PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nickolas Benjamin (ranked 3873 p4p, 24352 weight class) and Stan Young (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Stan Young will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Benjamin
vs
Young

181 cm
26
205
1 - 4 - 0

185 cm
21
200
4 - 13 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nickolas Benjamin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Stan Young!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Mauricio Rocha and Luis Engracia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Young takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Benjamin moves into the clinch.

Benjamin gets control of Young's arms and successfully pulls guard. Benjamin will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Young trying to stand up but can't free himself from Benjamin's guard.
Benjamin has control of Young's left arm, preventing Young from doing any damage.
Young wants to control from the top but Benjamin keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Young wants to pass the guard but Benjamin is keeping the position.
Young trying to control but Benjamin is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Young got a little sloppy there for a moment and Benjamin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Young has managed to get both his arms back between Benjamin's legs - danger averted.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Benjamin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Benjamin throws a lazy head kick
and Young counters with a stiff right hand.

Benjamin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Benjamin sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Benjamin slips nicely into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Young tries to roll over but Benjamin keeps him under control.
Benjamin is pressing down on Young's thigh, looking to free his foot. Young is holding on for now.
Benjamin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Young on the ground.
Benjamin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Benjamin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Young knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benjamin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Young doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Benjamin.
Benjamin looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Young with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Benjamin is taking a breather. Young says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four 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.
Benjamin lands with a punch from half guard.
Benjamin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Benjamin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Young looks winded!
Benjamin is controlling the pace.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Benjamin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Young sees it coming and defends easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nickolas Benjamin dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Benjamin throws a lazy head kick
letting Young counter with a right hand.
Benjamin shoots in for a takedown but Young shows good takedown defense.
Benjamin shoots in for a takedown but Young shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Benjamin scores with a takedown into Young's guard.
Benjamin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Young is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Benjamin decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Young, up you get!
Nice takedown defense from Young. No joy for Benjamin on that attempt.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Young! But no joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nickolas Benjamin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Young avoids it really well and circles away.
Stan Young is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Young gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Benjamin to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Nickolas Benjamin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Young has momentary wrist control but Benjamin slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Young is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Young is breathing heavily.

Benjamin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Benjamin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Benjamin lands in his opponent's guard.
Benjamin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin tries to free his leg and advance position but Young is retaining full guard.
Benjamin throwing strikes from guard but Young blocks nicely.
Benjamin working some strikes from top position.

Benjamin stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Benjamin lands a nice shot that snaps Young's head back.

It looks like Stan Young has been cut.

Benjamin closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin is pushing Young up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

Benjamin gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Benjamin moves nicely into side control.
Benjamin is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Young will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Benjamin stands up and beckons Young to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Benjamin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Young did well to prevent Benjamin getting side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nickolas Benjamin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Stan Young's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Benjamin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Young, pushing him back against the cage.
Young letting Benjamin take a breather here.

Benjamin manages to break the clinch.

Young tries to keep at a distance but Benjamin has taken the fight into the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Benjamin - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Benjamin manages to pull guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benjamin wants to hit a sweep here but Young passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Benjamin there!
Benjamin is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin is working hard here to advance position.
Benjamin tries to control the position but Young now has his back.
Benjamin trying to control but not successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Young tightening his grip on Benjamin, looking for the choke.
Young takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Young is hanging on to Benjamin's back as he tries to escape.

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.
Benjamin looking very determined here, making life difficult for Young.
Benjamin is in bad spot here.
Benjamin needs to remain patient if he's going to get out of this sticky situation.
Young avoiding Benjamin 's attempts to control his hands.
Benjamin looking to control the position.
Benjamin is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin is trying to break free.
Young avoiding Benjamin 's attempts to control his hands.
Benjamin is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Young is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Benjamin tries to escape the position.
Young struggling to keep hold of the position.
I really don't envy Benjamin right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Benjamin is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Benjamin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Young can do to turn this around?
Benjamin needs to remain patient if he's going to get out of this sticky situation.
Young gets his hands free as Benjamin looks to control.

Benjamin manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.

Benjamin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benjamin working Young over with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Nickolas Benjamin.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Benjamin, 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nickolas Benjamin!