PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Duster Bender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gregor Conell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Bender
vs
Conell

225 cm
21
265 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

206 cm
25
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Duster Bender!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Gregor Conell!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Michael Johnstone and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Conell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bender circles away quickly and effectively.
Conell misses with a wild combination.
Conell throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bender fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sloppy strikes from Conell. Those never looked like landing.
Conell listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Conell throws a body shot but no joy.
Conell scores with a hook.

It looks like Duster Bender has been cut.
Conell comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Bender really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bender fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Conell avoids it really well and circles away.
Conell lands with a nice body punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Conell if he has to take too many more of those.
Conell tries to bum rush Bender with a series of wild strikes but Bender uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bender's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Bender duly obliges.

It looks like Gregor Conell has been cut.
Conell lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Conell slaps away a takedown attempt from Bender, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Bender closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Conell quickly recovers to half guard.
Conell is staying active underneath Bender, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Bender throwing shots but Conell is blocking nicely.
Bender is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Conell is looking to improve his position.
Conell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bender. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Bender is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bender seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Conell does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Bender connects with a nice short shot to Conell's temple.
Conell is looking to improve his position.
Bender wants to control but Conell is keeping him busy.
Bender is controlling the pace.
Bender working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bender prevents Conell from improving his position.
Conell controlling the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Bender seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Conell does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Conell is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Bender takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Decent striking displayed by Conell there.

Conell fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bender sprawls well initially but Conell persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Conell drops an elbow to the side of Bender's head.
Conell working Bender over with strikes.
Bender wants to get back to his feet.
Ground and pound from Conell.
Bender trying to hold on to Conell's head to control him but Conell postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregor Conell dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bender displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Conell.
Conell throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bender lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Bender slips a jab and a cross from Conell.

Conell gets caught napping as Bender dives in and scores a takedown. Conell manages to retain guard.
Bender is looking to stand up but Conell won't let him.
Bender looking to pass the guard.
Bender tries to stand but Conell is controlling from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bender preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender trying to control but Conell is working from the bottom.
Conell working a defensive guard but Bender manages to pass into side control anyway.
Conell is not content to let Bender control the position.
Conell tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Bender wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Conell tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Conell is desperately trying to improve his position but Bender has a good base and remains in mount.
Bender looking to control but Conell is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Conell wants to control but Bender is having none of it.
The referee warns Conell that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender trying to control but Conell is having none of it.
Bender working the ground and pound effectively.
Bender will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Conell in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Conell is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bender tries to control but Conell wriggling away.
Conell is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bender putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Conell is in all sorts of trouble here.
Bender connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Conell manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Bender wants to pass to mount but Conell is defending the position.
Bender is looking to take a break and control but Conell is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Conell manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Duster Bender dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Conell dodges the punch combination from Bender.
Gregor Conell seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bender throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Conell changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
A nice combination there by Bender.
Conell misses with a wild combination.
Jab, jab by Conell - just one landing.
Conell lands a jab to Bender's midsection.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Conell shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Conell showed some decent athleticism there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bender has hold of Conell's hands but Conell slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender is positioning himself well to prevent Conell advancing to mount.
Conell working over Bender with some ground and pound. Bender looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bender manages to get to full guard.
Bender looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Conell scoring with some ground and pound.
Conell must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Conell's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Conell lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Conell landing some decent shots from guard.
Conell landing some decent shots from guard.

Bender is rocked!

Duster Bender's cut is getting worse.
Conell postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Bender covers up, he's hurt! Conell keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Conell and the ref steps in to end the fight! Conell can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gregor Conell!