PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Urijah Phaber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Okan Topal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Phaber comes to the cage accompanied by Monster. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Phaber
vs
Topal

171 cm
22
145 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

173 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Urijah Phaber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Okan Topal!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Topal shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Topal is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Phaber is surviving well by controlling Topal's body position as best he can.
Phaber is trying to stand.
Topal lands a heavy elbow.
The referee warns Phaber that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Topal tries to control but Phaber wriggling away.
Topal has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Phaber is trying to stand.
Phaber 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.
Topal scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Topal controlling from the full mount.
BOOM! Topal connects with a massive shot to the dome!
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.
Topal looking to control but Phaber is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Topal is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Topal misses with a low kick as Phaber jumps back.
Topal looks for a takedown but Phaber sprawls well.
Topal looks gassed!
Topal moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

It looks like Okan Topal has been cut.
Phaber doesn't manage to clinch there - Topal circles away.
Topal tries for a takedown but Phaber sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut there from Phaber.

Topal is rocked!
Topal clinches but Phaber breaks the clinch
and Phaber counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Topal is still on wobbly legs! Can Phaber finish him?

Phaber takes the fight into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Phaber misses with a knee strike.
Topal seems to have recovered his senses.
Phaber using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Topal has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Phaber pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Topal doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Phaber counters by moving into the clinch.
Urijah Phaber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Okan Topal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Topal is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Phaber gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Topal is trying to drag Phaber to the mat but Phaber just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Topal is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Phaber gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Phaber tries to land a knee to the head but Topal blocks with his arms.
Topal is working for takedown but Phaber is calmly controlling the position for now.
Phaber looking to throw knees to the head but Topal is blocking nicely.
Topal fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Phaber using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Topal has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
The referee is keeping an eye on Topal - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Phaber tries a knee to the head but Topal blocks it.
Phaber using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Topal has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Phaber has Topal pressed against the cage, preventing Topal from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Phaber lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Topal will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Phaber up against the cage.
Phaber throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Topal blocks it with crossed arms.
Phaber tries a knee to the head but Topal blocks it.
Topal looking for a takedown.
Phaber wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Phaber tries to land a knee to the head but Topal blocks with his arms.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Urijah Phaber dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Okan Topal's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Topal keeps the fight on the outside.
Topal tries to clinch up

and Phaber counters by clinching up.
Topal tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Topal just leaning against Phaber, taking a breather.
Topal receives a warning from the referee for stalling.

Topal jumps guard.
Topal is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Phaber gets to his feet - Topal follows without any prompting.
Phaber misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Topal fails with the takedown

and Phaber holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Phaber misses with a knee strike.
Topal is working for takedown but Phaber is calmly controlling the position for now.
Phaber looking to throw knees to the head but Topal is blocking nicely.
Topal has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Phaber using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Topal has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Phaber's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Topal with a lazy takedown attempt
and Phaber counters with a one-two to the body.
Urijah Phaber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Okan Topal.
Phaber circles away from the clinch attempt
and Phaber counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Phaber throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Urijah Phaber is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Phaber tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Phaber takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Topal scores with a takedown into Phaber's guard.
Phaber keeping full guard, as Topal tries to pass.
Topal is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Topal prevents Phaber from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phaber pushes Topal off and scrambles back to his feet.
Topal gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Phaber counters with a one-two to the body.
Phaber tries to close the distance and clinch up but Topal swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Topal rushes Phaber and presses him up against the cage.

Topal gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Phaber is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Topal trying to control the position from guard on top but Phaber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Topal stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Phaber swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Topal.
Topal tries for a takedown but Phaber circles away easily
and Phaber counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Topal shoots in for a takedown but Phaber shows good takedown defense.
Topal misses with a takedown attempt
letting Phaber counter with a right hand.

Topal moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Okan Topal showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Okan Topal's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A head kick by Phaber misses

and Topal counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Phaber's guard now.
Topal with a nice head shot there.
Topal controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Topal trying to control but Phaber is working from the bottom.
Topal prevents Phaber from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Topal wants to control from the top but Phaber keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Topal advances position into side control!
Topal trying to control the position but Phaber is working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Phaber rushes Topal and presses him up against the cage.

Topal breaks from the clinch.
Topal throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Phaber counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two 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.
Topal tries for a takedown but Phaber circles away easily
and Phaber counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Topal gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Phaber counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Okan Topal seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Phaber is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Topal tries for a takedown but Phaber circles away easily
and Phaber counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Urijah Phaber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Okan Topal.
Topal tries for a takedown but Phaber circles away easily
and Phaber connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Topal shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Phaber counters with a stiff right hand.
Topal misses with a takedown
and Phaber connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Urijah Phaber is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Phaber throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Phaber blocks a head kick by Topal.
Phaber is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Topal shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Phaber counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Phaber clinches with his opponent.

Topal pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A head kick by Phaber misses

and Topal holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Topal breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Phaber tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Topal counters with a head kick.
Topal doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Phaber counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Topal tries for a takedown but Phaber circles away easily

and Phaber moves into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Okan Topal comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Topal has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Okan Topal!