PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Urijah Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Ponting (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Faber comes to the cage accompanied by Motörhead - King of Kings. Ricky Ponting told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Faber
vs
Ponting

168 cm
22
155 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

170 cm
25
160 lbs
13 - 8 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Urijah Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ricky Ponting!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Winston Howard and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faber shoots for a takedown but Ponting saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ponting lands with a hook. Faber tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Faber throws a right and a left that Ponting avoids nicely.
Faber blocks a jab.
Faber keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ponting.
Ponting misses with a body shot.
Ponting throws a combination. Faber tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Faber moves into the clinch.
Faber is looking to break free of the clinch but Ponting has double underhooks.
A right handed body shot lands from Ponting.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Ponting.
Faber is trying to pull guard but Ponting has him pressed against the cage.

Ponting breaks the clinch.
Faber has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ponting finds it's way round the side to connect with Faber's head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A combination from Faber does no damage.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ponting, as that shot connected.

Faber closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Ponting is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponting misses with a punch to the body.
Ponting struggles to land a body shot inside as Faber controls his hands.
Ponting swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Faber jumps guard but Ponting turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ponting has Faber pressed against the cage, preventing Faber from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ponting prevents Faber from breaking the clinch.
The referee calls for Ponting to work.
Faber fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Ponting lands a hook to the side of the head.

Ponting breaks from the clinch.
Faber is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber throws a right and a left that Ponting avoids nicely.
Faber tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Ponting manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ponting stuffs the takedown attempt from Faber. Faber gets slowly back to his feet.

Ponting drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ponting lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ponting wants to control from the top but Faber keeps moving.
Ponting is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Faber is trying to keep Ponting in close.
Ponting scoring with punches to the head and body.
Faber wants to sweep but no luck.
Ponting scoring with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponting throwing strikes but missing.
Ponting scoring with punches to the head and body.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ponting connects with a couple of short punches.
Ponting postures up and lands a big shot to Faber's brow.

Faber has an active guard here but Ponting has managed to pass into half guard.
Faber on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Faber has hold of Ponting's hands but Ponting slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Faber is looking to improve his position.

Faber looking for submissions off his back.
Ponting not doing much here.
It looks like Ponting might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ponting working the head and body with strikes.

Ponting decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Ponting leaves Faber with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Faber changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ponting tries to avoid it but Faber manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ponting to the ground. Ponting escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ponting throws a big shot that misses.
Faber tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ponting swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A slow jab from Faber misses its intended target.
A jab from Ponting finds it's way through Faber's defenses.
Ponting avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Faber shoots in but no luck this time.
Ponting lands a really nice looking cross but Faber seems unphased.
Faber walks into a stiff left hand from Ponting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Ponting dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Faber darts in trying to clinch
and Ponting makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Faber tries to sprawl but Ponting drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Nice strikes from Ponting there.
Faber tries to get to full guard but Ponting has control of the leg.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Faber has hold of Ponting's hands but Ponting slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Faber is looking to improve his position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ponting in particular looking to stall.
Ponting working Faber over with strikes.
Ponting is nestled in close to Faber, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ponting takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Faber gets full guard.
Ponting slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ponting landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponting is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Ponting got a little sloppy there for a moment and Faber has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ponting has managed to get both his arms back between Faber's legs - danger averted.
Ricky Ponting has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ponting working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Faber's head.
Ponting works over Faber with some ground and pound from guard.
Ponting wants to control from the top but Faber keeps moving.
Ponting is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ponting trying to control but Faber is working from the bottom.
Ponting cracks Faber with a solid left hand.
Ponting controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ponting is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponting postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ponting won't allow Faber to get back to his feet.

Faber looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ponting 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.
Ponting postures up and lands a big shot to Faber's brow.
Ponting lands a couple of digs.
Ponting looking to pass the guard.
Faber is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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

Ponting looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Faber is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ponting defends it well.
Ponting trying to hold on to Faber's head to control him but Faber postures up.

Faber is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ponting defends it well.
Ponting trying to control but Faber postures up.

Faber is working for a kimura but Ponting is defending it quite comfortably.
Ponting is controlling Faber's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ponting looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ponting punching from the bottom.
Ponting is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ponting avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Faber.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Faber seems to be looking for submissions.

Faber is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ponting doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Faber.
Ponting gets full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Ponting showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Faber tries to clinch but Ponting moves out of range.
Ponting throws a jab when Faber was well out of range.
Faber closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Faber tries to clinch up.
Ponting goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Ponting digs a good hook to Faber's body.
Faber shoots in looking for a takedown but Ponting manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Faber's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Faber takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ponting throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Faber on the side of the head.

Ponting drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ponting has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Ponting cracks Faber with a solid left hand.

Faber working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ponting doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ponting manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Faber has his foot on Ponting's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ponting works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ponting stands up over Faber, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Ponting is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponting works over Faber with some ground and pound from guard.
Faber looking for a sweep. Not yet Faber, not yet.
Ponting keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Faber's head.
Ponting is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Faber is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Ponting keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Faber's head.
Ponting is working Faber over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ponting pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Faber is keeping the position for now.
Faber looking for a sweep. Not yet Faber, not yet.
Ponting is working Faber over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Ponting controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Faber looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ponting working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Ponting is in close to Faber's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ponting wants to control from the top but Faber keeps moving.
Ponting is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Faber is looking to sinch up a triangle. Ponting throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Faber's body to avoid the submission. Faber has instead reached around Ponting's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Faber arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Urijah Faber!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Urijah Faber waved his t-shirt featuring Hellraiser Fightgear ($10 and above)'s logo in front of the cameras.