PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sorin Ban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabricio Werdum (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!

Ban
vs
Werdum

192 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

215 cm
18
285 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sorin Ban!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fabricio Werdum!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ban will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Werdum lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Werdum clinches.
Werdum fails to pull guard.
Ban wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ban definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Ban is trying to drag Werdum to the mat but Werdum just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Ban breaks the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Werdum moves into the clinch.
Ban wants to break the clinch but can't.
Werdum wants to break free but Ban has control.
Werdum is trying to force a seperation but Ban has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werdum is pushing Ban up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Werdum slows down the pace here.
Werdum has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ban avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ban wants to break the clinch but can't.

Ban's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ban throws a head kick but Werdum moves out of range.
Werdum fails with a takedown attempt.
Sorin Ban has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabricio Werdum.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Werdum throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ban was covering up waiting for the punch and Werdum finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Werdum stops Ban from standing up.
Ban knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Werdum on the ground.
Ban is breathing heavily.

Werdum stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Werdum fails with a takedown attempt.
Werdum moves in looking to clinch but Ban pushes him off.
Ban throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ban moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Werdum fails with a takedown attempt.
Ban shoots in looking for a takedown. Werdum tries to sprawl out of it but Ban keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Werdum manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
As Ban backs off Werdum throws a huge counter combo but Ban manages to avoid it all.
Werdum shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ban as he avoids it easily.
Sorin Ban seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Werdum looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Ban avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Werdum.

Werdum postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Ban to stand up.
Werdum shoots in but Ban avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good work by Ban as he checks the leg kick.
Nice sprawl there from Ban as Werdum shoots in.
Ban slaps away a takedown attempt from Werdum, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Werdum looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Werdum shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ban pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Werdum has a takedown stuffed.
Ban lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ban dives in for a single leg takedown but Werdum sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Werdum throws a sloppy head kick and Ban moves out of range easily.
A little feinted left hand from Ban on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
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 Sorin Ban 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.

Werdum is looking to clinch.
Ban half committed to a counter leg kick.
Werdum tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ban paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Werdum throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ban counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ban leaves Werdum with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ban throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Werdum.
Ban shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Werdum pinned against the cage. Werdum gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Werdum fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ban avoids it really well and circles away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Werdum fails with the takedown
and Ban counters with a one-two to the body.
Sorin Ban has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabricio Werdum.

Werdum gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Werdum effectively controlling the action here.
Werdum is trying to pull guard but Ban has him pressed against the cage.
Ban is trying to pull guard but Werdum has him pressed against the cage.
Ban tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Werdum just stands there and leans against the cage.

Werdum jumps into guard, dragging Ban to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Werdum wants to stand but Ban is controlling the position.
Werdum being controlled here, momentarily.
Ban stopping the sweep attempt from Werdum.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ban is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Werdum has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Ban is looking to defend but Werdum has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Ban! Werdum pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Ban taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:36 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Fabricio Werdum!