PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Urijah Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Maven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Faber
vs
Maven

168 cm
28
138 lbs
13 - 7 - 1

166 cm
37
145 lbs
21 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

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 13 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Urijah Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marcus Maven!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Topper Green and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faber throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Maven's waist but Maven gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Faber off to one side.
Faber stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Faber shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Maven defends it nicely.
Faber tries to score a power double leg takedown but Maven sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Faber somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maven connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maven misses with a double jab.
Maven swinging wildly here.
Maven moves out of range of the strikes.
Maven tests Faber's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Faber catches Maven with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

It looks like Marcus Maven has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maven showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Faber.
No luck for Faber with that takedown attempt.
Maven displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Faber.
Faber throws a solid leg kick but Maven takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Faber.
Faber shoots in and drives through. Maven sprawls well.
Faber lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Faber has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Maven stuffs the takedown attempt from Faber. Faber gets slowly back to his feet.
Maven throws a right and a left that Faber avoids nicely.
Maven scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Faber.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maven cracks Faber with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Faber tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Maven defends well and Faber ends up having to push Maven into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Faber on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Maven. Maven obviously looking to wear him down.
Faber shoots in looking for a takedown. Maven tries to sprawl out of it but Faber keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Maven manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Some bone on bone action there as Maven checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Maven throws out a counter right but Faber avoids it with no problem.
Maven scoring well with a low kick there.
Maven misses with a wild combination.
Faber half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Maven displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber closes the distance and clinches up with Maven, looking for a takedown. Faber pushes Maven against the cage but Maven circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Maven fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Maven slaps away a takedown attempt from Faber, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Faber fails to land the takedown.
Faber takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Maven throws an overhand right that lands on Faber's shoulder, as Faber tries to avoid the shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Faber is defended easily by Maven.
Nice defenses there by Faber.
Maven buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Maven throws a hook but Faber blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maven connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Faber's hands.
Marcus Maven is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Maven lands with an uppercut that bounces Faber off the cage and back into range.
Faber changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Maven tries to avoid it but Faber manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Maven to the ground. Maven escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Faber fails with the takedown

and Maven counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head punch on the inside from Maven fails to land.

Maven breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Faber swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Maven counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Faber shoots in for a double leg but Maven sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Maven fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A nice inside leg kick there by Maven. That's going to slow Faber down.
Faber takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Faber jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Faber fails with a takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Maven dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marcus Maven'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.

Faber shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Maven sprawls well. Maven wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Faber gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck for Faber with that takedown attempt.
Maven swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Maven moves into range and connects with a jab.
Maven fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Marcus Maven seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Faber moves out of range as Maven strikes.
Marcus Maven is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Maven misses with the combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Faber.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urijah Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Faber takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Faber goes for a double leg but Maven avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Maven continues to drive forward.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Faber takes a swing at Maven's ribcage but misses.
Faber shoots in for a double leg but Maven sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Maven blocks a head kick by Faber.
Maven lands a leg kick that knocks Faber off balance momentarily.
Maven throws a series of punches but Faber avoids them all with ease.
Faber takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Maven lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Maven swinging wildly here.
Maven misses with a straight left.
Maven misses with a straight left.
Maven misses with a straight right.
Faber is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Faber shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Maven.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Maven feints a jab promting Faber to slip. Maven then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Faber slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Faber walks into a jab.

Faber is rocked!
Maven has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Maven leaves Faber with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Faber lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Maven circles away quickly and effectively.
Faber tries to score a power double leg takedown but Maven sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Faber somewhat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Faber ducks under a wild hook from Maven.
Faber takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Oh Faber is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Maven drops Faber with a naaaaasty hook - Faber is in real trouble here! Maven dives in to side control and pounds out his opponent for a TKO victory! The crowd goes nuts!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Marcus Maven!