PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Urijah Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and George Krumov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Faber
vs
Krumov

167 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Urijah Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, George Krumov!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Yukihiro Shimada and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faber has a takedown stuffed.

Faber gets the takedown into side control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Faber working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Krumov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Faber's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Krumov manages to get to full guard.
Faber might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Krumov keeping moving, preventing Faber from controlling successfully.
Krumov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Faber is one step ahead there.
Krumov controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krumov working a defensive guard here.
Krumov tries to strike from the bottom.
Krumov has control of Faber's left arm, preventing Faber from doing any damage.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Krumov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Faber closes this distance looking for a takedown but Krumov circles away.
Faber throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Krumov.

Faber decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Krumov is controlling Faber's trapped leg to prevent Faber from advancing to side control.

Faber is working for a submission of some sort.
Faber trying to control from Krumov's half guard. Krumov has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Krumov is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Krumov decides to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Faber has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Faber scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Krumov pulls Faber in close to prevent any damage.
Krumov thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Faber postures up.
Faber slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Krumov.
Urijah Faber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of George Krumov.
Krumov looks winded!
A low kick from Krumov is predictable there
and Faber counters with a one-two to the body.
Urijah Faber seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krumov looks for a takedown but Faber sprawls well.
An inside leg kick lands from Faber.

Faber takes the fight into the clinch.
Faber is trying to pull guard but Krumov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Krumov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Faber to keep the fight standing.

Faber's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Krumov throws a leg kick
letting Faber counter with a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Krumov avoids the head kick by Faber.
Faber fails to land the takedown.
Krumov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Urijah Faber will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Faber has managed to clinch.
Faber goes for a takedown in the clinch but Krumov prevents it.
Faber is trying to break the clinch but Krumov has him pressed against the cage.
Krumov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Faber gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A head punch on the inside from Krumov fails to land.
Krumov stops a takedown attempt from Faber.
Faber tries to land knees in the clinch but Krumov avoids the damage to the body.
Faber wants to stall.
Krumov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Faber has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber tries to pull guard but Krumov won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Krumov gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Faber wants to control but Krumov is keeping busy.
Faber wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Krumov is trying to control. Faber wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Krumov gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Krumov shoots and misses

and Faber counters by clinching up.
A right hook to the body lands for Krumov.
Krumov is looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Faber pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Faber as Krumov shoots in.
Faber closes the distance and clinches up with Krumov, looking for a takedown. Faber pushes Krumov against the cage but Krumov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Faber scores with a takedown into Krumov's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Krumov tries to strike from the bottom.
Faber scoring with punches to the head and body.
Faber passes Krumov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Faber is thwarting Krumov's attempts to control the position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krumov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Krumov is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Faber jumps into side control!
Krumov struggling a bit here.
Faber working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Faber trying to control the action but Krumov is working from the bottom.
Krumov struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber taking a breather here.
Faber wants to control but Krumov is keeping him busy.
Krumov wants to control but Faber postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Faber is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Krumov's shoulder. That is not cool.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Urijah Faber.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Faber is defended easily by Krumov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Urijah Faber will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Faber throws a looping overhand right but Krumov ducks down to avoid it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Faber.

Krumov has managed to clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Faber's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Faber tries to pull guard but Krumov won't allow it.
Faber tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Krumov pulls guard effortlessly.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Krumov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Urijah Faber overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Krumov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Faber passes into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krumov tries to bench press Faber off him but Faber keeps the position.
Krumov wants to control but Faber postures up.
Krumov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Faber wants to control but Krumov is keeping him busy.
Faber prevents Krumov from escaping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Faber working away.
Krumov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Krumov's face as Faber controls the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Krumov fails with the takedown.
Faber closes this distance looking for a takedown but Krumov circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Faber shoots in and bounces Krumov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Krumov is trying to keep Faber in close.
Faber trying to control but Krumov is working from the bottom.
Faber postures up.
Krumov wants to improve his position but instead Faber has moved into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krumov is trying to control but can't.
Faber is trying to control the action in half guard but Krumov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Krumov missing with punches from the bottom.
Faber tries to pass the half guard into mount. Krumov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Faber is keen to just control but Krumov is a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Krumov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Faber as he avoids it easily.

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 Urijah Faber.
Well Faber has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Urijah Faber!
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight for Urijah Faber!
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight for Urijah Faber!

Urijah Faber wins by unanimous decision!
A relieved looking Urijah Faber thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.