PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Urijah Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin McArthur (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Faber's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Choke - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. McArthur has chosen Breathing as his entrance music. Urijah Faber has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Faber
vs
McArthur

170 cm
29
141 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

200 cm
23
144 lbs
10 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Urijah Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kevin McArthur!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Dillan Fox and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faber on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Faber misses with a hook. McArthur ducked under it nicely.
Faber throws the left hand but McArthur avoids the punch easily.
McArthur misses with a wild combination.
McArthur misses with an uppercut

and Faber counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Faber is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Faber moves nicely into side control.
McArthur can't do much from the bottom here.

Faber is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McArthur knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber is looking to take a break and control but McArthur is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McArthur is looking to regain half guard here but Faber keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
McArthur is trying to buck Faber off.
Faber trying to control the action but McArthur is working from the bottom.
Faber is staying tight to McArthur's torso, preventing him from escaping.
McArthur is not content to let Faber control the position.
McArthur is pushing Faber's head away, looking to escape. Faber manages to hold on to the position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber trying to control the position but McArthur is working away.
Faber working away.

Faber tries for a kimura but McArthur is defending well.
McArthur tries to bench press Faber off him but Faber keeps the position.
McArthur is trying to buck Faber off.

Faber tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Faber has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
McArthur is trying to control Faber's posture but Faber avoids it.
Faber wants to lay and pray for a moment but McArthur keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber controlling the position from side mount.
Faber prevents McArthur from escaping the position.
McArthur is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Faber tries to move into full mount but can't pass McArthur's legs.

Faber wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by McArthur, who protects the arm well.

Faber thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
McArthur is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
McArthur can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber tries to move to mount but McArthur blocks the move with his legs.

Faber tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Faber trying to control the action but McArthur is working from the bottom.
McArthur sneaks back into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Faber seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but McArthur does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Faber frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Urijah Faber dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Faber tries a low kick but McArthur avoids it.

McArthur instigates a clinch.
Faber slowing the pace effectively.
McArthur has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The referee is keeping an eye on McArthur - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
McArthur wants to get back to striking at distance but Faber won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber changes levels and goes for a takedown here. McArthur fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Faber misses with a hook
and McArthur counters with a stiff right hand.

McArthur drives through and clinches with Faber against the cage.
McArthur stalling against the cage.
McArthur lands an uppercut.
Faber blocks a body shot from McArthur.
Faber drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
McArthur is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McArthur's efforts to push away.
McArthur is trying to break the clinch but Faber has him pressed against the cage.
McArthur is trying to force a seperation but Faber has the dominant position.
Faber is looking to control McArthur's arms but McArthur gets an underhook and turns him. Now Faber has his back to the cage.
McArthur wants to get back to striking at distance but Faber won't allow it.
Faber content to slow the pace in the clinch.
McArthur is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Faber prevents McArthur from breaking the clinch.

McArthur pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McArthur is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Faber.
McArthur misses with a straight left.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McArthur slips under a jab from Faber.
McArthur throws a big shot that misses.

McArthur clinches up against the cage.

Faber has clasped his hands together around McArthur's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
McArthur tries to bench press Faber off him but Faber keeps the position.
McArthur wants to get back to his feet but Faber drags him back down.
McArthur really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Faber. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McArthur tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
McArthur is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Faber off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Faber tightening his grip on McArthur, looking for the choke.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McArthur breaks Faber's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Faber keeping moving, preventing McArthur from controlling successfully.
McArthur being controlled here momentarily.
McArthur trying to control but Faber is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McArthur might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Faber haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kevin McArthur will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Faber needs to keep his hands up - McArthur had a free shot at his head there.

McArthur moves into the clinch.
Faber has McArthur pressed against the cage, preventing McArthur from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
McArthur misses with a hook from the clinch.
McArthur scores with a shoulder strike.
Faber prevents a body shot from McArthur.
The referee is keeping an eye on McArthur - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
McArthur is looking to break free of the clinch but Faber has double underhooks.
McArthur tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McArthur looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Faber has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed McArthur clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
McArthur controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
McArthur staying busy and making it hard for Faber to control.

McArthur fending off the submission attempt from Faber.

McArthur manages to escape to his feet.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
McArthur uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Faber.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from McArthur.
McArthur lands a right hook to the body.
Kevin McArthur seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Faber throws an off balance right hand
and McArthur counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Faber uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McArthur.
A big left from Faber misses.
A jab from McArthur does it's job there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McArthur manages to avoid it.

Faber shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. McArthur manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
McArthur is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Faber pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. McArthur is keeping the position for now.
McArthur wants to stand up but Faber is controlling him.
McArthur looking to control.
McArthur looking to hit a scissor sweep but Faber is one step ahead there.
McArthur controls Faber momentarily but Faber frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kevin McArthur was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A big left from Faber misses.
Faber bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A big left from Faber misses.
Faber misses with a looping left.
McArthur is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Faber misses with an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Urijah Faber.
I think Faber has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 William Peck scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!