PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Wilber Bender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Larry Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Larry Rush will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Bender
vs
Rush

168 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 5 - 1

188 cm
22
187 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Wilber Bender!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Larry Rush!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Blasius, Paul Aken and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bender gets caught napping as Rush dives in and scores a takedown. Bender manages to retain guard.
Bender wants to stand up but Rush is controlling him.
Rush wants to control from the top but Bender keeps moving.
Bender is controlling Rush's posture.
Bender wants to sweep here but Rush controlling him for the moment.
Rush is in close to Bender's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rush slips nicely into half guard.
Rush throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender moves into full guard.
Rush trying to control but Bender is working from the bottom.

Bender is working an open guard so Rush takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Bender could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Rush ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bender moves away.

Rush gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Rush manages to break the clinch.
Rush tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bender manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Larry Rush seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bender fails with a takedown attempt.
Bender circles away from the clinch attempt
and Bender counters with a one-two to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rush gets a takedown into half guard.
Rush looks winded!
Rush seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bender does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bender punching from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bender wants to control but Rush is keeping busy.
Bender is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender is trying to control but can't.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rush tries to bum rush Bender with a series of wild strikes but Bender uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bender tries to clinch but Rush moves out of range.
Rush misses with a jab to the body
and Bender counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bender keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bender is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bender shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Rush as he avoids it easily.
Bender fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Rush rushes Bender and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bender is trying to force a seperation but Rush has the dominant position.
Bender is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Rush to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wilber Bender. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rush jumps guard and drags Bender to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Bender stops Rush from standing up.
Rush trying to control the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bender is stalling in the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rush looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Rush dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Bender throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rush's waist but Rush gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bender off to one side.
Rush moves in looking to clinch but Bender pushes him off.
Rush cracks the inside of Bender's front leg.
Rush throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rush just misses with a punch to the body.
Bender tries to close the distance and clinch but Rush swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bender tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rush sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bender somewhat.
Rush closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bender circles away.
Bender fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wilber Bender. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rush fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bender manages to avoid it.
Bender slips under a jab from Rush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rush stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Rush wants it to stay on the feet.
Rush is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Bender rather than just go for the knockout.
Bender scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Bender shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Rush misses with a wild combination.
Bender shoots for a takedown but Rush saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rush misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bender.
Bender doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rush lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rush tries to clinch up but Bender circles away and keeps his distance.
Bender doesn't manage to clinch there - Rush circles away.
Rush tries to clinch
and Bender counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rush has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bender is trying to break free.
Bender stalling against the cage.

Rush breaks the clinch.
Wilber Bender is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rush doesn't manage to clinch there - Bender circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Rush. Those never looked like landing.
Bender tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rush sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bender somewhat.

Bender instigates a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender jumps guard but Rush stands there with Bender around his waist. Bender gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Bender is looking to break free of the clinch but Rush has double underhooks.
Rush on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bender tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rush smiles and moves away.
Rush tries to clinch up.

Rush closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Rush lands in his opponent's guard.
Bender being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush won't allow Bender to sweep him here.
Bender looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Rush puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Bender might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bender is staying active underneath Rush, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bender wants to control but Rush is keeping busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Larry Rush showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Bender's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Bender gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bender tries to pull guard but Rush holds him up against the cage and eventually Bender drops back down to his feet.
Rush is looking to take this one to the mat.
Bender fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A battle for position here, against the cage.

Rush breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rush misses the shot to the body.
Rush takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Rush. No joy for Bender on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Wilber Bender. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rush gets a double leg takedown into Bender's guard.

Rush gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Bender doesn't manage to clinch there - Rush circles away.
Rush misses with a body kick.
Bender looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rush is fending him off so far but Bender persists. Nope, Rush circles away and we're back to standing.

Rush drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Rush throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bender wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rush stands and throws Bender's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rush trying to control the position but Bender is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bender tries to buck Rush off but Rush is having none of it.
Rush working away.

Rush looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Rush just content to control the position.

Rush has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender feints a jab promting Rush to slip. Bender then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Rush slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Rush doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rush misses the shot to the body.
Rush tries to clinch but Bender is having none of it.
Larry Rush is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bender wants to clinch up but Rush keeps it at a distance.

Bender gets a clinch.
Rush is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bender tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Rush smiles and moves away.

Rush closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Rush sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Bender is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Bender struggling a bit here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rush stands up and we're back to a striking position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Larry Rush comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rush winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Daniel Blasius scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 27:30
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Larry Rush!