2012 World MMA Featherweight Scouting Report: #3 - Brandon Bender

by Leland Roling on Dec 27, 2011 8:03 PM EST in World MMA Scouting Report


Name:	Brandon Bender
Nickname:	--
Age:	24
Height:	5'8"
Location:	Rancho Cucamonga, California

A quick glance at the résumé of California-native Brandon Bender (8-0) might shock some fans. After a decision victory in his debut at King of the Cage: Rapid Fire in August of ‘06, Bender rattled off seven consecutive victories, all by submission. That isn't an unfathomable feat considering a fight normally lasts fifteen minutes, and Bender has been training in the arts of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu since he was a teenager. The fact that all seven opponents tapped inside the opening frame of action raises eyebrows.

It comes as no surprise that Bender has found success quickly. He began training in Tae Kwon Do when he was seven, took up Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu during his teenage years, and wrestled in high school. He also trains at Millenia MMA in Rancho Cucamonga, California, a camp that houses WEC veterans Charlie Valencia and Manny Tapia, Bellator veteran Georgi Karakhanyan, Tachi Palace Fights' flyweight Darrell Montague, and UFC veteran Gabe Ruediger.

The 24-year-old Italian, who ranks as a black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, is a highly-effective submission specialist, as evident in his aforementioned streak of seven consecutive first round submission victories. Don't let that fool you. He is far from a top heavy, one-dimensional fighter who relies solely on his grappling prowess to win fights.

On the feet, Bender can hold his own, preferring to strike from range and pick apart more aggressive opposition. His stand-up game still needs tuning as he's a bit robotic and flat-footed at times, but there is strong evidence that he's evolving into a well-balanced fighter in his more recent battles.

Bender's last bout took place on the preliminary card of Bellator 35 in March. There's no word yet whether Bender has signed a long-term deal with Bellator that could put him into next season's featherweight tournament. If I had to take a guess, however, I'd say that it's almost a certainty Bender will participate. If Bellator doesn't pounce, the UFC most certainly will.

Check out more video footage of Brandon Bender after the jump...

Flyweight	Bantamweight	Featherweight	Lightweight
#1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 -	#1 - Rony Mariano #2 - Aljamain Sterling #3 - Chris Holdsworth #4 - Josh Hill #5 - Fabiano Fernandes #6 - Claudio Ledesma #7 - Sirwan Kakai #8 - Kyoji Horiguchi #9 - Leandro Hygo #10 - Pedro Munhoz	#1 - #2 - #3 - Brandon Bender #4 - Lance Palmer #5 - Jim Alers #6 - Anthony Gutierrez #7 - Max Holloway #8 - John Teixeira #9 - Cody Bollinger #10 - Bubba Jenkins	#1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 -

Welterweight	Middleweight	Light Heavyweight	Heavyweight
#1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 -	#1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 -	#1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 -	#1 - #2 - #3 - #4 - #5 - #6 - #7 - #8 - #9 - #10 -

Brandon Bender vs. Isaac Gutierrez
BAMMA USA - Bad Beat MMA - September 24, 2010

Brandon Bender vs. Mike Palo
MEZ Sports - Pandemonium 3 - November 19, 2010

Brandon Bender Highlight

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Comments

Nice.

Surely Choi is in the top 2, probably number one. I thought Joey Gambino or Noad Lahat could make the top ten; at least one of them won’t.

by Tag01 on Dec 27, 2011 8:21 PM EST reply actions

There’s also Nova Unaio trained Hacran Dias (20-1), a little old at 27, but he’s under 30, recently made the cut to 145 after modest success at 155 (has a win over Willamy Freire back in ’07), only loss to the Korean Bulldozer.

I thought Noad Lahat might make it because he’s with AKA, but he’s not really been taking tough fights so I kinda wrote him off. I thought Gambino would be more likely, but I really think the top two should be Choi and Barnabe

by Robert V-U on Dec 27, 2011 8:26 PM EST up reply actions

I think number one should be Renato Carneiro though, which is really throwing me because it means Barnabe is not likely to make the list. But I think Choi will get number 2 and Carneiro is number one

by Robert V-U on Dec 27, 2011 9:38 PM EST up reply actions

Weird, I was thinking Carneiro was on their list last year but looking back he wasn’t. I could see him and Choi being 1-2.

by Tag01 on Dec 27, 2011 10:26 PM EST up reply actions

I can’t see Choi getting number one (well I can, but I don’t think he is), but if you look at the quality of opposition that Moicano has faced and remained undefeated, he’s gotta be number one.

by Robert V-U on Dec 27, 2011 10:57 PM EST up reply actions

Damn, I thought he already had a Bellator contract

by Robert V-U on Dec 27, 2011 8:22 PM EST reply actions

im waiting for my man doo ho choi

Matt "The Terror" Serra!!!!

by DK_Monster on Dec 27, 2011 8:36 PM EST reply actions 2 recs

Cali has 2 in the top 5 eh?

¬_¬

by ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ on Dec 27, 2011 8:51 PM EST reply actions

Best coast is full of talented people

by Robert V-U on Dec 27, 2011 8:56 PM EST up reply actions

west*

by Robert V-U on Dec 27, 2011 8:56 PM EST up reply actions

Fixed.

West coast is full of ~~talented people~~ rich and well off people who have access to gyms by trains and subways.

My opinion>Your onion.

by Tairy Hesticles on Dec 27, 2011 9:16 PM EST up reply actions

We ain’t got subways anyway. Public transit is only decent in the Bay Area, but SF is the only place you can get around without a car really.
We got some good gyms throughout the state, and there’s a lot of money in the state, but there’s also alot of barrios and ghettos around. Check out the crime rates for areas Stockton, Oakland, Emeryville, Concord, Hayward. The town I was born in (and that produced Luke Rockhold I think), Santa Cruz, use to be referred to as the murder capital of the country. I think it’s still leading in sexual assaults. There are lots of areas with large homeless populations and plenty of areas with illegal immigrants who are completely disenfranchised. It’s not fair to equate Ca’s awesomeness with money, cause a lot of us just don’t have any

by Robert V-U on Dec 27, 2011 9:36 PM EST up reply actions

The awesome weed from California makes up for a lot of its faults

by Art_Wanderlei on Dec 27, 2011 9:59 PM EST up reply actions

That and the authentic Asian and Mexican cuisine. The Bay has sushi, thai food and Vietnamese food on lock, and Socal has the best Mexican food, great taco trucks, and some excellent Korean BBQ and ramen places

by Robert V-U on Dec 27, 2011 10:02 PM EST up reply actions