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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Eddie Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malaki Isafoa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Faber comes to the cage accompanied by California Love - Tupac. Isafoa has chosen The Offspring - Come Out And Play (Keep Em' Seperated) as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.
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| 173 cm
19
153 lbs
3 - 4 - 0 |
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160 cm
19
150 lbs
3 - 2 - 0 |
Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced |
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BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very confident |
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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
3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Eddie Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Malaki Isafoa!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Daniel Franklin.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Faber shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Isafoa's guard.
Faber trying to control but Isafoa is working from the bottom.
Faber throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Faber preventing the sweep.
Isafoa is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Isafoa looking for a guillotine here but Faber defends easily.
Faber throws and elbow that misses. Isafoa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Faber's guard. Nice move by Isafoa!
Faber wants to sweep but no luck.
Isafoa connects with a couple of short punches.
Isafoa wants to control from the top but Faber keeps moving.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber has momentary wrist control but Isafoa slips an elbow through the middle.
Faber pulls Isafoa in close to prevent any damage.
Isafoa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Faber pulls Isafoa in to control the position.
Isafoa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Isafoa makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Faber wants to sweep here but Isafoa controlling him for the moment.
Isafoa trying to control the position from guard on top but Faber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Faber is trying to hold Isafoa in close to prevent damage but Isafoa has managed to pass into half guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Faber is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No luck for Faber with that takedown attempt.
Faber fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Isafoa ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Faber moves away.
Faber shoots in for a double leg but Isafoa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddie Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Isafoa as Faber shoots in.
Faber is breathing heavily.
Faber misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Isafoa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Faber changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Isafoa tries to avoid it but Faber manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Isafoa to the ground. Isafoa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Isafoa will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Faber or perhaps it was just good defense by Isafoa which made him look bad.
Isafoa fails with a takedown attempt.
Faber fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
No luck for Isafoa with that takedown attempt.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Isafoa, right into the meat.
Faber shoots for a double leg takedown but Isafoa sprawls well. He's pushed Faber's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Isafoa looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Isafoa tries a head kick but it misses.
Isafoa tries a head kick but it misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber avoids the head kick by Isafoa.
Isafoa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Faber gets caught flat footed, as Isafoa shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Isafoa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Isafoa lands a couple of elbows.
Faber looking to hit a scissor sweep but Isafoa is one step ahead there.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Isafoa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Isafoa stands and throws Faber's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Faber on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Faber tries to get out of the position.
Isafoa landing a few strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Malaki Isafoa dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Faber feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Isafoa pulls Faber in close to prevent any damage.
Isafoa working a defensive guard here.
Faber lands a couple of digs.
Isafoa throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Isafoa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Isafoa controls Faber momentarily but Faber frees himself.
Isafoa had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Faber is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Isafoa Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Faber's back instead.
Faber breaks Isafoa's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Isafoa is trying to keep Faber in close.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber looking to sit in guard and control but Isafoa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Isafoa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Faber looking to hit a scissor sweep but Isafoa is one step ahead there.
Isafoa trying to control but Faber is working from the bottom.
Isafoa working some strikes from top position.
Faber trying to strike off his back.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Faber throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Isafoa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Faber with a lazy takedown attempt
and Isafoa counters by clinching up.
Faber on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Faber drops down looking for an ankle pick but Isafoa pulls his leg out and moves away.
Isafoa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Isafoa is looking to score with low kicks.
Faber shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Isafoa as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddie Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Faber drives through with a takedown into guard.
Isafoa is trying to keep Faber in close.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Isafoa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Faber manages to get himself to full guard.
Faber keeping moving, preventing Isafoa from controlling successfully.
Isafoa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Faber working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Isafoa.
Isafoa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Isafoa wants to control from the top but Faber keeps moving.
Isafoa drops back looking for a leg! Faber is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Faber manages to kick Isafoa off! Isafoa jumps back into Faber's guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Isafoa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Faber is keeping the position for now.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Isafoa gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Faber accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Isafoa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Faber is one step ahead there.
Faber knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Isafoa on the ground.
Faber looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Isafoa looking to hit a scissor sweep but Faber is one step ahead there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Eddie Faber dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!
Faber tries to clinch up but Isafoa circles away and keeps his distance.
Faber misses with a takedown attempt
and Isafoa counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Faber is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Faber is rocked!
Faber moves into the clinch.
Isafoa has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Faber uses from the top position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Isafoa is on top in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Isafoa accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Isafoa preventing the sweep.
Isafoa wants to control from the top but Faber keeps moving.
Faber controls Isafoa momentarily but Isafoa frees himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Isafoa wants to pass the guard but Faber is keeping the position.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Isafoa thows a big elbow that misses.
Faber tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Isafoa tries to free his leg and advance position but Faber is retaining full guard.
Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Isafoa dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Faber. That did some damage!
Faber fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Eddie Faber seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Faber shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Isafoa pinned against the cage. Isafoa gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eddie Faber. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Faber keeps the fight on the outside.
Isafoa throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Faber drives through with a takedown into guard.
Faber avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Isafoa controls Faber momentarily but Faber frees himself.
Isafoa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Isafoa is on top in guard.
Faber throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Isafoa scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Isafoa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Faber wants to sweep but no luck.
Isafoa wants to control from the top but Faber keeps moving.
Isafoa preventing the sweep.
Faber seems keen to control Isafoa's posture.
Isafoa advances position into side control!
Faber is looking to regain half guard here but Isafoa keeps moving and retains side control.
Faber prevents Isafoa from moving into mount.
That's four 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.
Isafoa is looking to take a break and control but Faber is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Isafoa might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Faber kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Faber is looking to regain half guard here but Isafoa keeps moving and retains side control.
Isafoa throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Check out the look on Isafoa's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
You can see the frustration on Faber's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Isafoa throws a sloppy head kick and Faber moves out of range easily.
And that's the end of the fight!
Malaki Isafoa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Isafoa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Malaki Isafoa!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
48% |
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