PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Walter Never Faulter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bender Rodriguez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Never Faulter comes into the arena with Fire it up by Modest Mouse blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Never Faulter
vs
Rodriguez

186 cm
29
196 lbs
17 - 10 - 1

185 cm
28
201 lbs
15 - 16 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Powerful

Crippler's Corner

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Walter Never Faulter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bender Rodriguez!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Cecil Peabody and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Never Faulter has his takedown stuffed
and Rodriguez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Rodriguez misses with a left hand
and Never Faulter makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Never Faulter throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Rodriguez counter with a right hand.
Never Faulter defending well as Rodriguez loads up on a big left hand.
Never Faulter tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rodriguez was well out of range. Poor timing from Never Faulter.
Never Faulter misses with a double jab
and Rodriguez counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Never Faulter takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rodriguez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Rodriguez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rodriguez throws a sloppy body shot

and Never Faulter counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rodriguez!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rodriguez tries to hold on but Never Faulter postures up.
Rodriguez is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Rodriguez is looking for a sweep. Never Faulter is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Never Faulter throwing shots but Rodriguez is blocking nicely.
Rodriguez pushes Never Faulter off looking to stand but Never Faulter dives back in and keeps control.
Rodriguez avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Never Faulter.
Rodriguez wants to get back to his feet.
Never Faulter thows a huge punch but Rodriguez dodges it nicely.
Never Faulter is looking to advance position but Rodriguez won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Rodriguez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rodriguez is controlling Never Faulter's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Never Faulter passes to side control.
Never Faulter prevents Rodriguez from escaping the position.
Rodriguez tries to improve position but can't.
Never Faulter working away.
Never Faulter throwing shots but missing, from side control.

Never Faulter looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez defending against the ground and pound.
Sloppy strikes there by Never Faulter.
Rodriguez controls the position for a moment.
The ground and pound from Never Faulter seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Rodriguez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Never Faulter misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rodriguez parries the strikes from Never Faulter easily there. Never Faulter is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Rodriguez to escape.
Rodriguez can't do much from the bottom here.
Never Faulter cracks Rodriguez with a big right hand but Rodriguez just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

Never Faulter working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rodriguez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bender Rodriguez will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Donk. Never Faulter catches Rodriguez right on the button with a cross.
Never Faulter throws a hook but Rodriguez blocks it.
Rodriguez throws a nice looking combination but Never Faulter bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Never Faulter rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Rodriguez makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Never Faulter swinging wildly here.
Never Faulter throws out a loose jab but Rodriguez uses good head movement to avoid it.
Never Faulter falls off balance throwing a combination
and Rodriguez counters with a left to the body.
Never Faulter defending well as Rodriguez loads up on a big left hand.
Never Faulter misses with a wild body shot.
Never Faulter throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Rodriguez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Walter Never Faulter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Never Faulter throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Rodriguez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rodriguez misses with a body shot.
Jab by Rodriguez.
Never Faulter looks to land a combination. Rodriguez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Bender Rodriguez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rodriguez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Never Faulter.
Never Faulter uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rodriguez.
Rodriguez slips under a jab from Never Faulter.
Never Faulter throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rodriguez's waist but Rodriguez gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Never Faulter off to one side.
A jab from Never Faulter misses.
Never Faulter lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Good shot there by Rodriguez.
Rodriguez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Never Faulter throws a combination that misses
enabling Rodriguez to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez lands with a straight right. Never Faulter didn't see that one coming.
Never Faulter throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Never Faulter misses with an uppercut
and Rodriguez counters with a nice uppercut.
Never Faulter throws a looping overhand right but Rodriguez ducks down to avoid it.
Rodriguez misses with a hook.
Never Faulter misses with a wild combination.
Never Faulter swings widly with a right hand
and Rodriguez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rodriguez lands an overhand right.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Never Faulter shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rodriguez is trying to defend but Never Faulter finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Never Faulter is keen to just control but Rodriguez is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rodriguez is trying to stand.
Rodriguez tries to roll over but Never Faulter keeps him under control.
Rodriguez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Never Faulter's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Never Faulter's back!
Rodriguez keeps control of the position as Never Faulter tries to break free.
Rodriguez is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.

That's four 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.
Never Faulter is in bad spot here.
Rodriguez trying to control momentarily.
Never Faulter trying to control the hands but Rodriguez breaks the grip.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rodriguez is looking to get the fight back to the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bender Rodriguez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Never Faulter lands with a nice combination. Rodriguez backs away looking to recover.
Never Faulter changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rodriguez tries to avoid it but Never Faulter manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rodriguez to the ground. Rodriguez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Never Faulter misses with a left hand
and Rodriguez counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Never Faulter thinking.
Never Faulter doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Bender Rodriguez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Never Faulter!
Rodriguez avoids a kick to the body.
Never Faulter ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rodriguez moves away.
Rodriguez thows a left - swing and a miss!
Never Faulter misses with a wild combination.
Never Faulter pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Rodriguez back to the cage. Never Faulter follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Never Faulter gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Never Faulter fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rodriguez lands a jab to the head.
A slow jab from Rodriguez misses its intended target.
Rodriguez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Never Faulter tries to bum rush Rodriguez with a series of wild strikes but Rodriguez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Never Faulter moves out of range of the strikes.
Rodriguez swings widly with a right hand
and Never Faulter counters with a left and a right that stings Rodriguez.
Never Faulter throws a combination that misses
and Never Faulter takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rodriguez throws a hook but Never Faulter blocks it.
Rodriguez doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Never Faulter throws a hook but Rodriguez blocks it.
Never Faulter misses with a jab to the body
and Rodriguez counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Never Faulter tries to bum rush Rodriguez with a series of wild strikes but Rodriguez uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Never Faulter looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice sprawl there from Rodriguez as Never Faulter shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Walter Never Faulter. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Never Faulter throws a left and a right that both miss
and Rodriguez counters with a stiff right hand.
Rodriguez looks to score with a jab to the body but Never Faulter is just out of range.
Never Faulter shoots and misses
enabling Rodriguez to counter with a crisp jab.
Rodriguez throws a right hand that misses
and Never Faulter counters with a stiff right hand.
Rodriguez leaves Never Faulter with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Never Faulter avoids the body shot from Rodriguez.
Never Faulter misses with a left hand
and Rodriguez counters with a straight right hand.
Walter Never Faulter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rodriguez throws a one two combo.
No joy there for Never Faulter, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Never Faulter defending well as Rodriguez loads up on a big left hand.
A jab from Rodriguez misses.
Rodriguez lands a nice shot to the body.
Rodriguez throws a hook but Never Faulter blocks it.
Never Faulter bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Never Faulter misses with a double jab
and Rodriguez counters with a straight right hand.
Rodriguez swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Never Faulter.
Rodriguez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Never Faulter.
Rodriguez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Never Faulter.
Sloppy strikes from Never Faulter. Those never looked like landing.
Rodriguez rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Never Faulter counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Never Faulter ducks under a wild hook from Rodriguez.
Never Faulter throws a lazy uppercut
and Rodriguez counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Nice shot by Rodriguez.
Never Faulter misses with a takedown attempt - Rodriguez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Never Faulter shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Rodriguez eats them both and turns towards Never Faulter to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Never Faulter takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rodriguez ducks under a wild hook from Never Faulter.
Never Faulter looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Rodriguez throws a jab but it's blocked by Never Faulter.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rodriguez throws a lazy right hand but Never Faulter sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rodriguez walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rodriguez scores with a body shot.
Never Faulter misses with an uppercut
and Rodriguez counters with a left to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bender Rodriguez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rodriguez winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bender Rodriguez!