PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Friah Uaber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jens Culver (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Friah Uaber has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Uaber
vs
Culver

173 cm
21
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

174 cm
19
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Friah Uaber!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Jens Culver!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Culver shoots in and bounces Uaber off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Culver postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Culver tries to free his leg and advance position but Uaber is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Uaber throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Uaber looking to hit a scissor sweep but Culver is one step ahead there.
Culver trying to control the position from guard on top but Uaber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Culver controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Uaber has his takedown stuffed

and Culver decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Uaber's guard.
Culver is working Uaber over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Culver lands a couple of digs.
Uaber keeping moving, preventing Culver from controlling successfully.
Culver keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Uaber's head.
Uaber doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uaber preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Culver has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Culver drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Culver jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Culver is pushing down on Uaber's leg trying to pass to half guard. Uaber is fighting to maintain full guard but Culver has managed to sneak the leg through.
Culver prevents Uaber from improving his position.
Uaber is trying to stand back up but Culver is controlling him
Uaber is looking to control Culver's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Uaber avoid being mounted?
Culver lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uaber striking from the bottom.
Culver with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Culver is trying to work for a kimura but Uaber is defending well.
Uaber taking some punishment here, with Culver in his half guard.
Uaber is refusing to be controlled, as Culver sits in half guard.

Culver is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Uaber has managed to free his arm - good work.
Culver looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uaber wants to get back to full guard.
Uaber keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Culver there.
Culver controlling the pace.
Culver lands with a punch from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Culver has his takedown stuffed

and Uaber counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Culver's guard now.
Uaber cracks Culver with a solid left hand.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Culver is on top in guard.
Culver stopping the sweep attempt from Uaber.
Culver advances position into side control!
Culver lands a few punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uaber manages to work his way to half guard, despite Culver's best efforts.
Uaber is trying to control but can't.
Culver throws a strike but Uaber avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Culver trying to control but Uaber is working from the bottom.
Uaber doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Culver throws a strike but Uaber rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Culver is trying to keep Uaber in close.
Culver is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Culver striking off his back but it's not causing Uaber any problems.
Culver wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Culver shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Uaber counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Culver is defending against the submission attempts here by Uaber.
Culver holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Culver trying to hold on to Uaber's head to control him but Uaber postures up.
Uaber moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Culver.
You can see the frustration on Culver's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Culver might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Uaber kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Uaber has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Uaber drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Culver escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Uaber gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Uaber is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Uaber won't allow Culver to sweep him here.
Uaber tries to free his leg and advance position but Culver is retaining full guard.
Uaber trying to control but Culver is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Culver doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Uaber counters with a takedown into side control.
Culver regains half guard.
Uaber winds up and cracks Culver with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Uaber escapes and gets back to his feet.
Uaber misses with a takedown

and Culver counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Uaber on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Uaber tries to get out of the position.
Uaber thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Uaber keeping moving, preventing Culver from controlling successfully.
Culver content to stall in guard here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uaber trying to control the position.
Uaber wants to get back to his feet but Culver is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Uaber controls Culver momentarily but Culver frees himself.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Culver gets a takedown into half guard.
Uaber wants to control but Culver is keeping busy.
Culver seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Uaber does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Culver thows a huge punch but Uaber dodges it nicely.
Uaber trying to hold on to Culver's head to control him but Culver postures up.
Uaber blocking the ground and pound attempt from Culver.
Culver lands with a punch from half guard.
Culver working the head and body with strikes.
Culver lands with a punch from half guard.
Jens Culver has got the better of the ground game so far.
Culver sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Uaber defending well though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Culver trying to control the action but Uaber is working from the bottom.
Culver lands with a punch from half guard.
Culver is trying to control the action in half guard but Uaber is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Uaber is looking to improve his position.
Uaber connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Culver wants to pass the guard but Uaber is defending well.
Culver looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Uaber with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Culver tries for a takedown but Uaber circles away easily

and Uaber counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Uaber seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Uaber is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Culver is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Uaber's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Uaber's back!
Culver is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Uaber trying to control the action but Culver just sinks the hooks in.
Uaber is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Culver is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Uaber tries to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Culver somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Culver not allowing Uaber to control his hands.

Uaber fending off the submission attempt from Culver.
Uaber just trying to survive but Culver is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Culver misses with a punch to the head.
Uaber tries to escape the position.
Culver doesn't have the hooks in and Uaber manages to turn into his guard.
Culver looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Uaber's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Culver is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Culver throws his legs up looking for a submission but Uaber uses it to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uaber working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Uaber tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Uaber trying to control the position but Culver is working away.
Culver sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Culver missing with punches from the bottom.

Culver looking for submissions off his back.
Culver trying to get back to full guard but Uaber takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Uaber is in the full mount, landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Friah Uaber had his way with Jens Culver in that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Culver doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Uaber counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Uaber working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Culver's head.
Culver doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Uaber trying to control the position from guard on top but Culver is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:48 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Jens Culver! Jens Culver retains his lightweight title!