PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Suez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Urijah Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Faber is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Choke - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Suez
vs
Faber

175 cm
21
150 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

170 cm
27
145 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rafael Suez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Urijah Faber!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Yves DeLean and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Suez feints and as Faber raises his hands in defense, Suez changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Suez trying to control but Faber is working from the bottom.

Faber is looking for a triangle here but Suez uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Suez tries to score with some ground and pound. Faber controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Faber struggling a bit here.

Suez wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Faber, who protects the arm well.
Faber tries to bench press Suez off him but Suez keeps the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Suez looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Faber is not content to let Suez control the position.
Suez working the strikes but Faber uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Faber is trying to control but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Faber tries to get to full guard but Suez has control of the leg.

Suez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Faber defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Suez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Faber doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Suez.

Suez is trying to work for a kimura but Faber is defending well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Faber keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Suez is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Faber sees it coming and defends easily.
Faber works his way to full guard. Good work.
Suez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Faber is keeping the position for now.

Suez has gone for a leg lock! Faber slips out almost immediately though and dives into Suez's guard.
Faber throws a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber wants to control from the top but Suez keeps moving.
Faber passes into half guard.
Faber slows the pace down in half guard.

Suez actively working from the bottom here.
Suez manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Suez 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.

Suez misses with a wild body shot.
Suez swinging wildly here.
Faber scores with a jab.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Suez enables Faber to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Suez manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Suez escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Faber gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Suez being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Faber got a little sloppy there for a moment and Suez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Faber has managed to get both his arms back between Suez's legs - danger averted.
Faber wants to control from the top but Suez keeps moving.
Faber is stalling in the full guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Suez keeping moving, preventing Faber from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Urijah Faber.

Suez shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Faber napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Faber tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Suez is trying to get an arm triangle but Faber is defending well.
Faber tries to improve position but can't.
Faber manages to work his way to half guard, despite Suez's best efforts.
Faber is trying to control but can't.
Suez throws a strike but Faber avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber looking to control.
Faber tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Urijah Faber has got the better of the ground game so far.
Suez with a flurry of punches that miss.
Faber trying to keep a closed guard but Suez is proving a slippery customer.
Suez trying to control but Faber is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Suez tries to free his leg and advance position but Faber is retaining full guard.
Faber looking for a sweep. Not yet Faber, not yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Rafael Suez just wasn't active enough.
Suez throws a series of punches but Faber moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Faber throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Suez throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Faber counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Suez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Faber is aware though and is defending well.
Faber wants to control from the top but Suez keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Urijah Faber showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Suez connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Suez throws an overhand right that lands on Faber's shoulder, as Faber tries to avoid the shot.
Faber takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Faber throws a big shot that misses.
Faber misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Faber ducks under a wild hook from Suez.
Suez lands with a right hand.
Rafael Suez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Suez scores with a nice head shot.
Good standup being displayed there by Suez as he connects with a hook.
Faber feints and then cracks Suez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Suez down.
Suez misses with a combination
and Faber counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber ducks right into an uppercut from Suez.
Faber scores with a jab to the head.
Suez misses with a body shot.
Suez lands a lovely overhand right.

Suez closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Faber's guard.
Faber trying to keep a closed guard but Suez is proving a slippery customer.
Suez throws a strike but Faber rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Faber trying to control but Suez is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Faber avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Faber slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Suez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Suez has his foot on Faber's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Faber works his way back into a safe position though.
Suez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Faber throws a big elbow that misses.
Faber trying to control the position from guard on top but Suez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Suez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Faber stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Suez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber trying to control but Suez is working from the bottom.
Suez can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Faber controls the pace.

Suez throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Faber escapes and throws Suez's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Suez is looking for a sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Faber is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Suez has escaped the position, nice work there.
A lull in the action here as Faber stalls from top position.

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 Rafael Suez.
I think Suez 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 Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Suez!
Rafael Suez thanked the fans post fight for their support.