PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Randy Rhodes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eddie Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Faber is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by California Love - Tupac. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Rhodes
vs
Faber

169 cm
23
148 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

173 cm
20
153 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big heart

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Randy Rhodes!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eddie Faber!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Alan Glass and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Faber closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Faber lands in his opponent's guard.

Faber has gone for a leg lock! Rhodes slips out almost immediately though and dives into Faber's guard.
Rhodes working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rhodes throws a big right hand that misses.
Rhodes trying to control but Faber is working from the bottom.
Rhodes connects with a couple of short punches.
Faber trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Rhodes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Faber tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Faber fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rhodes throws a head kick that misses.
Rhodes lands a head kick. Faber smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Eddie Faber has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Faber closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Faber lands in his opponent's guard.

Rhodes looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Rhodes keeping full guard, as Faber tries to pass.
Rhodes manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Rhodes looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Faber can't escape the position.
Rhodes has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Faber tries to hold on but Rhodes pushes him away.

Rhodes has hold of Faber's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Faber manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rhodes is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber tries to lock up and control but Rhodes gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Faber is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Rhodes is staying active.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rhodes working for a guillotine from mount but Faber is in no mood to give up.
Faber regains half guard.
Faber is looking for a sweep. Rhodes is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Faber manages to get to full guard.
Rhodes preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes postures up in Faber's guard and throws a big left but Faber blocks it.
Faber not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rhodes throws a strike but Faber rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rhodes working for a triangle but Faber defends it easily.
Faber sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rhodes trying to keep a closed guard but Faber is proving a slippery customer.

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.
Faber with a nice head shot there.
Rhodes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Faber is one step ahead there.

Faber avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Faber looking to pass the guard.
Rhodes can't keep his opponent in guard - Faber advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rhodes on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Faber scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Faber scoring with strikes to the body and head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Eddie Faber will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Eddie Faber's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Faber closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rhodes to the mat! Rhodes manages to get full guard.
Rhodes keeping moving, preventing Faber from controlling successfully.

Rhodes has his foot on Faber's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Faber works his way back into a safe position though.
Faber is in close to Rhodes's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Faber postures up in Rhodes's guard and throws a big left but Rhodes blocks it.
Faber sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rhodes throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Rhodes looking for a guillotine here but Faber defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber tries to free his leg and advance position but Rhodes is retaining full guard.
Faber is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rhodes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Faber makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Faber postures up and lands a big shot to Rhodes's brow.
Faber works over Rhodes with some ground and pound from guard.
Faber content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Rhodes can't keep his opponent in guard - Faber advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Faber seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber slows the pace down in half guard.
Rhodes wants to improve his position but Faber is controlling well.
Faber controlling the action here.
Rhodes is looking to escape.
Faber is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
A nice elbow there by Faber.
Rhodes wants to hold on but Faber pushes him away.
Faber landing shots from mount.
Faber lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber controlling the position easily from mount.
A nice elbow there by Faber.
Faber scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Rhodes is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
A nice elbow there by Faber.
Faber lands with some strikes.
Faber controlling the position easily from mount.
Faber landing shots from mount.
Faber lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Faber controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rhodes wants to hold on but Faber pushes him away.
Faber landing strikes, looking to finish!
Faber landing punches.
Faber landing shots from mount.
Faber lands a heavy elbow.
Faber looking to control and managing it successfully.
Faber in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Faber lands a heavy elbow.
Faber controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eddie Faber showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Eddie Faber's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Faber moves into range and clinches up with Rhodes.

Rhodes gets control of Faber's arms and successfully pulls guard. Rhodes will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Rhodes working for a triangle but Faber defends it easily.
Faber keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rhodes's head.
Faber's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Faber trying to control but Rhodes is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber looking to pass the guard.
Rhodes wants to stand up but Faber is controlling him.
Faber scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Rhodes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Faber seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Faber scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faber stalling.

Rhodes actively working from the bottom here.
Faber working the head and body with strikes.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Faber lands a nice short elbow.
Faber perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Faber prevents Rhodes from standing back up.
Faber is thwarting Rhodes's attempts to control the position.
Faber trying to mount his opponent but Rhodes defends it.
Faber moves nicely into side control.
Rhodes is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faber controls the position from side control.
Eddie Faber has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rhodes can't do much from the bottom here.
Faber advances nicely into full mount.
Rhodes is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Rhodes in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Faber is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Faber content just to control the position here.
Rhodes swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Faber unloading with bombs!
Faber with a couple of short strikes.
Faber landing strikes from the mount.
Faber with the ground and pound from mount.
Faber punishing his opponent with strikes.
Faber looking to finish Rhodes with some ground and pound. This is bad for Rhodes!
Faber lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Faber lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Randy Rhodes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Eddie Faber is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Faber controlling the pace for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eddie Faber comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Faber winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eddie Faber!