PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Urijah Faber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Horacio Vanderbeet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Faber kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Choke - Red Jumpsuit Apparatus. Horacio Vanderbeet has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Faber
vs
Vanderbeet

170 cm
35
141 lbs
17 - 14 - 1

160 cm
26
142 lbs
20 - 12 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Urijah Faber!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 12 - 1, fighting out of London, Horacio Vanderbeet!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Fedor Mirinova and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vanderbeet will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Horacio Vanderbeet seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Faber walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Vanderbeet checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.

Vanderbeet gets the takedown into side control.
Faber wants to control but Vanderbeet postures up.
Vanderbeet cracks Faber with a big right hand but Faber just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Faber sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Vanderbeet wants to take a breather but Faber is having none of it.
Faber holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Faber is staying active underneath Vanderbeet, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Faber trying to control but Vanderbeet postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faber is looking for a sweep. Vanderbeet is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Faber is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber won't allow Vanderbeet to pass to mount.
Vanderbeet slips a nice elbow through Faber's hands, connecting with Faber's forehead.
Faber wants to improve his position but Vanderbeet is controlling well.
Faber trying to control from the bottom.

Vanderbeet seems to be working for a kimura but Faber defends the submission attempt.

Faber is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vanderbeet pulls his head out easily.

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.
Vanderbeet working Faber over with strikes.
Vanderbeet thows a huge punch but Faber dodges it nicely.
Vanderbeet missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Faber is trying to control but can't.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Faber won't allow Vanderbeet to pass to mount.

Vanderbeet seems to be looking for submissions.
Faber taking some punishment here, with Vanderbeet in his half guard.
Faber gets full guard.
Vanderbeet throwing strikes from guard but Faber blocks nicely.

Faber had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vanderbeet defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Faber throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Faber working for a triangle but Vanderbeet defends it easily.
Faber keeping moving, preventing Vanderbeet from controlling successfully.
Faber lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Faber controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber with a flurry of punches that miss.
Faber postures up.
Vanderbeet keeping moving, preventing Faber from controlling successfully.
Faber stopping the sweep attempt from Vanderbeet.
Faber slips nicely into half guard.
Vanderbeet tries to roll over but Faber keeps him under control.
Faber stalling.
Vanderbeet wants to control but Faber is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vanderbeet wants to improve his position but Faber is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Horacio Vanderbeet dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Faber gets caught flat footed, as Vanderbeet shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Horacio Vanderbeet has got the better of the ground game so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vanderbeet accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vanderbeet postures up.
Vanderbeet trying to control the position from guard on top but Faber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vanderbeet stands up over Faber, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Vanderbeet loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vanderbeet with a nice head shot there.
Faber being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faber controls Vanderbeet momentarily but Vanderbeet frees himself.

Faber working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Vanderbeet has passed into half guard!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanderbeet wants to control but Faber is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Faber blocking the ground and pound attempt from Vanderbeet.
Faber tries to get to full guard but Vanderbeet has control of the leg.
Vanderbeet passes the guard and advances to mount!
Vanderbeet avoids the attempt from Faber to control.

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.
Vanderbeet prevents Faber from getting the reversal.
Faber gets back to half guard.
Faber taking some punishment here, with Vanderbeet in his half guard.

Faber is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vanderbeet pulls his head out easily.
Faber is not content to let Vanderbeet control the position.

Vanderbeet wants to work for an arm triangle but Faber is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Vanderbeet is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Vanderbeet thows a huge punch but Faber dodges it nicely.
Faber is pressing down on Vanderbeet's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vanderbeet drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Faber dives on top into guard.

Faber drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Faber jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Our spies down at at Laoch Den inform us that Vanderbeet has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?

Vanderbeet has his foot on Faber's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Faber works his way back into a safe position though.
Faber trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vanderbeet is adopting a defensive guard.
Vanderbeet has momentary wrist control but Faber slips an elbow through the middle.
Vanderbeet wants to sweep here but Faber controlling him for the moment.
Faber forces his way into half guard.
Vanderbeet is looking to control Faber's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vanderbeet avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faber is pressing down on Vanderbeet's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vanderbeet is holding on for now.

Faber is working for a kimura but Vanderbeet is defending it quite comfortably.
Faber wants to take a breather but Vanderbeet is having none of it.
Vanderbeet is looking for a sweep. Faber is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vanderbeet is refusing to be controlled, as Faber sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Horacio Vanderbeet showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Faber gets caught napping as Vanderbeet dives in and scores a takedown. Faber manages to retain guard.

Faber has his foot on Vanderbeet's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vanderbeet works his way back into a safe position though.
Faber wants to control the position but Vanderbeet says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Faber wants to improve his position but Vanderbeet is controlling well.
Faber moves into full guard.
Faber tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vanderbeet trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vanderbeet landing with the ground and pound.
Vanderbeet showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Vanderbeet lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faber is adopting a defensive guard.
Faber manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Vanderbeet manages to get himself to full guard.

Vanderbeet is trying to control the position but Faber postures up.

Faber drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Faber jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Vanderbeet wants to sweep here but Faber controlling him for the moment.
Vanderbeet is trying to keep Faber in close.

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.
Vanderbeet keeping moving, preventing Faber from controlling successfully.
Faber sitting in guard here, content to control.
Faber trying to control but Vanderbeet 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.

Faber gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Vanderbeet stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Faber has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Vanderbeet manages to get his head free but now Faber has transitioned to an armbar! Vanderbeet grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Faber! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Urijah Faber!
After the big win, Urijah Faber made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors Vandal Fight Boutique & Laundry (93%) and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.