PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Marcus Behnder Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bryan Habana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Behnder Jr
vs
Habana

179 cm
30
185 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

191 cm
36
203 lbs
20 - 13 - 1

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marcus Behnder Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Tokyo, Bryan Habana!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Jorge Garcia and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Habana moves out of range as Behnder Jr throws a body kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Habana, right into the meat.
A bone on bone clash there as Behnder Jr blocks the leg kick.
As Habana looks to move away, Behnder Jr throws a big counter combo but Habana just gets out of the way.
Behnder Jr misses with a takedown attempt - Habana sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Behnder Jr slips under a jab.
Habana shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Behnder Jr is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Habana.
Habana throws a leg kick but Behnder Jr checks it.

Behnder Jr scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Habana is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Behnder Jr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Habana keeps working.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Behnder Jr tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Habana has one of Behnder Jr's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Habana can't do much from the bottom here.
Behnder Jr sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Habana is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

Behnder Jr is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Habana has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Habana's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Behnder Jr swings around for an armbar but Habana sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Behnder Jr's guard.
Behnder Jr is looking to stand up but Habana isn't so interested in that idea.
Habana is looking to stand up but Behnder Jr won't let him.
Behnder Jr keeping moving, preventing Habana from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Behnder Jr is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Habana is looking to advance position but Behnder Jr has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Behnder Jr goes for an armbar but Habana turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Habana.
Behnder Jr is looking to stand up but Habana isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Habana is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Behnder Jr wants to get back to his feet but Habana is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Habana wants to control from the top but Behnder Jr keeps moving.
Behnder Jr has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Habana is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
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 Marcus Behnder Jr will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Habana throws a leg kick but Behnder Jr checks it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Habana, right into the meat.
Habana throws a body shot but no joy.
Habana is looking to chop away at Behnder Jr's legs.
Habana throws a shot to the body.
Habana fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Behnder Jr.
Habana throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Habana misses with a head kick.
Behnder Jr was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Good leg kick by Habana there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Habana tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Behnder Jr manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A punch combination from Habana misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Behnder Jr tries a head kick but it misses.
A solid body kick from Habana.
Habana has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Habana throws a leg kick but Behnder Jr sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Behnder Jr changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Habana looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Marcus Behnder Jr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Habana manages to work his way to half guard, despite Behnder Jr's best efforts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Behnder Jr seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Habana does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Behnder Jr is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Habana has managed to free his arm - good work.
Behnder Jr missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Behnder Jr is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Habana is just riding it out for now. Behnder Jr eventually gives up the hold.
Behnder Jr throwing shots but Habana is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Habana trying to control but Behnder Jr postures up.
Habana is holding on to half guard well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Behnder Jr wants to work for an arm triangle but Habana is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Habana trying to control but Behnder Jr postures up.

Behnder Jr is working for a submission of some sort.
Behnder Jr is keen to just control but Habana is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Behnder Jr is working for a kimura but Habana is defending it quite comfortably.
Habana trying to control but Behnder Jr postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Behnder Jr fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Habana throws a low kick but Behnder Jr moves out of range easily.
Habana uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Behnder Jr.
Habana stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Habana wants it to stay on the feet.

Behnder Jr drives through with a takedown into Habana's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Behnder Jr is working Habana over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Behnder Jr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Habana swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Behnder Jr advances to half guard.
Habana keeping control of the position.
Habana tries to kick Behnder Jr off but Behnder Jr keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Behnder Jr is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Habana as he works his way to full guard.
Habana working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Behnder Jr.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Habana trying to control the position here.
Habana is continuing to stall.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bryan Habana will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Habana wants to clinch up but Behnder Jr keeps it at a distance.
Behnder Jr avoids the head kick by Habana.
Bryan Habana seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Habana forces Behnder Jr back against the cage and clinches.
A short right from Behnder Jr on the inside.

Habana breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Behnder Jr tries for a takedown but Habana sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Behnder Jr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Behnder Jr throws a shot from downtown. Habana moves away and avoids it.
It seemed like Habana was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Behnder Jr.
A head kick misses from Behnder Jr.
Habana has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Behnder Jr finds it's way round the side to connect with Habana's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Habana scores with a punch to the head.
Habana avoids the head kick by Behnder Jr.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Habana.
Good standup being displayed there by Habana as he connects with a hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A nice leg kick lands there from Habana.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Behnder Jr has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Habana.
Habana scoring well with a low kick there.
A slow jab from Behnder Jr misses its intended target.
Behnder Jr has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Habana.
Behnder Jr shoots in for a takedown but Habana shows good takedown defense.
Habana throws a head kick that misses.
Behnder Jr is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Habana scores with a sloppy right hand. Behnder Jr should have avoided that one.
Behnder Jr shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Habana but Habana pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Habana throws a counter combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marcus Behnder Jr. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A leg kick checked by Behnder Jr.
Behnder Jr is looking to counter with head kicks.
Habana misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Behnder Jr checks a leg kick.
Habana thows a leg kick but Behnder Jr checks it
and Behnder Jr counters with a stiff right hand.
Behnder Jr shoots and misses
and Habana counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Behnder Jr is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Habana tries to clinch up.
Habana blocks a head kick by Behnder Jr.
Habana swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

Habana clinches up with Behnder Jr and pushes him back against the cage.
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!
Behnder Jr being controlled against the cage.
Habana pushes off an throws an elbow but Behnder Jr leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Behnder Jr prevents a body shot from Habana.
Behnder Jr avoiding damage as Habana throws knees to the body.
Habana throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Habana lands an elbow inside that Behnder Jr shrugs off.
Habana lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Behnder Jr tries to work over Habana's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Behnder Jr fails to pull guard.
Habana pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Habana misses with an elbow over the top.
Behnder Jr swings wildly with an uppercut but Habana uses good head movement to avoid it.
Habana content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Habana misses with a punch on the inside.
Habana blocking some punches.
Habana tries to land knees in the clinch but Behnder Jr avoids the damage to the body.
Habana scores with a knee to the head.
Habana content to slow the pace in the clinch.

Habana breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Habana moves into the clinch.
Habana misses with an elbow over the top.
Behnder Jr misses with a punch on the inside.

Habana manages to break the clinch.
Behnder Jr checks a low kick from Habana.
Habana is looking to score with low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Behnder Jr walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Behnder Jr tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Behnder Jr closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A short right from Behnder Jr on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Habana fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Habana tries to throw a body punch but Behnder Jr avoids it by throwing Habana back against the cage.

Habana breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Habana looks to land a body kick but Behnder Jr moved away.
Behnder Jr defending well as Habana loads up on a big left hand.
Habana swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Behnder Jr swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.

Behnder Jr looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Habana!
Habana tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Behnder Jr easily slips into full mount!
Behnder Jr content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bryan Habana comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Habana 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 Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Bryan Habana!
Bryan Habana bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.