PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hendo Bendo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Weidman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bendo comes to the cage accompanied by No Falter. Chris Weidman will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Bendo
vs
Weidman

175 cm
28
190 lbs
12 - 16 - 1

188 cm
23
198 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 12 - 16 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Hendo Bendo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Chris Weidman!
The judges for this bout are Alexandre Firmino, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bendo smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Weidman shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bendo as he jumps to the side.
Weidman swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Good exchange - Bendo coming out on top.
Weidman misses the shot to the body.
Bendo looks to land a combination but Weidman avoids it well.
Weidman showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bendo.
Bendo misses with a combination

and Weidman counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Weidman.
Bendo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Weidman won't allow Bendo to sweep him here.
Weidman scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Weidman trying to control the position from guard on top but Bendo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Weidman throwing strikes but missing.
Weidman postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Weidman wants to control from the top but Bendo keeps moving.
Bendo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Weidman on the ground.
Weidman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bendo is keeping the position for now.
Weidman postures up in Bendo's guard and throws a big left but Bendo blocks it.
Weidman controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Weidman makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Weidman looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Weidman stopping the sweep attempt from Bendo.
Bendo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bendo is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Weidman is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Weidman working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bendo managing to control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Weidman in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weidman trying to control the position from guard on top but Bendo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bendo is controlling Weidman's posture.
Weidman throws a big right hand that misses.
Bendo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bendo keeping moving, preventing Weidman from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bendo lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Bendo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Weidman.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bendo connects with a nice looking jab.
Weidman with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Weidman lands a right hook to the body.
Bendo swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bendo. Weidman does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hendo Bendo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bendo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bendo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bendo throws a nice looking combination but Weidman bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice defenses there by Bendo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Weidman dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bendo throws a jab but it's blocked by Weidman.
Bendo walks into a straight right hand from Weidman.
A telegraphed right hand from Weidman misses the target.
Weidman with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bendo to score with a decent uppercut.
Weidman ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bendo moves away.
Weidman uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bendo.
Bendo defending well as Weidman loads up on a big left hand.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Weidman throws a lazy uppercut
and Bendo counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Bendo ducks under a wild hook from Weidman.
Bendo throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bendo throws a right hand that Weidman ducks under and follows up with a left that Weidman also avoids with ease.
Weidman lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Bendo slips a jab from Weidman.
Weidman avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bendo swinging wildly here.
Weidman throws a jab but it's blocked by Bendo.
Weidman avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bendo fails to land with a series of punches.
Bendo defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Weidman.
Weidman looks to throw the jab but Bendo is out of range.
Hendo Bendo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bendo waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Weidman.
Bendo uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Weidman.
Some wild striking there from Bendo.
Bendo falls off balance throwing a combination
and Weidman counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bendo lands a nice hook to Weidman's body. Weidman takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bendo ducks under a wild hook from Weidman.
Bendo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Weidman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bendo counters with a one-two to the body.
Bendo throws a series of punches but Weidman moves out of range.
Bendo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bendo lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Weidman backs up against the cage.
Good leg kick by Weidman there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weidman throws a jab but it's blocked by Bendo.
Weidman throws a body punch but Bendo moves out of range.
Bendo misses with a double jab.
Bendo lands with a straight right. Weidman didn't see that one coming.
Hendo Bendo is winning the standup battle so far.
Weidman takes a swing at Bendo's ribcage but misses.
Bendo ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Bendo tries to sprawl but Weidman drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Weidman seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Weidman throwing shots but Bendo is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Weidman showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Bendo throws a combination. Weidman tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Bendo misses with the combination.
Weidman dodges the punch combination from Bendo.
Bendo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Weidman moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bendo bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Bendo moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Weidman throws a shot from downtown. Bendo moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bendo ducks under a wild hook from Weidman.
Bendo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Weidman counters with a straight right hand.

Weidman darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Bendo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Weidman.
Weidman lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bendo wants to control but Weidman is keeping busy.
Hendo Bendo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bendo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bendo tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bendo is trying is best to control the position here.
Bendo wants to get back to his feet.
Weidman thows a huge punch but Bendo dodges it nicely.
Weidman not doing much here.
Bendo is trying to stand back up but Weidman is controlling him
Weidman not landing any meaningful shots this time.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Weidman is trying to control. Bendo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Weidman has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Weidman looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bendo is looking for a sweep. Weidman is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weidman is looking to take a break and control but Bendo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Nice strikes from Weidman there.
Chris Weidman has got the better of the ground game so far.
Weidman not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Bendo trying to control from the bottom.
Weidman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bendo blocking the ground and pound attempt from Weidman.
Weidman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Weidman missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Weidman scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Weidman throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Weidman is trying to control. Bendo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weidman not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bendo won't allow Weidman to pass to mount.
Weidman works his foot free and advances to mount.
Weidman scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Weidman is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Weidman looking to control and managing it successfully.
Bendo really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Chris Weidman is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Weidman working Bendo over with strikes here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Weidman comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Weidman 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 Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 27:30
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Weidman!
After the fight, Chris Weidman was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.