PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anton Chekhov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Urijah Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chekhov comes to the cage accompanied by КАТЮШA. Faber has chosen Choke - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Chekhov
vs
Faber

169 cm
28
135 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

170 cm
37
141 lbs
20 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Hellbent
GREEN!160

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 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Anton Chekhov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Urijah Faber!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Paul Tew and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faber displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Anton Chekhov has been cut.
Chekhov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
An inside leg kick lands from Chekhov.
Faber takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Chekhov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Chekhov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Faber misses with a few strikes there.
Sloppy strikes from Faber. Those never looked like landing.

Chekhov rushes Faber and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Chekhov stalling against the cage.
Chekhov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Faber prevents a body shot from Chekhov.

Faber breaks from the clinch.
Anton Chekhov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Faber throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Chekhov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Chekhov.
Faber ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Chekhov moves away.
Chekhov tries to counter by clinching up but Faber breaks away and moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Chekhov.
Faber fails with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed right hand from Faber misses the target.
Faber throws a right hand that misses
and Chekhov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice uppercut there from Chekhov.
Faber stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Faber ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Chekhov moves away.
Faber throws out a loose jab but Chekhov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Chekhov throws a head kick that misses.
Nice jab there from Chekhov.
Chekhov attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Faber appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Chekhov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
As Faber tries to get set, Chekhov tries to push him back and clinch up but Faber manages to avoid the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chekhov ducks under a wild hook from Faber.
Faber throws a jab but it's blocked by Chekhov.
Chekhov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
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 misses with a jab to the body
and Chekhov makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Chekhov throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Good exchange - Chekhov coming out on top.

Faber is rocked!
Faber moves out of range of the leg kick from Chekhov.
Faber is still on wobbly legs! Can Chekhov finish him?
Chekhov ducks under a wild hook from Faber.
Faber seems to have recovered his senses.
Chekhov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Faber.
Chekhov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Faber. That did some damage!
Chekhov lands a jab to the nose.
Chekhov is looking to chop away at Faber's legs.
Faber keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Chekhov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekhov throws a lazy body kick
and Chekhov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Chekhov scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Faber takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Faber throws a poor cross that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Chekhov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Faber's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Chekhov.
Faber throws a shot from downtown. Chekhov moves away and avoids it.
Chekhov is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

Faber shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Chekhov's guard.
Faber trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Chekhov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Faber working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Chekhov is on top in guard.

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!
Chekhov won't allow Faber to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chekhov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Faber controls Chekhov momentarily but Chekhov frees himself.
Chekhov wants to control from the top but Faber keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Faber looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Faber working a defensive guard here.
Chekhov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Faber tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Chekhov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Anton Chekhov's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Faber misses with a hook to the body
and Chekhov counters with a nice leg kick.
Faber fails to land with a series of punches.

Chekhov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Faber breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Faber misses with a left hand
and Chekhov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Anton Chekhov is winning the standup battle so far.

Chekhov moves into the clinch.
Chekhov tries to throw a body punch but Faber avoids it by throwing Chekhov back against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Chekhov.

Faber breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Chekhov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Faber looks to score with a jab to the body but Chekhov is just out of range.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chekhov moves out of range of the strikes.
Chekhov fires out a quick counter leg kick but Faber just manages to avoid it.
Chekhov throws a leg kick but Faber sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Faber shoots in for a double leg but Chekhov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice body punch from Faber.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Chekhov gets a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chekhov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Fabers head.
Chekhov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Faber is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Chekhov can't fight it off and eventually Faber manages to take the fight to the floor. Chekhov looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Faber postures up.
Chekhov is really struggling to control Faber but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Faber sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Faber avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Chekhov keeping moving, preventing Faber from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chekhov trying to keep a closed guard but Faber is proving a slippery customer.
Faber slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Chekhov struggling a bit here.
Faber tries to move to mount but Chekhov blocks the move with his legs.

Faber tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Faber grinds an elbow into Chekhov's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber working away.
Chekhov is not content to let Faber control the position.
Chekhov tries to improve position but can't.
Faber scoring with punches and elbows.
Chekhov wants to control but Faber postures up.
Chekhov has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
The ground and pound from Faber seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Chekhov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Chekhov stops Faber from passing to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber is looking to take a break and control but Chekhov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chekhov is looking for a sweep.
Faber landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Faber trying to control the action but Chekhov is working from the bottom.
Faber works to advance to full mount. Chekhov defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Faber tries to control but Chekhov wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Urijah Faber showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Anton Chekhov's cut.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Faber takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
That kick from Chekhov tenderised Faber's leg. Faber is trying to keep his angry face on.
Chekhov throws a body punch but Faber moves out of range.
Chekhov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Chekhov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Chekhov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A leg kick checked by Faber.
Chekhov lands a nice shot to the body.
Faber shoots in but Chekhov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Faber checks a leg kick.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Chekhov.
Faber misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chekhov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
An inside leg kick lands from Chekhov.
Chekhov feints and then cracks Faber's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Faber down.
Chekhov scoring well with a low kick there.

Faber shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Chekhov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Chekhov wants to control but Faber postures up.
Faber is chipping away with strikes.
Faber is looking to take a break and control but Chekhov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Chekhov is looking to reverse the position.
Faber trying to control the position but Chekhov is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chekhov is looking to regain half guard here but Faber keeps moving and retains side control.
Faber working the head with strikes.
Chekhov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Faber can do to turn this around?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Chekhov managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Faber.
Faber taking a breather here.
Chekhov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Faber postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekhov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Faber perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

Chekhov is defending against the submission attempts here by Faber.
Faber passes to full mount!
Chekhov tries to lock up and control but Faber gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Faber landing punches.
Urijah Faber has got the better of the ground game so far.
Faber tries to control but Chekhov wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chekhov is in all sorts of trouble here.
Chekhov is working hard here to advance position.
Faber cracks Chekhov with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Chekhov taking shots to the head.
Chekhov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Chekhov holds on to Faber around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Chekhov taking shots to the head.

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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Urijah Faber!
Urijah Faber managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry (93%), into his post fight interview.