PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Josh Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johny Vargas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vargas is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Drake - Trophies. Josh Faber has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Faber
vs
Vargas

165 cm
20
152 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

174 cm
23
145 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Victory! Sports Nutrition

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Johny Vargas!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Chris Downing and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faber tries to clinch but Vargas moves out of range.
Despite the aggression on Vargas's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Faber wants to clinch up but Vargas keeps it at a distance.
Faber closes the distance and clinches up with Vargas, looking for a takedown. Faber pushes Vargas against the cage but Vargas circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A punch combination from Vargas misses.
Vargas swinging wildly here.
Vargas misses with a looping left.
Vargas takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Faber moves out of range as Vargas strikes.
Vargas throws a nice looking combination but Faber bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Vargas misses with a double jab
and Faber counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Faber with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Vargas to score with a decent uppercut.
Vargas looks to land a combination but Faber avoids it well.
Faber shoots in for a takedown but Vargas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Faber dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Vargas. That did some damage!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vargas throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Vargas has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

Vargas tries to keep at a distance but Faber has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vargas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Faber moves into the clinch successfully.
Faber is working Vargas over against the cage.
Faber misses with a body punch.
Vargas prevents a body shot from Faber.
Faber looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Faber is trying to maintain a safe position but Vargas gets an underhook and turns Faber into the cage.
Faber looking for a takedown.
Faber taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Faber swings wildly with an uppercut but Vargas uses good head movement to avoid it.
Faber misses with a punch on the inside.
Faber tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vargas has had enough of the clinch but Faber keeps him there for the moment.
Vargas tries to break free but Faber pushes him back against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Faber fails to land.
Faber misses with a short punch on the inside.

Vargas manages to break the clinch.
Vargas throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Faber counter with a right hand.
Faber fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vargas misses with a few strikes there.
Faber dodges the punch combination from Vargas.
Faber connects with an inside leg kick.
Vargas throws a hook to the side of Faber's head but Faber sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

Faber pushes Vargas up against the cage in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Faber misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Vargas working hard to break the clinch.
Faber goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Faber misses with some punches.
I was talking to Faber's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Vargas tries to break the clinch but Faber is controlling the position.
Faber controlling the action here for a moment.
Faber swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vargas is trying to break the clinch but Faber has him pressed against the cage.
Faber prevents Vargas from breaking the clinch.
Vargas blocking some punches.
Good body shot from Faber.
Vargas is trying to break the clinch but Faber is controlling him.

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.
Faber doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Faber swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vargas has had enough of the clinch but Faber keeps him there for the moment.
Vargas is looking to break free of the clinch but Faber has double underhooks.
Faber lands a body punch in the clinch.
Faber misses with a short punch on the inside.
Vargas is pressed up against the cage. Faber has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Vargas down to the mat. Vargas avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Vargas misses with a two punch combination.
Faber shoots in looking for a takedown but Vargas manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Faber's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Faber looks for a takedown but Vargas sprawls well.
Vargas looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Faber showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vargas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Johny Vargas will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Donk. Vargas catches Faber right on the button with a cross.
Faber tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vargas swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Faber tries to close the distance and clinch but Vargas swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice uppercut lands for Vargas. That snapped Faber's head back.
Faber shoots for a takedown but Vargas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
No joy there for Vargas, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Faber tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vargas paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Johny Vargas seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Faber dodges the punch combination from Vargas.
Faber wants to clinch up but Vargas keeps it at a distance.
Vargas misses with a wild combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vargas misses with a double jab.
Vargas misses with a jab, cross combination.
Faber seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Faber fails in his attempt to clinch.
Faber fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vargas throws a right hand that Faber ducks under and follows up with a left that Faber also avoids with ease.
Vargas looks to throw the jab but Faber is out of range.
Vargas on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Vargas throws a right and a left that Faber avoids nicely.
Vargas will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Vargas looks to land a combination but Faber avoids it well.
Faber closes the distance but Vargas moves to the side
and Vargas counters with a one-two to the body.
Vargas swinging wildly here.
Johny Vargas is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Faber tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Despite the aggression on Vargas's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Vargas swats away the attempt to clinch by Faber.
Faber showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vargas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Faber rushes Vargas and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Faber has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Vargas avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Faber tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Faber scores with a hook to the body.
Faber lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Faber misses with a hook from the clinch.
Faber is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Vargas is keeping busy.
Faber misses with a punch to the body.
Vargas is trying to break free.
Come on Faber - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Vargas breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vargas throws a right and a left that Faber avoids nicely.
Vargas throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Faber.
Vargas swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Vargas fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Faber takes the fight into the clinch.
Vargas wants to break the clinch but can't.
Vargas blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Faber looking to stall.
Vargas tries to break free but Faber pushes him back against the cage.
Faber throws a punch but it's blocked by Vargas.
Vargas wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Faber has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber misses with a punch on the inside.
Faber misses with some punches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Faber tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vargas's elbow.
Faber is trying to maintain a safe position but Vargas gets an underhook and turns Faber into the cage.
Faber tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Faber tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vargas's elbow.
Faber leaning against his opponent.
Faber has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Vargas avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Faber is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Faber lands a nice shot to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Faber.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johny Vargas showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Faber takes one to the chin there.
Faber tries to clinch but Vargas moves out of range.
Vargas lands a jab-cross combination.
Vargas tries to bum rush Faber with a series of wild strikes but Faber uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Johny Vargas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Faber showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vargas.
Faber is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vargas.
Vargas throws a series of punches but Faber moves out of range.
Vargas throws a series of punches but Faber avoids them all with ease.
Vargas throws a right and a left that Faber avoids nicely.

Faber fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vargas, pushing him back against the cage.
Faber misses with a punch on the inside.
Faber leaning his opponent against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Faber is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Vargas is keeping busy.
Josh Faber has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber misses with the head strike.
Vargas blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Vargas has had enough of the clinch but Faber keeps him there for the moment.
Faber has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Vargas after a bit of a struggle.
Faber controlling the action here for a moment.
Faber misses with some punches.
Faber working aggressively here.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Vargas has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vargas letting Faber take a breather here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Faber tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vargas's elbow.
Faber misses with a body punch.
Faber tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Vargas blocks a body shot from Faber.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vargas.
Faber is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Faber effectively controlling the action here.
Vargas blocks an uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Vargas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vargas breaks the clinch.
Vargas uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Vargas swats away the attempt to clinch by Faber.
Vargas throws a right and a left that Faber avoids nicely.
A combination from Vargas does no damage.
Faber shoots in for a takedown but Vargas shows good takedown defense.
A punch combination from Vargas misses.
Josh Faber has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vargas avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
The fight stays on the outside here - Faber looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vargas throws a counter combo.
Some wild striking there from Vargas.
Vargas misses with a double jab.
Vargas tries to bum rush Faber with a series of wild strikes but Faber uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber tries to clinch up but Vargas circles away and keeps his distance.
Faber tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Vargas misses with a straight left.
An attempted straight right counter from Faber misses the target.
Vargas misses with a two punch combination.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Faber is defended easily by Vargas.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Josh Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Faber fails in his attempt to clinch.
Faber takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Vargas circles away from the clinch attempt.
Faber misses with a looping left.
Vargas fails to land with a series of punches.
Vargas uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Faber.
Vargas throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Faber fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Vargas on the side of the head.
Faber showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Vargas.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johny Vargas comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vargas 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johny Vargas!
Johny Vargas decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.