PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Cowboy Cerrone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Bender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cerrone
vs
Bender

175 cm
21
150 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

172 cm
18
156 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Prefers standup

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 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Cowboy Cerrone!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, John Bender!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Hugh Johnson and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cerrone will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bender pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Cerrone throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bender.
Cerrone looks to throw a body kick
and Bender counters with an outside leg kick.
Cerrone misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cerrone looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cerrone throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bender.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Cerrone or perhaps it was just good defense by Bender which made him look bad.
Cerrone fails to land with a series of punches.
Cerrone looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cerrone misses with the combination.
Bender blocks a jab.

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.
Bender throws the kick towards the body but Cerrone avoids it.
Cerrone misses with a straight left.
No joy there for Cerrone, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cerrone misses with a series of wild punches.
Cerrone shoots in for a double leg but Bender sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cowboy Cerrone. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender throws a leg kick which misses Cerrone's front leg but catches the back leg as Cerrone tries to avoid it.
Bender chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Bender throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Cerrone is breathing heavily.
Bender slips a jab and a cross from Cerrone.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Cerrone does no damage.
Bender moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Bender is looking to slow Cerrone down with leg kicks.
Bender looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Bender throws a wild body kick that Cerrone sees coming a mile off.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice takedown defense from Bender. No joy for Cerrone on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bender dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Bender throws a wild body kick that Cerrone sees coming a mile off.
A clash of legs there as Cerrone blocks the low kick.
Cerrone stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bender.
Bender looking to land some kicks to the body here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bender bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Bender throws a lazy body kick
and Cerrone counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cerrone changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bender tries to avoid it but Cerrone manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bender to the ground. Bender escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bender slips a jab and a cross from Cerrone.
Some bone on bone action there as Bender checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Cerrone throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bender pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
A solid leg kick lands there for Bender.

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.
Bender throws a low kick but it's checked well by Cerrone.
Cerrone avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Cerrone. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
The fighters circling - Cerrone throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bender.
Cerrone throws a series of punches but Bender moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender keeps Cerrone at a distance using the push kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Bender. That's going to slow Cerrone down.
Bender is looking to land body kicks.
Cerrone takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
John Bender seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cerrone on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Cerrone on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice body kick from Bender.
Bender feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Cerrone's calf.
Bender throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Bender misses with a body kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bender scores with a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Bender showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Cerrone takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Bender dodges the punch combination from Cerrone.
Bender feints and then cracks Cerrone's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Cerrone down.
Cerrone is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bender.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cerrone throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Bender.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cerrone swinging wilding here.
Cerrone moves out of range of the body kick.
Bender scores with a push kick.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Cerrone crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Bender - the referee stops the clock and Cerrone gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Bender. Cerrone manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Bender cracks the inside of Cerrone's front leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bender tries to land a front kick but Cerrone steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Cerrone takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cerrone moves in looking to clinch but Bender pushes him off.
Bender lands a nice leg kick that just misses Cerrone's sensitive parts.
Bender dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Cerrone. That did some damage!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Cerrone.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Cerrone might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Bender is looking to slow Cerrone down with leg kicks.
Bender cracks the inside of Cerrone's front leg.
Cerrone is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Bender scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Bender explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Bender has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bender looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bender misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bender lets loose with a powerful body kick. Cerrone will feel that in the morning.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bender throws a push kick but Cerrone slaps the foot to one side.
Bender dodges the punch combination from Cerrone.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bender misses with a body kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Bender comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bender 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 Damien Edna scores the fight 25:30
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 25:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 26:30

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