PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Bender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bender comes to the cage accompanied by Don't You Forget About Me. James has chosen W32.Mydoom.AU@mm as his entrance music. Richard James has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Bender
vs
James

172 cm
24
156 lbs
15 - 4 - 0

185 cm
23
155 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

[JMFC] 160!

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 15 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, John Bender!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Richard James!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Daniel Cesar and Edson Gomes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the body from James misses
and Bender connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
James with a poor takedown
enabling Bender to counter with a crisp jab.
Bender walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
James swings away with a body shot that misses
and Bender counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
James throws a lazy uppercut
and Bender connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
James doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bender connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That kick from Bender tenderised James's leg. James is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bender.
James misses with a left hand

and Bender counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bender.
James is trying to break the clinch but Bender is controlling him.
James is trying to break free.
Bender stops a takedown attempt from James.
John Bender has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richard James.
Bender gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from James.
Bender lands a nice uppercut.
James jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bender walks away with a smile on his face. James gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
James misses the jab.
Bender lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James has his takedown stuffed
and Bender counters with a nice leg kick.
John Bender is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
James misses with a left hand
and Bender makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
James fails with the takedown
and Bender counters with a leg kick.
James looks gassed!
Sloppy strikes from James. Those never looked like landing.
James swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bender counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Bender lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
James misses with a body shot
and Bender counters with a good, hard body kick but James shrugs it off.
James sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Bender connects with an inside leg kick.
Bender lands a nice leg kick that just misses James's sensitive parts.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Bender.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bender scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. James doesn't seem bothered though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Bender.
Bender connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bender scores with a jab to the body.
Nice body kick there by Bender.
Bender lands with a shot to the body.
James has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Bender.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bender lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
James is trying desperately to land a takedown but Bender is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for James.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Bender - that will leave a mark!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bender dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bender moves into the clinch.
James tries for a takedown. No joy.
Bender lands an elbow that stopped James in his tracks for a moment.
James takes an elbow to the forehead.
James wants a takedown.
Bender lands an elbow that stopped James in his tracks for a moment.
James tries for a takedown but Bender manages to get underhooks.
John Bender has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richard James.
James takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bender working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Bender lands an elbow that stopped James in his tracks for a moment.
Bender lands a nice knee to the body.
Bender lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Bender as the two fighters clinch.
Bender lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
James takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bender lands an elbow inside that James shrugs off.
James is breathing heavily.
Bender cracks James with a nice body shot.
Bender creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through James's defenses.
James is trying to drag Bender to the mat but Bender just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
James is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bender lands a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bender.
Bender unloads a knee to the mid-section. James lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nice elbow from Bender.
Nice elbow from Bender.
Bender using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
James wants a takedown.
Bender lands a good knee to the midsection. James won't want to take too many of those.
Bender gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Bender using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Bender comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
James tries to circle away but Bender has him pinned against the cage.
Bender unloads a knee to the mid-section.
James takes a knee to the side of the body.
James changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bender fights it off and pushes away nicely.
James tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bender throws a front kick that sends James stumbling back into the cage.
Bender looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Bender has taken the fight to the clinch.
James is trying to break the clinch but Bender has him pressed against the cage.
Bender utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Bender is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
James takes an elbow to the forehead.
Bender using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Nice body punch from Bender - that landed with a thud.
Bender scores a nice knee to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bender.
Bender lands an elbow just above James 's eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender working James over with knees to the body.
James's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Bender lands with a short shot to the head.
James tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nice body punch from Bender.
Bender lands a body shot in the clinch.
Bender lands a good knee to the midsection. James won't want to take too many of those.
Knees in the clinch landing for Bender.
Bender lands an elbow just above James 's eye.
Bender landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bender scores a nice knee to the body.
Bender lands a nice elbow.
Knees in the clinch landing for Bender.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Bender obliges.
James takes a knee to the side of the body.
Bender lands a knee to the body.
James takes an elbow to the forehead.
James takes an elbow to the temple.
Bender lands a knee to the body.
Bender comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Bender unloads a knee to the mid-section. James lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Bender utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bender lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of James backwards.
Bender is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that James can do to turn this around?
Bender gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Bender lands a damaging elbow.
James is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bender softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Nice elbow from Bender.
Bender lands an elbow just above James 's eye.
James tries to pull guard but Bender won't allow it.
Bender presses James against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Bender crunches a lovely knee into James's ribcage.
James takes an elbow to the forehead.
James wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Nice body punch from Bender - that landed with a thud.
Bender landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
John Bender has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Bender scores a nice knee to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bender lands a damaging elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bender lands an elbow inside that James shrugs off.
Bender working James over with knees to the body.
James tries to score a body lock takedown but Bender shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Knees in the clinch landing for Bender.
Nice elbow from Bender.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bender dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

A slapping leg kick lands for Bender.
Bender lands a right hook to the body.
James takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

James closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bender to the mat! Bender manages to get full guard.
Bender is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bender lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for James!
James really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James tries to improve his position but instead Bender has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
James trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
James is really stuck here.
Bender controls the action.
James is in bad spot here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
James is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bender knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for James on the ground.
Bender is trying to stick to James's back but James is turning into Bender. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Bender's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by James.
James looking to pass the guard.
James stopping the sweep attempt from Bender.
Richard James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
James in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bender pulls James in close to prevent any damage.
James wants to pass the guard but Bender is keeping the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
James is working Bender over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to John Bender.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bender, 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 30:25
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 30:25
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:25

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