The contest continues as we move into the next set of team vs. team battles in Bellator’s Fight Master series. With the Team Shamrock-selected fights done, seeing their own Chris Lozano move on at the expense Bryan Travers, while Mike Dubois lost to Cole Williams of Team Couture. This episode sees Team Warren picking fights, with team members Jason Norwood and Ismael Gonzalez choosing to fight Team Couture’s Mike Bronzoulis and Team Shamrock injury-replacement Joe Williams respectively.

Bellator Fight Master episode 5

Fight #1: Mike Brounzolis (Team Couture) vs. Jason Norwood (Team Warren)

In the pre-fight interviews, Brounzolis feels that Norwood does not respect him, and will be aiming to eat it out of him. Norwood, however, said that since he’s a soldier, he’s trained to win anywhere, and that he’ll be coming for Brounzolis. After these, we’re shown Norwood going into Couture’s camp and challenging Brounzolis in person. Warren’s gameplan for his charge is to take the Team Couture member down and pressure him against the cage, negating his punching power. Couture’s plan for his charge is to land early and often, and sap the energy from his opponent. Couture also said that he feels that Jason Norwood, while a physical specimen, is lacking in the technique department, and that Mike Brounzolis can take advantage of that with his footwork and negate Norwood’s wrestling advantage. Warren, on the other hand, believes this fight will come down to mental toughness and sticking to the gameplan, which involves Norwood getting on top of Brounzoulis and pounding him out.

We got some footage of Brounzolis and Norwood bonding in the house, and then other fighters discussing Brounzolis’ need to dislike his opponent. We see further training, with both Warren and Couture working their charges’ wrestling in the cage and in the training room.

Round 1 saw Mike Brounzolis go for a body kick right off the bat, with “G.I.” Jason shooting in for the takedown. Brounzolis was able to stuff it though, and this was followed by wall’n’stall tactics from Norwood for the next minute or so, ultimately ending in the former soldier being able to drop down and get the double leg off the cage. From there, Norwood engaged in something of a grappling faux pas, attempting to pass to the inside of the cage while right up against it, making his own movement more difficult. This allowed Brounzolis to bump, shrimp to his knees, and and eventually stand up when Norwood attempted to step over into mount. Jason attempted to take Mike’s back while standing, but the Team Couture member was able to escape, but only for a moment before the hard-nosed wrestlers pushed him back into the cage. Norwood was eventually able to secure a second take down with about a minute left in the round, but was not able to keep Brounzolis down. The round ended with more wall’n’stall from Norwood, who was able to press his opponent back into the cage any time he looked to be losing the advantage.

Round 2 started with Brounzolis keeping his distance, landing hard roundhouse kicks to the body, theeps, and and punches before stuffing a single leg attempt from Norwood. We then had a deja vu moment, with Norwood forcing Brounzolis back against the cage, eventually getting a takedown after the Team Couture member was scolded by the referee for holding the cage. We then saw a series of takedowns and get-ups, with Brounzolis escaping back to his feet after every tiring takedown from Norwood. Near the 3:30 mark of the round, Mike managed to get himself away from Norwood, landing a few hard shots that sent the soldier back into wrestling mode, continuing with the wall’n’stall tactics that have carried him through the fight so far. Brounzolis was able to circle out for a moment, landing a knee and some dirty boxing, but Norwood eventually was able to regain his position. A similar sequence followed at around 2:30, with Brounzolis getting loose, taking the centre of the cage, and landing a hard flurry that had Norwood scrambling to press him back up against the fence. Brounzolis attempted a kimura as a counter to Norwood’s takedown attempt, eventually getting loose and going to town, rocking the soldier with hard punches and a spinning back kick. With the fight even at one round a piece, we go to a third, sudden victory round.

Round 3 was a little different. After stuffing a Norwood takedown, Brounzolis was able to use short right punches to push his Team Warren opponent back into the cage before hitting an overhand right for the knockout shot.

Mike Brounzolis def. Jason Norwood by Knockout (Punches) at 0:27 in R3.

Fight #2: Ishmael Gonzalez (Team Warren) vs. Joe Williams (Team Shamrock)

To start, we recap how Williams came into the tournament as a replacement for Andy Uhrich, despite losing in his preliminary bout. Coach Frank Shamrock feels that Williams will have the wrestling advantage of Gonzalez, while Williams feels he’ll be able to finish the Team Warren member. Ishmael Gonzalez feels that because of what he sees as part of his day job as police officer, nothing in the cage can scare him, and that he’s both faster and more technical than his opponent. Gonzalez goes to challenge Williams, who he feels will be an easy fight because he lost in the preliminary round. Warren feels that as long as his charge can use distance and footwork, he’ll get the win, while Shamrock feels the key to his fighter’s victory is catching kicks and going for takedowns. During the interviews, Williams feels that his is part of God’s plans for him, which some of his teammates find scary. We see Gonzalez talking with Joe Riggs about family, specifically his two daughters, who motivate him to fight in this tournament. Eric Scallan, during the training segments, notes that Ishmael is very one dimensional in his striking, and that puts his teammate at risk.

Round 1 sees Williams immediately pressuring his taller opponent before taking him down and gaining half-guard. The Team Shamrock member keeps in tight to Gonzalez from on top, and begins throwing shots with his free hand, grinding down on the police officer. Joe Warren is desperately calling for his charge to do something, but when Ishmael tries to escape, Joe Williams passes to side control and brings even more pressure down. Williams with knees from side control, tenderizing his opponent’s kidneys before Gonzalez is able to recapture half-guard. With about 1:30 left of the round, it’s quite clear that Williams is putting on a top control clinic while Gonzalez, and his coach, are appearing to be broken from the assault. The round ends quite clearly in the favor of Joe Williams, with the Team Shamrock member having spent almost the entire round on top of his opponent.

Before Round 2 could even start, Frank Shamrock was taunting his opposing coach, Joe Warren, asking if he needed a laminated card with the words “Movement – Position – Submission” on it to aid in coaching his fighters. Warren blew him off, and then we went to the actual start of the second stanza. Gonzalez landed a couple of jabs, but Williams baited him into throwing the low-kick. Team Shamrock’s powerhouse wrestler caught the kick, then put the former police officer on his back with only 16 seconds gone in the round. Joe Williams crawled up the Gonzalez’ legs into mount, and began punishing his opponent, eventually muscling his way into an arm triangle choke that earned him the submission victory.

Joe Williams def. Ishmael Gonzalez by Submission (Arm Triangle Choke) at 1:57 in R2.

It was not a good week for Team Joe Warren, as both of his chosen fighters were defeated today. His cageside coaching consisted mostly of shrill, repeated commands yelled at his charges, though his tone changed to one of exasperated hopelessness when imploring Ishmael Gonzalez to get to his feet in the fight with Joe Williams. So far, it appears that criticisms leveled at him by Frank Shamrock, that Warren is unable to properly coach, are true. So now, it’s time to break down the team standings so far.

Team Couture (2-0)