PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Donovan Bender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zig Slipper (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bender
vs
Slipper

157 cm
24
151 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

160 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 1 - 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zig Slipper!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slipper shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Slipper shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bender manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Slipper wants to control from the top but Bender keeps moving.
Slipper looking to pass the guard.
Bender could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Bender is looking for a triangle but Slipper pushes his legs off easily.
Slipper trying to control the position from guard on top but Bender is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bender is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Slipper is aware though and is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bender throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Bender throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Slipper wants to control from the top but Bender keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Slipper trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bender's guard.
Slipper pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bender is keeping the position for now.
Slipper keeps trying to improve his position.

Bender is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Slipper is aware though and is defending well.
Slipper showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Bender throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slipper trying to control but Bender is working from the bottom.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Bender tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Slipper swivels and escapes.
Slipper is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Slipper tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bender swivels and escapes.
Bender is looking to counter with head kicks.
Slipper looks winded!
Bender darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Slipper has a takedown stuffed.
Donovan Bender has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zig Slipper.
Slipper misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bender misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Slipper rushes Bender and presses him up against the cage.
Slipper is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bender to keep the fight standing.
Slipper tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Slipper misses with some punches.
Bender leaning against his opponent.
The referee is keeping an eye on Bender - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Bender pulls Slipper into guard.
Slipper trying to control the position from guard on top but Bender is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bender throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Bender looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Donovan Bender dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Slipper fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bender, pushing him back against the cage.
Bender is trying to pull guard but Slipper turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Slipper can't break the clinch.
Slipper dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

Slipper turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Bender wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Bender is looking to regain half guard here but Slipper keeps moving and retains side control.
Slipper is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bender tries to escape but Slipper is in control.
Slipper in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slipper takes advantage of some sloppy striking from Bender to pass into mount.
Bender really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Slipper tries to control but Bender wriggling away.
Slipper lands with some strikes.
Slipper unloads with some shots from mount but Bender bucks and avoids them well.
Bender working to try and regain half guard.
Slipper sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bender regains half guard.
Bender slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Bender looking for a guillotine here but Slipper defends easily.
Slipper scoring with some ground and pound.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bender is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Slipper is aware though and is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Slipper pushing down on Bender's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Slipper frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Slipper fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Slipper throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Slipper landing strikes, looking to finish!
Bender is wriggling around trying to escape.
Slipper scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bender?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bender taking shots to the head.
Slipper landing strikes from the mount and Bender is in trouble!
Bender bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Bender prevents Slipper from getting back to his feet.
Bender wants to stand but Slipper is controlling his posture from full guard.
Bender missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zig Slipper showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Slipper fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Bender checks it well.
Bender seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Slipper swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bender misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Slipper with the counter takedown but Bender avoids it easily.
Slipper throws a series of punches but Bender avoids them all with ease.
Slipper fails with a takedown attempt.
Slipper tries for a takedown but Bender circles away easily

and Bender counters by clinching up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Slipper pulls guard.
Slipper takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Slipper has a closed guard, preventing Bender from standing up.
Bender content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bender gets to his feet. Slipper looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

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.
Slipper misses with a left hand

and Bender counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Bender breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bender throws a sloppy body shot
and Slipper counters with a slapping leg kick.

Slipper moves into range and clinches up with Bender.
Bender effectively controlling the action here.

Bender ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bender no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Slipper trying to control but Bender is working from the bottom.

Bender throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Slipper throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Slipper avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Bender trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Slipper tries to free his leg and advance position but Bender is retaining full guard.

Slipper got a little sloppy there for a moment and Bender has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Slipper has managed to get both his arms back between Bender's legs - danger averted.
Slipper throws a strike but Bender rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bender wanted to stand there but Slipper had control of the position.
Slipper can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bender controls the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bender tries to stand but Slipper is controlling from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donovan Bender showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Bender has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

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