PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Diego Godin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Urijah Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Urijah Faber has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Godin
vs
Faber

168 cm
24
141 lbs
10 - 1 - 0

168 cm
23
138 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Cold Blooded Kemists ↑ 5x160Q
The Big Kabosh

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 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Diego Godin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Urijah Faber!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Steve Erwin and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Godin avoids the body shot from Faber.

Faber looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Faber wants to free his trapped foot but Godin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Godin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Godin keeping moving, preventing Faber from controlling successfully.

Godin is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Godin working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Faber doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Faber manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Faber missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Godin wants to sweep but no luck.
Godin is working hard here to advance position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Faber throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber trying to control but Godin is working from the bottom.
Godin 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 stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Godin looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Faber trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Faber is controlling Godin's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Faber is staying active underneath Godin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Faber wants to get back to his feet.
Faber is trying to get back to full guard.

Godin is working for a kimura but Faber is defending it quite comfortably.
Faber wants to get back to his feet.

Godin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Faber doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Godin.
Faber trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber is trying to escape the mount.
Faber is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Godin wants to control the pace but Faber is squirming around nicely.
Godin controlling the position easily from mount.

Godin is working for a guillotine from mount but Faber frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Godin controlling the pace for now.
Faber tries to reverse the position but Godin maintains control.
Godin trying to control but Faber is having none of it.
We've been hearing that Godin has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Faber manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Godin prevents Faber from improving his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Faber is trying to maintain the position but Godin is very close to passing his half guard.

Godin seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Diego Godin will probably get the nod.
That's time! Godin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Faber shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Faber working over Godin with some ground and pound. Godin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Faber is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Godin moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Faber wants to control from the top but Godin keeps moving.

Faber drops back looking for a leg! Godin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Godin manages to kick Faber off! Faber jumps back into Godin's guard.
Faber 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Godin is on top in guard.

Faber working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Godin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Godin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Godin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Godin looking to pass the guard.
Faber trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Godin won't allow Faber to get back to his feet.
Godin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Faber is keeping the position for now.
Faber not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Urijah Faber has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
An inside leg kick from Godin misses.
Urijah Faber seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Godin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Faber connects with a looping right hand.
Faber tries to clinch up but Godin circles away and keeps his distance.
Godin fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Faber checks it well.
Faber swinging wildly here.
Faber doesn't manage to clinch there - Godin circles away.
Urijah Faber is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Godin defending well as Faber loads up on a big left hand.
Faber tries to score a power double leg takedown but Godin sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Faber somewhat.
Faber tries to clinch up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Godin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Godin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Faber blocks an elbow strike from Godin.
Faber avoiding damage as Godin throws knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Godin throws an elbow but misses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Godin obliges.
Godin lands an elbow inside that Faber shrugs off.
Godin lands an elbow just above Faber 's eye.
Godin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Faber.
Faber can't get the takedown.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Godin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Godin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Faber avoids it.
Faber is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Godin to keep the fight standing.
Diego Godin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Urijah Faber.
Godin lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Urijah Faber has been cut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Faber is trying to pull guard but Godin has him pressed against the cage.
Faber tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Godin missing with knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Urijah Faber will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Urijah Faber's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Godin looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Faber throws a leg kick but Godin checks it.
Faber tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Good exchange - Faber coming out on top.

Godin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Faber tries to pull guard but Godin holds him up against the cage and eventually Faber drops back down to his feet.

Faber pulls guard successfully.
Faber not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Godin won't allow Faber to sweep him here.
Faber is trying to control the position but Godin postures up.
Faber is trying to hold Godin in close to prevent damage but Godin has managed to pass into half guard.

Godin is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber is looking to control Godin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Faber avoid being mounted?
Godin trying to pass the guard but Faber defending well.
Faber manages to get to full guard.
Godin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Faber's guard.

Faber looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Faber wants to control but Godin is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber is trying to get back to full guard.

Godin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Faber doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Godin.
Faber regains full guard. Nicely done.
Godin wants to control from the top but Faber keeps moving.

Godin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Godin trying to control the position from guard on top but Faber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Faber is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Godin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Faber's guard.

Godin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Godin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Faber looks like he's trying to stand up.
Faber has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Faber is trying to maintain the position but Godin is very close to passing his half guard.

Godin wants to work for an arm triangle but Faber is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Faber looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Faber kicks off Godin and gets to his feet.
Godin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Godin walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Faber checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Godin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Faber lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Godin circles away quickly and effectively.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Godin.

Godin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Faber has escaped the position, nice work there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Faber gets back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Urijah Faber.
I think Faber has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Urijah Faber!
Urijah Faber seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.