PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hendo Bendo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Neely (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bendo comes into the arena with No Falter blaring out of the sound system. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bendo
vs
Neely

175 cm
22
190 lbs
6 - 7 - 1

185 cm
23
200 lbs
5 - 2 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

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 6 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Hendo Bendo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mike Neely !
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bendo swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Neely counters with a good low kick that Bendo was not able to check.
Neely attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Bendo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Neely was covering up waiting for the punch and Bendo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Bendo has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bendo tries to free his leg and advance position but Neely is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bendo won't allow Neely to sweep him here.
Neely keeping moving, preventing Bendo from controlling successfully.
Bendo missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Neely is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Bendo trying to control the position from guard on top but Neely is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bendo throws a strike but Neely rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Neely with a flurry of punches that miss.
Neely trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Hendo Bendo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Neely throws a hook but Bendo blocks it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bendo. Neely does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bendo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Neely manages to avoid it.
Neely misses the shot to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bendo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Neely keeping moving, preventing Bendo from controlling successfully.
Bendo preventing the sweep.
Neely is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Neely avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bendo showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Bendo with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neely keeping full guard, as Bendo tries to pass.
Bendo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Neely wants to sweep but no luck.
Neely working a defensive guard here.
Neely is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bendo throws a strike but Neely rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bendo is looking to sweep but instead, Neely has passed into half guard.
Neely looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Neely moves into full mount! Bendo won't be happy about that!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hendo Bendo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bendo throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Neely was covering up waiting for the punch and Bendo finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Bendo trying to control but Neely is working from the bottom.
Neely is trying to keep Bendo in close.
Neely manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bendo manages to get himself to full guard.
Neely throwing strikes from guard but Bendo blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neely working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bendo's head.
Bendo wants to get back to his feet but Neely is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Neely trying to control the position from guard on top but Bendo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Hendo Bendo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Neely stuns Bendo with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Neely scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Neely gets caught napping as Bendo dives in and scores a takedown. Neely manages to retain guard.

Neely is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bendo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Neely is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bendo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neely wants to sweep but no luck.
Neely looking to control.
Neely manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bendo manages to get himself to full guard.
Bendo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Neely controls the pace.

Mike Neely has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Bendo scores a takedown into full mount!
Neely is trying desperately to improve position.
Neely taking shots to the head.

It looks like Mike Neely has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bendo unloads with some shots from mount but Neely bucks and avoids them well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Neely controls the position.
Neely tries to lock up and control but Bendo gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Bendo scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Neely ?
Bendo sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Neely sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bendo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Hendo Bendo will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mike Neely 's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Neely scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Neely digs a good hook to Bendo's body.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bendo.
Bendo trying to control the action but Neely is working from the bottom.
Bendo laying and praying for a moment but Neely takes advantage and regains half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bendo connects with a nice short shot to Neely 's temple.
Bendo controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neely is refusing to be controlled, as Bendo sits in half guard.
Bendo missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Neely wants to get back to his feet.
Bendo wants to take a breather but Neely is having none of it.
Neely blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bendo.
Neely trying to control from the bottom.
Neely is not content to let Bendo control the position.
Hendo Bendo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bendo controlling the action here.

We're going to have a standup here because Hendo Bendo wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Bendo manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Neely on his heels. He'll look to pass Neely 's guard now, I'm sure.
Bendo preventing the sweep.
Bendo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Neely is keeping the position for now.
Neely working a defensive guard here.
Neely might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Bendo kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bendo seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Neely pulls Bendo in to control the position.
Mike Neely has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

OK we're going to have a standup here. Mike Neely hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Neely gets caught napping as Bendo dives in and scores a takedown. Neely manages to retain guard.
Bendo trying to control the position from guard on top but Neely is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Neely looking to control.
Neely keeping moving, preventing Bendo from controlling successfully.
Bendo slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bendo won't allow Neely to sweep him here.

Hendo Bendo has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Bendo checks a low kick from Neely .

Bendo fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Neely to the ground. Bendo is now in Neely 's guard.
Bendo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Neely on the ground.
Neely keeping moving, preventing Bendo from controlling successfully.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Neely throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hendo Bendo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bendo, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hendo Bendo!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Hendo Bendo waved his t-shirt featuring CEC Nutrition Q159's logo in front of the cameras.