PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Nick Faflatas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Trae Dean (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nick Faflatas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Faflatas
vs
Dean

175 cm
25
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

168 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Nick Faflatas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Trae Dean!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Peter Branson and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dean throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
enabling Faflatas to counter with a crisp jab.
Faflatas shoots in for a takedown but Dean shows good takedown defense.
Dean fails with a takedown attempt.
Faflatas swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Faflatas.
Faflatas looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dean is fending him off so far but Faflatas persists. Nope, Dean circles away and we're back to standing.
Dean is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Faflatas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Dean drives through with a takedown into Faflatas's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Faflatas wants to stand but Dean is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faflatas keeping full guard, as Dean tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean content to stall in guard here.
Faflatas keeping moving, preventing Dean from controlling successfully.
Dean connects with a couple of short punches.
Dean stops Faflatas from standing up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Faflatas tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Dean defends well and Faflatas ends up having to push Dean into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Dean gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Faflatas counters with a left and a right that stings Dean.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dean misses with a few strikes there.

Faflatas moves into the clinch successfully.
Dean looking for a takedown.
Dean tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Faflatas smiles and moves away.

Dean feints and as Faflatas raises his hands in defense, Dean changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dean stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Faflatas swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Faflatas has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Dean has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Faflatas has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Dean uses from the top position.
Dean trying to control but Faflatas is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean stops Faflatas from standing up.

Dean is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Faflatas wants to stand and escape but Dean is having none of it.
Dean trying to control the position from guard on top but Faflatas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dean is looking to pass into half guard but Faflatas pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Faflatas is in guard.

Dean has his foot on Faflatas's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Faflatas works his way back into a safe position though.

Faflatas stands up from Dean's guard - Faflatas perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dean tries to keep at a distance but Faflatas has taken the fight into the clinch.
Faflatas is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Dean is defending well.
Dean prevents the takedown attempt.
Dean stalling in the clinch but Faflatas improves position.
A body shot lands from Faflatas.
Good body shot from Faflatas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Dean can't find room to land a body shot as Faflatas controls the action.
Dean tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Faflatas avoids it.
Faflatas scores with an uppercut up the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Faflatas dominated that round.
That's time! Faflatas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Dean stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dean wants it to stay on the feet.
Dean looks for a takedown but Faflatas sprawls well.

Faflatas closes the distance and clinches.
Faflatas working Dean over with knees to the body.
Faflatas lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Dean or not.
Dean misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Faflatas.
Faflatas dodges an elbow strike from Dean.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Faflatas pulls Dean into guard.
Faflatas is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Dean dives into side control.
Dean trying to control the action but Faflatas is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faflatas tries to escape but Dean is in control.
Faflatas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dean can do to turn this around?
Faflatas trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Dean looks up at the clock and then as Faflatas takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Dean smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Dean prevents Faflatas from escaping the position.

Dean goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Faflatas rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Dean's guard! Nice work there by Faflatas!

Faflatas gets to his feet. Dean looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faflatas misses with a takedown attempt - Dean sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Faflatas has been working on his balance at Highland CT & Spar, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Dean.

Dean gets a takedown into half guard.

Faflatas makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dean tries to clinch there but Faflatas circles away.
Faflatas throwing a counter right hand but Dean manages to avoid it.
Dean is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dean darts in looking for a takedown but Faflatas gets double underhooks and turns Dean into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Faflatas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nick Faflatas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Trae Dean.
Dean is breathing heavily.
No luck for Faflatas with that takedown attempt.
Faflatas shoots in but no luck this time.
Dean is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Dean tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Faflatas counters with a left to the body.
Dean shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Faflatas defends it nicely.
Dean tries to clinch up.
Nick Faflatas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dean defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Faflatas.
Dean misses with a takedown attempt - Faflatas sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Trae Dean seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Faflatas shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dean shoots for a double leg takedown but Faflatas sprawls well. He's pushed Dean's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nick Faflatas is winning the standup battle so far.
Faflatas shoots in but no luck this time.
Dean wants to counter with a clinch but Faflatas pushes him away.
Dean's coach down at Highland CT & Spar was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Dean's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Faflatas tries to clinch but Dean is having none of it.

Faflatas tries to sprawl but Dean drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Dean controlling the action here.
Faflatas pushes Dean off looking to stand but Dean dives back in and keeps control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nick Faflatas dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Faflatas gets a clinch.
Faflatas lands a left hand.
Faflatas lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Trae Dean has been cut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Faflatas.
Faflatas lands a damaging elbow.
A body shot lands from Faflatas.
A short uppercut from Faflatas.
A right hook to the body lands for Faflatas.
Faflatas is trying to pull guard but Dean has him pressed against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faflatas goes for a takedown attempt but Dean pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Faflatas tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dean swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nick Faflatas. That's going to take a lot out of him.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Faflatas enables Dean to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Faflatas manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Faflatas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dean with a flurry of punches that miss.
Faflatas is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Faflatas has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Dean off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Dean is trying hard to land a takedown here. Faflatas sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Dean drives through with a takedown into guard.
Faflatas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Dean is controlling him.
Dean makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dean wants to control from the top but Faflatas keeps moving.
Dean is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Faflatas wants to stand and escape but Dean is having none of it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Faflatas tries to clinch up.
Dean looks to land a right hand but Faflatas moved out of range.
Faflatas appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dean tries to clinch but Faflatas is having none of it.
Faflatas jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Faflatas has a takedown stuffed.
Faflatas shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Dean sprawls well. Dean wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Faflatas gets slowly back to his feet.

Faflatas gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Dean slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Dean passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dean wants to control but Faflatas is keeping him busy.

Dean has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Faflatas is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Dean yanks on the arm and Faflatas is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Dean.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Trae Dean!