PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tendaji Afolayan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoan Gonzalez (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.

Afolayan
vs
Gonzalez

200 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
21
140 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tendaji Afolayan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Yoan Gonzalez!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Matheus Silva and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Afolayan throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Afolayan moves in looking to clinch but Gonzalez pushes him off.
Afolayan doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gonzalez counters with a nice leg kick.
Afolayan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Afolayan fails to land the takedown.
Gonzalez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Afolayan scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Afolayan shoots in but Gonzalez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tendaji Afolayan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gonzalez checks the leg kick nicely there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Gonzalez.
Gonzalez happy to just control the position for now.
Afolayan is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Gonzalez has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Gonzalez working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Afolayan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Afolayan is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Gonzalez is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Gonzalez sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Afolayan can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Afolayan sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Afolayan trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Afolayan wants to improve his position but Gonzalez is controlling well.
Gonzalez takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Gonzalez moves into full mount! Afolayan won't be happy about that!
Gonzalez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Afolayan regains half guard.
Afolayan tries to get to full guard but Gonzalez has control of the leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Afolayan is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tendaji Afolayan will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Afolayan shoots in for a takedown but Gonzalez shows good takedown defense.
Afolayan misses with a takedown attempt

and Gonzalez counters with a shoot takedown. Afolayan fights it but they end up in guard.
Gonzalez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Afolayan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gonzalez is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Afolayan trying to control the position.
Afolayan is looking to stand up but Gonzalez isn't so interested in that idea.
Afolayan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Afolayan wants to sweep but no luck.
Afolayan throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Gonzalez controls from within his opponent's guard.

Tendaji Afolayan has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Gonzalez looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gonzalez tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Afolayan swivels and escapes.
Gonzalez is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Afolayan tries to close the distance and clinch but Gonzalez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gonzalez ducks right into an uppercut from Afolayan.
Afolayan shoots for a double leg takedown but Gonzalez sprawls well. He's pushed Afolayan's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tendaji Afolayan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gonzalez keeps the fight on the outside.
Afolayan looks to land a combination. Gonzalez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Afolayan with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gonzalez holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Gonzalez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Afolayan has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gonzalez after a bit of a struggle.
Afolayan is pressed up against the cage. Gonzalez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Afolayan down to the mat. Afolayan avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Afolayan's corner calls for a 1-2. Afolayan obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Afolayan lands with a good body shot.
Afolayan throws a sloppy head kick and Gonzalez moves out of range easily.
Afolayan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gonzalez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Afolayan stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Tendaji Afolayan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Afolayan forces Gonzalez back against the cage and clinches.
Afolayan tries to score a body lock takedown but Gonzalez shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Gonzalez misses with a hook from the clinch.
Afolayan wants to break free but Gonzalez has control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gonzalez wants a takedown but no success here.
Afolayan trying to land knees to the body.
Gonzalez taking a breather.
Afolayan misses with a body punch.
Afolayan lands an uppercut.
Afolayan can't get the takedown.
Afolayan trying to land knees to the body.
Gonzalez prevents a takedown attempt there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gonzalez goes for a takedown attempt but Afolayan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Afolayan shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gonzalez as he jumps to the side.
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 Tendaji Afolayan 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!

Gonzalez doesn't manage to clinch there - Afolayan circles away.
Afolayan misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Afolayan tries for a takedown but Gonzalez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Horrible takedown by Afolayan or perhaps it was just good defense by Gonzalez which made him look bad.
Afolayan closes the distance and clinches up with Gonzalez, looking for a takedown. Afolayan pushes Gonzalez against the cage but Gonzalez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tendaji Afolayan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Afolayan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gonzalez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Afolayan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Gonzalez manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Afolayan circles away from the clinch attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Gonzalez. No joy for Afolayan on that attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Afolayan throws a head kick that misses.
Afolayan tries to close the distance and clinch up but Gonzalez swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Afolayan pushes Gonzalez up against the cage in a clinch.
Gonzalez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gonzalez wants a takedown.
Afolayan avoiding damage as Gonzalez throws knees to the body.
Afolayan can't get the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Afolayan looking to slow down the pace here.
Afolayan tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Gonzalez just stands there and leans against the cage.
Afolayan prevents the takedown attempt.
Afolayan takes a knee to the side of the body.
Gonzalez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Afolayan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Gonzalez wants a takedown but no success here.
Afolayan has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Gonzalez after a bit of a struggle.
Afolayan has had enough of the clinch but Gonzalez keeps him there for the moment.
Afolayan is looking to take this one to the mat.
Afolayan avoiding damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Afolayan's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Gonzalez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Afolayan avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Afolayan is trying to push Gonzalez away but Gonzalez has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Gonzalez goes for a takedown attempt but Afolayan pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Afolayan fails with a takedown attempt.
Gonzalez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Afolayan fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gonzalez, pushing him back against the cage.
Gonzalez keeps control of Afolayan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Gonzalez keeps control of Afolayan as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Afolayan is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Yoan Gonzalez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gonzalez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Gonzalez has Afolayan pressed against the cage, preventing Afolayan from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Gonzalez tries to land knees in the clinch but Afolayan avoids the damage to the body.

Afolayan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Afolayan lands with a nice body punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tendaji Afolayan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Afolayan, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Tendaji Afolayan!