PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Donovan Bender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Carl Weathers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carl Weathers is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bender
vs
Weathers

157 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Donovan Bender!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Carl Weathers!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Weathers shoots in and gets a takedown into Bender's guard.

Bender looking for a guillotine here but Weathers defends easily.
Bender keeping moving, preventing Weathers from controlling successfully.
Weathers looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Bender might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Weathers keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bender's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender keeping full guard, as Weathers tries to pass.
Bender looking to hit a scissor sweep but Weathers is one step ahead there.
Weathers stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bender swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Weathers trying to control but Bender is working from the bottom.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bender keeping moving, preventing Weathers from controlling successfully.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Weathers fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Bender throws a big counter combination but Weathers scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Weathers with a poor takedown
and Bender counters with a straight right hand.
Weathers shoots in looking for a takedown but Bender manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Weathers's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bender appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Donovan Bender has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carl Weathers.

Bender closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Weathers did well to prevent Bender getting side control.

Bender stands up and beckons Weathers to join him on the feet.
Nice takedown defense from Bender. No joy for Weathers on that attempt.
Carl Weathers seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Weathers.
Bender could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Weathers changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bender tries to avoid it but Weathers manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bender to the ground. Bender escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Weathers shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bender defends it nicely.
Weathers looks winded!

Weathers looking to score a takedown here. Bender is defending well but Weathers drives through and ends up in Bender's guard.

Bender is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bender throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Weathers must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Weathers got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bender has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Weathers has managed to get both his arms back between Bender's legs - danger averted.
Weathers with a flurry of punches that miss.

Bender is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Weathers trying to control the position from guard on top but Bender is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bender can't keep his opponent in guard - Weathers advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
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 Donovan Bender will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Weathers looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bender is fending him off so far but Weathers persists. Nope, Bender circles away and we're back to standing.
Bender slaps away a takedown attempt from Weathers, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Bender stuffs the takedown.
It looked like Bender was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Weathers.
Donovan Bender has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carl Weathers.
Weathers fails with a takedown attempt.
As Weathers tries to get set, Bender tries to push him back and clinch up but Weathers manages to avoid the attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bender pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bender dodges the punch combination from Weathers.
Bender tries to counter by clinching up but Weathers breaks away and moves out of range.
Weathers closes the distance and clinches up with Bender, looking for a takedown. Weathers pushes Bender against the cage but Bender circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender throws a head kick that misses
and Weathers makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Weathers takes the fight into the clinch.
Bender is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Bender successfully pulls guard.
Weathers trying to control the position from guard on top but Bender is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bender keeping full guard, as Weathers tries to pass.
Weathers wants to control from the top but Bender keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bender punching from the bottom - just letting Weathers know he's still in a fight.
Bender has momentary wrist control but Weathers slips an elbow through the middle.
Bender keeping moving, preventing Weathers from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weathers throws a strike but Bender rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Weathers not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bender trying to stand up but can't free himself from Weathers's guard.

Bender stands and steps away. Weathers gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Weathers closes the distance and clinches up with Bender, looking for a takedown. Weathers pushes Bender against the cage but Bender circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Weathers goes for a double leg but Bender avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bender continues to drive forward.
Weathers will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
As Weathers tries to get set, Bender tries to push him back and clinch up but Weathers manages to avoid the attempt.
Weathers is breathing heavily.

Weathers moves into range and clinches up with Bender.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weathers tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bender smiles and moves away.
Bender looks to land a right hand but Weathers moved out of range.
Weathers with the counter takedown but Bender avoids it easily.
Weathers defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bender.
Donovan Bender is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bender looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Weathers appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Weathers throws a sloppy head kick and Bender moves out of range easily.

Bender shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bender showed some decent athleticism there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bender wants to stand up but Weathers manages to regain full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donovan Bender dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Weathers has managed to clinch.
Bender is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Bender jumps guard but Weathers turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Weathers is looking to control Bender's arms but Bender gets an underhook and turns him. Now Weathers has his back to the cage.
Bender goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Weathers tries to pull guard but Bender forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Weathers changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bender fights it off and pushes away nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bender moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Bender fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Weathers.
Come on Bender - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Weathers tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bender's elbow.
Bender is pressed up against the cage. Weathers has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bender down to the mat. Bender avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Donovan Bender has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Carl Weathers.

Weathers has Bender up against the cage in a clinch.
Bender fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Weathers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bender.
Weathers unleashes a big counter combination but Bender bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Bender is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bender misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Weathers is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bender sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
As Weathers looks to move away, Bender throws a big counter combo but Weathers just gets out of the way.

Weathers clinches up with Bender and pushes him back against the cage.

Weathers breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Weathers shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bender sprawls well. Bender wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Weathers gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Weathers throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Weathers avoids the head kick by Bender.
Weathers misses with a few strikes there.
Weathers dives in for a single leg takedown but Bender sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Weathers takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Weathers shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bender sprawls well. Bender wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Weathers gets slowly back to his feet.
Weathers lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bender circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Weathers tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bender swivels and escapes.
Weathers blocks a head kick by Bender.
Weathers shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bender defends it nicely.
Bender misses with a wild combination.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Weathers tries for a takedown but Bender circles away easily

and Bender counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bender.
Carl Weathers has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Donovan Bender is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Weathers goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Donovan Bender.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bender, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Donovan Bender!