manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Foster lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bonnar!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Bonnar is working to get back to half guard.

Foster is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bonnar has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Foster can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bonnar is looking to escape.
Bonnar really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Foster trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Bonnar in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Bonnar gives up his back whilst trying to strike.
You can see the frustration on Bonnar's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Foster lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.

Foster looking to break Bonnar's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Bonnar remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Foster will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Stephan Bonnar has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
I would not like to be Bonnar right now.
Bonnar is really stuck here.

Foster is looking for the choke from the back position but Bonnar is controlling his hands well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carling Foster comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Foster has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight for Carling Foster!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for Carling Foster!
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight for Carling Foster!

Carling Foster wins by unanimous decision!