PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Urijah Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eric Draven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Eric Draven has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Urijah Faber's chin.

Faber
vs
Draven

168 cm
26
138 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

176 cm
19
143 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Urijah Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Eric Draven!
The judges for this bout are , and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Draven changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Faber looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Draven works to advance to full mount. Faber defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Draven with a couple of short strikes.
Faber blocking the ground and pound.
Draven misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Faber is looking to improve his position but Draven isn't that keen on the idea.
Draven scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Faber?
Faber blocking the ground and pound.

Draven jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Faber is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Faber and Draven has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber regains half guard, as Draven was trying to land strikes.

Draven is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Draven missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Draven is trying to work for a kimura but Faber is defending well.
Draven wants to stand up but Faber is controlling the position.

Faber actively working from the bottom here.
Draven drops an elbow to the side of Faber's head.
Faber keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Draven throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Draven thows a huge punch but Faber dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Draven throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Faber is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Draven pulls his head out easily.
Draven has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Faber avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Draven.
Draven scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Draven is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Faber has managed to free his arm - good work.
Draven is keen to just control but Faber is a slippery customer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Draven throwing shots but Faber is blocking nicely.

Draven is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Faber is just riding it out for now. Draven eventually gives up the hold.

Faber is defending against the submission attempts here by Draven.
Draven looks gassed!
Faber avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Draven.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Faber defending well as Draven loads up on a big left hand.

Faber scores a takedown into full mount!

Faber is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Draven has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Draven!

Draven drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Faber dives on top into guard.
Faber slips nicely into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Draven regains full guard. Nicely done.
Draven is trying to control the position but Faber postures up.
Draven manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Draven goes for an armbar but Faber turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Faber.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Faber postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Draven is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Faber, into his guard.

Draven drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Faber dives on top into guard.

Faber drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Draven manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Faber has Draven in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Draven avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Draven is working Faber over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Faber preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Draven works over Faber with some ground and pound from guard.
Eric Draven has got the better of the ground game so far.
Faber preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Draven drops back, looking for a kneebar! Faber looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Faber looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Faber!
Draven tries to buck Faber off but Faber is having none of it.

Faber working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Draven gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Draven is breathing heavily.

Faber is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Faber is looking for a kimura but Draven is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Faber to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Draven wants to control but Faber is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Faber is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Draven is trying to get back to full guard.
Draven is trying to stand back up but Faber is controlling him
Draven wants to get back to full guard.
Draven regains full guard. Nicely done.

Faber is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Draven is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Draven has escaped and now he's on top!
Draven loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Eric Draven will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Draven misses with a lunging right hand

and Faber counters with a single leg into guard. Draven didn't expect that.

Faber drops back, looking for a kneebar! Draven looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Draven looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Draven!
Draven wants to control but Faber is keeping him busy.

Draven is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Faber is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Draven looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Draven takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Draven working the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Draven tries to advance to mount but Faber instead regains half guard.
Draven has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Draven advances to mount.
Faber is desperately trying to improve his position but Draven has a good base and remains in mount.
Draven punching from mount but Faber doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Draven throws a sloppy strike and Faber uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Faber has ended up in Draven's guard.
Draven looking to control.

Faber drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Draven manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Faber has Draven in his guard.
Draven content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Draven wants to stand and escape but instead Faber has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Faber advances to half guard.
Eric Draven is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Faber is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Faber is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Faber is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Draven has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Faber is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Draven is defending against the submission attempts here by Faber.
Draven gets full guard.
Draven lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Faber!
BOOM! Draven connects with a massive shot to the dome!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Eric Draven.
Well Draven has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Draven!