PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nova Zigaman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Blake Bender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Zigaman
vs
Bender

203 cm
26
287 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

184 cm
29
213 lbs
9 - 8 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Good knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 (80% laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Nova Zigaman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 1, fighting out of New York, Blake Bender!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Reed Andrews and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bender forces Zigaman back against the cage and clinches.
Bender misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bender scores with a shot to the side of Zigaman's head.

Zigaman decides to pull guard.
Bender pushing down on Zigaman's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Zigaman tries to roll over but Bender keeps him under control.
Bender wants to control but Zigaman is keeping him busy.
Zigaman gets back to full guard.
Zigaman bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bender's guard.

Bender keeping moving, preventing Zigaman from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zigaman lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bender preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zigaman content to stall in guard here.
Bender is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zigaman controlling from the top position.
Zigaman looking to sit in guard and control but Bender gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Zigaman keeping moving, preventing Bender from controlling successfully.
Zigaman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bender is one step ahead there.
Bender stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zigaman swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bender stands up over Zigaman, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bender trying to control but Zigaman is working from the bottom.
Zigaman avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zigaman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bender controls from within his opponent's guard.
Bender wants to control from the top but Zigaman keeps moving.
Bender postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Zigaman is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender trying to control but Zigaman is working from the bottom.
Zigaman lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bender looking to hit a scissor sweep but Zigaman is one step ahead there.
Zigaman trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zigaman is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Zigaman wants to control from the top but Bender keeps moving.
Zigaman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Bender pulls Zigaman in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zigaman tries to free his leg and advance position but Bender is retaining full guard.
Zigaman stopping the sweep attempt from Bender.
Zigaman trying to control the position from guard on top but Bender is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zigaman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bender keeping moving, preventing Zigaman from controlling successfully.
Our spies down at at Midnight MMA inform us that Bender has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Bender trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bender wants to sweep here but Zigaman controlling him for the moment.
Zigaman trying to control the position from guard on top but Bender is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
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 Nova Zigaman will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bender will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zigaman tries to counter by clinching up but Bender breaks away and moves out of range.
Bender with a nice cross.
Zigaman goes for a double leg but Bender avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bender continues to drive forward.
Bender swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Zigaman circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bender is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Bender drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zigaman looking for a sweep. Not yet Zigaman, not yet.
Bender trying to control but Zigaman is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zigaman wants to sweep but no luck.

Zigaman is looking for a triangle but Bender pushes his legs off easily.
Bender with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bender is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender landing with the ground and pound.

Zigaman has his foot on Bender's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bender works his way back into a safe position though.
Zigaman working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bender.
Zigaman will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bender content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Zigaman wants to sweep but no luck.
Bender wants to control from the top but Zigaman keeps moving.

Zigaman has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bender can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bender throws a big right hand that misses.
Bender stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zigaman swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Zigaman has his foot on Bender's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bender works his way back into a safe position though.
Blake Bender has got the better of the ground game so far.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bender lands a couple of elbows.
Bender advances to half guard.
Bender is trying to control. Zigaman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Zigaman tries to get to full guard but Bender has control of the leg.
Bender wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zigaman keeps working.
Bender looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Zigaman makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Zigaman.

Zigaman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender throwing strikes from guard but Zigaman blocks nicely.
Bender throwing strikes but missing.
Zigaman looking for a sweep. Not yet Zigaman, not yet.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bender's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Zigaman wants to sweep but no luck.
Bender sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bender throwing strikes but missing.
Bender trying to control but Zigaman is working from the bottom.

Zigaman working for a triangle but Bender defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bender passes Zigaman's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Zigaman moves into full guard.
Bender wants to control from the top but Zigaman keeps moving.
Bender's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Bender tries to free his leg and advance position but Zigaman is retaining full guard.

Bender avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zigaman can't keep his opponent in guard - Bender advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Bender prevents Zigaman from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Blake Bender showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Zigaman shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Blake Bender seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bender closes the distance but Zigaman moves to the side
and Zigaman counters with a stiff right hand.
Zigaman swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bender is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bender ducks under a wild hook from Zigaman.
Zigaman misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bender throws a low kick, looking for Zigaman's leg but Zigaman calmly moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zigaman waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bender.
Bender swings widly with a right hand
and Zigaman counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Bender rushes Zigaman and presses him up against the cage.
Our sources have told us that Zigaman has been working on his elbows in the gym.
Zigaman jumps guard but Bender stands there with Zigaman around his waist. Zigaman gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nova Zigaman. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender lands an uppercut.
Bender fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bender working aggressively here.
Bender scores with a shot to the side of Zigaman's head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zigaman.
Bender scores with a shot to the side of Zigaman's head.
Zigaman keeps control of Bender as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bender softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Bender pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bender dives in and grabs Zigaman's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zigaman pushes down on Bender's head and hops out.
Zigaman tries to counter with a takedown but Bender is quick to defend against it.
Zigaman shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bender defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zigaman connects with a body shot that sends Bender's belly button to the back.
Bender lands a nice hook to Zigaman's body. Zigaman takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Bender has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A big left from Zigaman misses.
Bender goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bender closes the distance and clinches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bender.
Zigaman's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Bender misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Zigaman.

Bender drags the fight down to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zigaman content to stall in guard here.
Zigaman slips nicely into half guard.
Zigaman tries to pass to full mount but Bender defends it.
Bender moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Zigaman is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bender holds on and takes a little breather.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Zigaman postures up in Bender's guard and throws a big left but Bender blocks it.
Zigaman landing with the ground and pound.
Zigaman lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Zigaman scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Zigaman throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Zigaman trying to control the position from guard on top but Bender is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bender wants to sweep here but Zigaman controlling him for the moment.
Bender is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Blake Bender comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bender has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:29
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Blake Bender!
The defeated Nova Zigaman had this to say: 'If you look up the word fluke in the dictionary, it will have a picture of this piece of shit Gab Batista. You try doing that again and I'll show you how the bombastic one plays.'.