PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Franco Wander (ranked 3445 p4p, 3621 weight class) and Augier De Rabat (ranked 228 p4p, 241 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Wander
vs
De Rabat

199 cm
18
146
0 - 1 - 0

192 cm
25
145
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Franco Wander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Augier De Rabat!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, George Francis and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De Rabat closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wander circles away.

Wander gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
De Rabat slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wander parries the strikes from De Rabat easily there. De Rabat is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Wander to escape.
De Rabat has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

De Rabat decides to take the fight back to the feet.
De Rabat throws a head kick that misses
and Wander counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

De Rabat fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Wander to the ground. De Rabat is now in Wander's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

De Rabat gets to his feet - Wander follows without any prompting.
De Rabat has his takedown stuffed
and Wander counters with a stiff right hand.
Wander stuffs the takedown attempt from De Rabat. De Rabat gets slowly back to his feet.
It looked like Wander wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Franco Wander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Augier De Rabat.
De Rabat shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wander as he jumps to the side.
Wander went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from De Rabat.
Wander throwing a counter right hand but De Rabat manages to avoid it.
De Rabat wants to slow Wander down by chopping away at his legs.
Wander stuffs the takedown.
Wander seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from De Rabat.
Wander feinted there with a counter leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Rabat shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Wander but Wander pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Wander stuffs the takedown.
Wander seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Wander showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from De Rabat.

De Rabat decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Wander really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wander wants to get back to his feet.
De Rabat is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

De Rabat decides to stand and escape the position.
De Rabat displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
De Rabat tries to score a power double leg takedown but Wander sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten De Rabat somewhat.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

De Rabat misses with a low kick.
Wander went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
De Rabat falls off balance throwing a combination
and Wander counters with a series of strikes. De Rabat will be more careful next time no doubt.
De Rabat doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Wander counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. De Rabat is lucky that one didn't land flush.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Rabat shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Wander defends it nicely.
A little feinted left hand from Wander on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Rabat looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Wander is fending him off so far but De Rabat persists. Nope, Wander circles away and we're back to standing.
Wander tried to counter with a leg kick but De Rabat avoided it.
Franco Wander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Augier De Rabat.
De Rabat with a lazy takedown attempt
and De Rabat takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
De Rabat with a poor takedown
and Wander counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Wander avoids a kick to the body.
Franco Wander is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
De Rabat shoots in looking for a takedown. Wander tries to sprawl out of it but De Rabat keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Wander manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Franco Wander is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Rabat shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Wander but Wander pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Wander throwing a counter right hand but De Rabat manages to avoid it.
De Rabat shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wander sprawls well. Wander wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. De Rabat gets slowly back to his feet.
De Rabat is breathing heavily.

De Rabat shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Wander manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
De Rabat is standing up over Wander. Wander looks to escape but De Rabat dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

De Rabat misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
De Rabat working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

De Rabat stands up and beckons Wander to his feet.
De Rabat shoots in for a double leg but Wander sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Rabat throws a front kick aimed at Wander's knee but Wander avoids it well.
De Rabat shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Wander pinned against the cage. Wander gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
De Rabat doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Wander counters with a three punch combo that has De Rabat backing up. De Rabat nods at Wander to acknowledge the strikes.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Franco Wander dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

De Rabat fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Wander avoids it really well and circles away.
Wander looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
De Rabat misses with a takedown
and Wander counters with a left and a right that stings De Rabat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wander dodges the punch combination from De Rabat.
Wander is looking for a counter combo.
Wander is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Rabat shoots for a takedown but Wander saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Wander half committed to a counter leg kick.
Franco Wander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Augier De Rabat.
Wander defends well against a solid takedown attempt from De Rabat.
De Rabat fails with a takedown attempt.
De Rabat takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
De Rabat shoots in looking for a takedown. Wander tries to sprawl out of it but De Rabat keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Wander manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wander half committed to a counter leg kick.

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.
De Rabat fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Wander stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Wander wants it to stay on the feet.
De Rabat throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Wander's waist but Wander gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing De Rabat off to one side.
It looked like Wander was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
De Rabat shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wander as he jumps to the side.
Wander looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
De Rabat fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wander appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Rabat swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Wander counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Wander leaves De Rabat with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Wander throws a quick counter head kick but De Rabat was just out of range.

De Rabat looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Wander wants to get back to his feet but De Rabat is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Rabat trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
De Rabat wants to control from the top but Wander keeps moving.
Wander knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for De Rabat on the ground.
De Rabat throwing strikes from guard but Wander blocks nicely.
Wander avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wander is looking to stand up but De Rabat isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
Franco Wander showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Wander 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 Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Franco Wander!