PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Urijah Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and bj Ferguson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Faber comes to the cage accompanied by California Love. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Faber
vs
Ferguson

168 cm
29
130 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

164 cm
28
135 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Knockout power

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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 8 - 6 - 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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, bj Ferguson!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ferguson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Faber paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Faber changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ferguson tries to avoid it but Faber manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ferguson to the ground. Ferguson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ferguson has a takedown stuffed.
Ferguson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Faber shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ferguson defends it nicely.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Faber enables Ferguson to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Faber manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Faber is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

OK we're going to have a standup here. bj Ferguson hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Ferguson closes the distance and clinches up with Faber, looking for a takedown. Ferguson pushes Faber against the cage but Faber circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ferguson tries to clinch but Faber is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ferguson scores a takedown into full mount!
Ferguson fails to take his opponent's back.
Ferguson avoids the attempt from Faber to control.
Ferguson controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ferguson trying to control but Faber is having none of it.
Ferguson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. bj Ferguson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Faber avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ferguson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Urijah Faber has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of bj Ferguson.
Ferguson tries to clinch but Faber moves away

and Faber counters with a single leg into guard. Ferguson didn't expect that.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Faber is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Faber trying to control but Ferguson is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ferguson controls Faber momentarily but Faber frees himself.
Faber looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

bj Ferguson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Faber gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ferguson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Faber!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Faber tries to reverse the position but Ferguson maintains control.
Ferguson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Ferguson looking to control but Faber is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Faber on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Faber tries to get out of the position.
Ferguson tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Ferguson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Faber is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Ferguson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
bj Ferguson has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. bj Ferguson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Ferguson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ferguson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ferguson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Faber.

Ferguson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Faber, pushing him back against the cage.
Ferguson is trying to break the clinch but Faber is controlling him.
Faber can't get the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Faber wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ferguson successfully pulls guard.

Faber postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Ferguson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Faber, into his guard.
Ferguson lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Ferguson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Faber looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ferguson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Faber is keeping the position for now.
Ferguson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Faber's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

bj Ferguson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Faber's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Ferguson has his takedown stuffed

and Faber counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ferguson!
Faber works his way to his opponent's back.

Faber is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Ferguson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Ferguson for a finish.
Ferguson prevents Faber from getting a body triangle.
Ferguson tries to escape the position.
Ferguson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
You get the feeling that Ferguson really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Faber trying to control but Ferguson is having none of it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Faber fails to advance to Ferguson's back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ferguson is trying desperately to improve position.
Faber controlling from the full mount.

Faber goes for an armbar but Ferguson turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Ferguson.
Faber keeping moving, preventing Ferguson from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Urijah Faber wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Faber fails with the takedown.
Faber swats away the attempt to clinch by Ferguson.
Ferguson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Faber momentarily.
A punch combination from Ferguson misses.

Ferguson takes the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson tries to break free but Faber pushes him back against the cage.
Faber has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ferguson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ferguson slowing the pace effectively.
Faber tries to score a body lock takedown but Ferguson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ferguson gets underhooks to prevent Faber's takedown attempt.
Faber is working for takedown but Ferguson is calmly controlling the position for now.

Ferguson manages to break the clinch.
Faber uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ferguson.
Ferguson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Faber has his takedown stuffed

and Ferguson counters with a single leg into guard. Faber didn't expect that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ferguson chips away with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ferguson trying to control but Faber is working from the bottom.
Ferguson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Faber swivels though and keeps the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by bj Ferguson.

Ferguson gets a double leg takedown into Faber's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
bj Ferguson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ferguson 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 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... bj Ferguson!
An intense looking bj Ferguson took to the microphone post fight and gave a little speech: 'Im now (7-3-0-0) in my pro career. Im very blessed yo be where I am. Im hoping to be a champion one day'.