PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Fyodor Pending (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Luiz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pending
vs
Luiz

150 cm
47
130 lbs
54 - 82 - 0

170 cm
45
143 lbs
35 - 31 - 1

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 54 - 82 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Fyodor Pending!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 31 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, David Luiz!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Luiz jabs Pending to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Luiz fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pending manages to avoid it.
Luiz misses with a two punch combination.
Pending attempts a counter takedown but Luiz avoids it well and moves away.
A left and a right from Luiz both land. Nice combination.

Luiz has managed to clinch.

Luiz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Luiz throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pending is looking for a counter combo.
Nice shot lands for Luiz.
Luiz keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pending takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Luiz lands a nice hook to Pending's body. Pending takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Luiz smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pending takes one on the button.
Pending takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Luiz moves into range and clinches up with Pending.
Pending has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Luiz avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Luiz prevents a takedown attempt there.
Pending tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Luiz smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fyodor Pending. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Luiz clinches with his opponent.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pending showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Luiz.
A counter left hand to the body from Pending misses its target.

Luiz has taken the fight to the clinch.

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

Luiz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pending, pushing him back against the cage.

Luiz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Luiz misses with a wild body shot.
As Luiz tries to get set, Pending tries to push him back and clinch up but Luiz manages to avoid the attempt.
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!
Luiz cracks Pending with a right hand to the side of the head.
Luiz throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Pending stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Luiz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pending circles away quickly and effectively.
Pending appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luiz scores with a punch to the head.
Luiz lands with an uppercut that bounces Pending off the cage and back into range.
Luiz is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Pending had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

Luiz rushes Pending and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Luiz has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Luiz breaks from the clinch.
David Luiz seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Luiz works the jab nicely.
Luiz shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Pending eats them both and turns towards Luiz to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Luiz misses with a series of wild punches.
Pending changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Luiz lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Pending backs up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Luiz is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Pending dodges the punch combination from Luiz.
Jab by Luiz.
Luiz ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pending moves away.

Pending gets caught flat footed, as Luiz shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Luiz wants to control from the top but Pending keeps moving.

Pending escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Luiz gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Luiz dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Luiz gets a clinch.

Luiz breaks from the clinch.
Luiz lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Luiz throws a combination. Pending tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Luiz bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Luiz moves into the clinch successfully.
Pending has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Luiz is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Luiz lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Luiz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A decent looking cross lands there for Luiz.
David Luiz seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Luiz fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Pending, pushing him back against the cage.
Luiz lands an elbow just above Pending 's eye.

Luiz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Luiz is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Luiz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pending circles away quickly and effectively.
As Luiz looks to move away, Pending throws a big counter combo but Luiz just gets out of the way.
Luiz connects with a crisp jab.
Pending takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Luiz lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pending circles away quickly and effectively.
Pending feinted with a counter takedown.
Luiz goes for a double leg but Pending avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Pending continues to drive forward.
Pending appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Fyodor Pending is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pending avoids the body shot from Luiz.
A left lands for Luiz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Luiz misses.
Luiz swinging wildly here.
Pending seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Luiz tries to clinch but Pending is having none of it.
Pending seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Pending blocks a jab.
Pending attempts a counter takedown but Luiz avoids it well and moves away.
Luiz scores with a decent looking hook.

Luiz closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Pending's guard.
Pending not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pending preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Luiz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pending's head.
Pending might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luiz postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Luiz is stalling in the full guard.

Pending is looking for a triangle but Luiz pushes his legs off easily.

Luiz avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Luiz scoring with punches to the head and body.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Luiz's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Luiz makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Luiz has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Pending looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Luiz has picked Pending up and slammed him! Pending can't keep hold of the triangle and Luiz manages to pass to side control!
Luiz working away.
Luiz grinds an elbow into Pending's temple.
Pending tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Luiz has control of an arm but Pending manages to advance to Luiz's back!
Pending could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Luiz trying to control the action but Pending just sinks the hooks in.
Pending doesn't have the hooks in and Luiz manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Luiz showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Luiz throws a right hand that Pending ducks under and follows up with a left that Pending also avoids with ease.
Pending throwing a counter right hand but Luiz manages to avoid it.
Luiz lands a jab to the nose.
Luiz throws a shot to the body.

Luiz clinches up with Pending and pushes him back against the cage.
A knee to the head by Luiz.

Luiz has Pending pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Luiz pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Pending tumbling to the mat - Luiz dives into Pending's guard.

Pending looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Luiz has picked Pending up and slammed him! Pending can't keep hold of the triangle and Luiz manages to pass to side control!
Pending is looking to reverse the position.
Luiz is working Pending over with some ground and pound from side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Luiz working the ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pending tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Luiz wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Luiz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pending keeps working.
Pending tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Luiz cracks Pending with a big elbow.
Luiz in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Pending is trying to control Luiz's posture but Luiz avoids it.
Luiz scores with a couple of short elbows.
Luiz is putting a hurting on Pending here, landing some big shots from side control.
Pending can't do much from the bottom here.
Check out the look on Luiz's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pending manages to work his way to half guard, despite Luiz's best efforts.
Luiz scoring with strikes to the body and head.

Pending looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pending is trying to maintain the position but Luiz is very close to passing his half guard.
Luiz looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Luiz prevents Pending from improving his position.
Ground and pound from Luiz.
Luiz 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.
Pending is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Luiz scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luiz is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Still in half guard, Luiz seems content to control.
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. Luiz connects with a nice short shot to Pending's temple.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pending slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Luiz wants to control from the top but Pending keeps moving.

Pending is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pending is trying to control the position but Luiz postures up.
My spies in Roosters Coop inform me that Luiz has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Luiz works over Pending with some ground and pound from guard.
Luiz keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Pending's head.
David Luiz is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pending is trying to control the position but Luiz postures up.
Pending being controlled here, momentarily.

Pending has his foot on Luiz's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Luiz works his way back into a safe position though.

Pending has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Luiz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Pending has momentary wrist control but Luiz slips an elbow through the middle.
Luiz is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Fyodor Pending has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Luiz throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Luiz comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Luiz 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 26:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 26:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Luiz!