PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gilmar Fonseca (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ejay Shazad (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ejay Shazad will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Fonseca
vs
Shazad

174 cm
25
140 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

162 cm
19
135 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

Fight Club Clothing™

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Gilmar Fonseca!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Ejay Shazad!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Andrew Berry and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shazad moves in looking to clinch but Fonseca pushes him off.

Shazad moves into range and clinches up with Fonseca.
Shazad throws a punch but it's blocked by Fonseca.
Shazad lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Shazad stalling the fight.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Shazad creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Shazad taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Fonseca changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Shazad fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Fonseca looks for a takedown but Shazad sprawls well.
Fonseca shoots in looking for a takedown but Shazad manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fonseca's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilmar Fonseca. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Shazad misses with a straight left.
Fonseca looks for a takedown but Shazad sprawls well.
Shazad misses with a body shot.
Fonseca swats away the attempt to clinch by Shazad.
Shazad misses with a straight left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fonseca avoids the body shot from Shazad.
Shazad bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Fonseca's head.
Shazad throws a front kick aimed at Fonseca's knee but Fonseca avoids it well.
Fonseca blocks the body kick.
Shazad fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fonseca shoots in looking for a takedown. Shazad tries to sprawl out of it but Fonseca keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Shazad manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Shazad tries to clinch up but Fonseca circles away and keeps his distance.

Fonseca shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Fonseca was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Fonseca controlling the pace for now.
Shazad really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Fonseca. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Fonseca is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Shazad has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Shazad!

Fonseca throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Shazad wanted to stand there but Fonseca had control of the position.
Shazad is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shazad postures up.
Shazad stopping the sweep attempt from Fonseca.

Fonseca looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Shazad won't allow Fonseca to sweep him here.
Shazad trying to stand up but can't free himself from Fonseca's guard.
Fonseca manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shazad is squirming around, avoiding Fonseca's attempts to control the action.
Shazad wants to get back to his feet.
Fonseca controlling the pace for now.

Fonseca has hold of Shazad's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Shazad manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gilmar Fonseca dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Fonseca takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Shazad wants to clinch.
Shazad throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Fonseca shoots in looking for a takedown but Shazad manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Fonseca's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Fonseca keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Fonseca moves away from the strike by Shazad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fonseca takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Shazad drives through and clinches with Fonseca against the cage.
Shazad stops a takedown attempt from Fonseca.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Shazad.
A bit of stalling here from Shazad.
Shazad prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilmar Fonseca. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fonseca is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Shazad gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Shazad prevents a takedown attempt there.
Shazad stalling.
Shazad lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Shazad lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Fonseca goes for a takedown in the clinch but Shazad prevents it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Shazad trying to control the position but instead, Fonseca has worked for underhooks and has pushed Shazad into the cage.

Shazad's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Fonseca shoots for a takedown but Shazad saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fonseca gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Fonseca misses with a takedown
and Shazad counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Shazad tries to clinch there but Fonseca circles away.
Shazad feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Fonsecas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Shazad thows a body shot but no joy.
Shazad throws a head kick but Fonseca moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shazad throws a right hand that misses

and Fonseca counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Fonseca.
Fonseca prevents Shazad from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fonseca seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Shazad keeping full guard, as Fonseca tries to pass.
Fonseca content to stall in guard here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Fonseca lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fonseca sitting in guard here, content to control.
Fonseca trying to control but Shazad is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gilmar Fonseca has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Shazad throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Shazad attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Shazad scores with a three punch combo!
Shazad is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Shazad keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Shazad rushes Fonseca and presses him up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shazad is pressed up against the cage. Fonseca has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shazad down to the mat. Shazad avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ejay Shazad is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Fonseca decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Shazad is trying to stand back up but Fonseca is controlling him

Shazad kicks Fonseca off and gets back to his feet.
Shazad darts in trying to clinch
and Fonseca connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Shazad lands an overhand right.
Fonseca moves out of range of the body kick from Shazad.
Shazad tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fonseca swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Shazad has managed to clinch.

Fonseca has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Shazad regains guard immediately.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Gilmar Fonseca will probably get the nod.
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!

Shazad stuffs the takedown.
Shazad connects with a looping right hand.
Shazad is looking to clinch but Fonseca is avoiding it.
Shazad connects with a single shot there.
Shazad tries to clinch but Fonseca is having none of it.
Shazad fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shazad tries to clinch but Fonseca moves out of range.
Shazad misses with a right hand

and Fonseca decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Shazad's guard.

Fonseca drops back looking for a leg! Shazad is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Shazad manages to kick Fonseca off! Fonseca jumps back into Shazad's guard.

Shazad is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shazad's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Shazad lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Fonseca backwards.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Shazad prevents a takedown attempt there.
Fonseca has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Shazad avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gilmar Fonseca. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Shazad is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A short right from Shazad on the inside.
Shazad has Fonseca pushed against the cage.
Fonseca is trying to drag Shazad to the mat but Shazad just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Shazad lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Fonseca tries to pull guard but Shazad won't allow it.
Fonseca wants a takedown.
Shazad gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Fonseca.
Fonseca wants a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Shazad leaning his opponent against the cage.
Fonseca's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Shazad working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Shazad stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Shazad is looking to control Fonseca's arms but Fonseca gets an underhook and turns him. Now Shazad has his back to the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Shazad.
A left hand lands to the body for Shazad.
Shazad lands a body shot.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Shazad.
Shazad lands with a short shot to the head.
Shazad gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Fonseca.
Shazad lands a nice shot to the body.
Shazad lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Fonseca backwards.
Shazad digs a right hand underneath Fonseca's ribcage. Fonseca let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Shazad throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fonsecas head.
Shazad gets through Fonseca's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Shazad lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Fonseca backwards.
Shazad digs a right hand underneath Fonseca's ribcage. Fonseca let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Shazad is struggling to control the position.
Shazad lands a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shazad lands a nice shot to the body.
Shazad gets through Fonseca's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Fonseca has Shazad pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Shazad manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Shazad cracks Fonseca with a nice body shot.
Shazad is looking to control Fonseca's arms but Fonseca gets an underhook and turns him. Now Shazad has his back to the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Shazad.
Shazad lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Fonseca has Shazad pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Shazad manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Shazad pushes Fonseca back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fonseca takes a shot to the head.
Shazad pressing his opponent against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Shazad.
Good body shot from Shazad.
A left hand lands to the body for Shazad.
Shazad lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Shazad trying to stall but Fonseca improves his position.

Shazad pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shazad loads up on a big right hand but Fonseca slips the punch.
Shazad just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shazad connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Shazad scores with a kick to the midsection.
Shazad lands with a good body shot.
Shazad fails in his attempt to clinch.
Fonseca shoots in for a takedown but Shazad shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Shazad looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Fonseca keeps the fight on the outside.
Ejay Shazad has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Shazad pushes Fonseca up against the cage in a clinch.
Shazad working aggressively here.
Gilmar Fonseca is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fonseca blocks an uppercut.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fonseca has Shazad pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Shazad manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Shazad looking to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ejay Shazad comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fonseca has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 29:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ejay Shazad!