PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Garret Bender (ranked 5156 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pupuki Namasuzuki (ranked 6578 p4p, 0 weight class). Pupuki Namasuzuki is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bender
vs
Namasuzuki

215 cm
18
346 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
300 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Garret Bender!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pupuki Namasuzuki!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Ren Mimura and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Namasuzuki misses with a double jab.
Bender tries to counter with a takedown but Namasuzuki is quick to defend against it.
A combination from Namasuzuki does no damage.
Pupuki Namasuzuki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sloppy strikes from Namasuzuki. Those never looked like landing.
Namasuzuki throws a right hand that Bender ducks under and follows up with a left that Bender also avoids with ease.
A punch combination from Namasuzuki misses.
Bender seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Namasuzuki throws a right and a left that both miss.
Namasuzuki throws a series of punches but Bender moves out of range.
Bender fails to land the takedown.
A combination from Namasuzuki does no damage.

Bender manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Namasuzuki on his heels. He'll look to pass Namasuzuki's guard now, I'm sure.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Namasuzuki is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bender with a nice head shot there.
Bender will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bender cracks Namasuzuki with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Namasuzuki looks winded!
Bender working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bender is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bender trying to control the position from guard on top but Namasuzuki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Namasuzuki wants to sweep here but Bender controlling him for the moment.
Bender landing some decent shots from guard.

Namasuzuki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bender gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bender postures up and lands a big shot to Namasuzuki's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bender with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bender lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bender lands a couple of elbows.
Bender landing with the ground and pound.
Bender works over Namasuzuki with some ground and pound from guard.
Namasuzuki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bender. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bender postures up and lands a big shot to Namasuzuki's brow.
Bender working some strikes from top position.
Bender postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bender postures up and lands a big shot to Namasuzuki's brow.
Bender keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Namasuzuki's head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Namasuzuki can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bender with a nice head shot there.
Bender scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bender's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bender with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bender landing with the ground and pound.
Bender scoring with some ground and pound.
Bender is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bender lands a couple of elbows.
Bender landing with the ground and pound.
Bender stands up over Namasuzuki, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bender with a nice head shot there.
Bender distracts Namasuzuki with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bender working some strikes from top position.
Bender with a nice head shot there.
Bender is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bender landing some decent shots from guard.
Bender postures up and lands a big shot to Namasuzuki's brow.
Bender scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bender is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garret Bender dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Namasuzuki avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Namasuzuki throws a right hand that Bender ducks under and follows up with a left that Bender also avoids with ease.
Namasuzuki has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Bender is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Namasuzuki throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Bender counters by moving into the clinch.
Namasuzuki is trying to pull guard but Bender has him pressed against the cage.
Namasuzuki jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Bender walks away with a smile on his face. Namasuzuki gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Namasuzuki rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bender moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Namasuzuki throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Namasuzuki throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bender is looking to counter with head kicks.

Bender moves into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bender effectively controlling the action here.
Namasuzuki is breathing heavily.
Bender stalling in the clinch but Namasuzuki improves position.
Bender avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Namasuzuki is trying to break the clinch but Bender is controlling him.
Bender stalling the fight.
Namasuzuki letting Bender take a breather here.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Garret Bender.
Sloppy strikes from Namasuzuki. Those never looked like landing.
Bender wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Namasuzuki fails to land with a series of punches.
Pupuki Namasuzuki seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Bender shoots in and bounces Namasuzuki off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Bender lands a couple of elbows.
Bender trying to control the position from guard on top but Namasuzuki is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bender scoring with some ground and pound.
Bender working some strikes from top position.
Garret Bender overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bender wants to control from the top but Namasuzuki keeps moving.
Bender lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bender works over Namasuzuki with some ground and pound from guard.
Bender landing some decent shots from guard.

Bender gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Namasuzuki swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bender counters with a one-two to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bender shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bender postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bender has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Bender is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bender scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bender chips away with some ground and pound.
Bender postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Namasuzuki is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bender lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bender is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bender is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bender keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Namasuzuki's head.
Bender with a nice head shot there.
Bender scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bender is stalling in the full guard.

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

Bender closes the distance and clinches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Bender will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Namasuzuki up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garret Bender dominated that second round.
That's time! Bender's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A right-left combo lands from Namasuzuki.

It looks like Garret Bender has been cut.
Namasuzuki misses with a double jab.
Namasuzuki looks to land a combination but Bender avoids it well.
Namasuzuki falls off balance throwing a combination

and Bender counters with a takedown into side control.
Namasuzuki bucks up and tries to throw Bender off but instead Bender has got his back!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bender lands punches and elbows.
Bender punches Namasuzuki on the ear.
Namasuzuki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bender landing with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Bender is landing with strikes. Namasuzuki can't take much more of this.
Bender lands strikes to the head.
Bender scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Namasuzuki is looking for a way out.
Namasuzuki covers up after that shot from Bender.
Bender loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Namasuzuki hold on?
Can Namasuzuki hold on?! Bender is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Bender scores with strikes from the back.
Bender lands shots from the back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bender scores with punches and elbows.
Bender gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bender scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Namasuzuki is looking for a way out.
Bender scores with punches to the body.
Bender is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Bender gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Bender gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Bender apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Bender is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Namasuzuki can do to turn this around?
Bender tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Bender gets a double leg takedown into Namasuzuki's guard.
Bender postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender is in close to Namasuzuki's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bender works over Namasuzuki with some ground and pound from guard.
Bender makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bender distracts Namasuzuki with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bender scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bender working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bender postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bender working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Namasuzuki's head.
Bender distracts Namasuzuki with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Namasuzuki tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bender lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bender postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bender landing some decent shots from guard.
Bender postures up.
Namasuzuki has momentary wrist control but Bender slips an elbow through the middle.
Bender chips away with some ground and pound.
Bender content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bender slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Bender with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

And that's the end of the fight!
Garret Bender showed his dominance in that final round.
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 Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

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