PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sam Benjamin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mateush Garcia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mateush Garcia has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Benjamin
vs
Garcia

186 cm
25
211 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sam Benjamin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mateush Garcia!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benjamin walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Garcia checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Garcia misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Benjamin throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Benjamin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Benjamin fails in his attempt to clinch.

Benjamin instigates a clinch.
Benjamin blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Garcia lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Garcia is keen to just control but Benjamin is a slippery customer.

Garcia is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Benjamin has managed to free his arm - good work.
Garcia trying to control the action but Benjamin is working from the bottom.

Garcia is working for a submission of some sort.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Garcia seems to be looking for submissions.
Garcia controlling the action here.
Garcia prevents Benjamin from improving his position.
Garcia trying to control the action but Benjamin is working from the bottom.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Benjamin fails with an attempt to clinch.

Garcia decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Garcia stops Benjamin from getting back to his feet.
Garcia trying to control the action but Benjamin is working from the bottom.
Garcia looks gassed!
Well, if Garcia is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Benjamin wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benjamin kicks off Garcia and gets to his feet.
Benjamin wants to clinch up but Garcia keeps it at a distance.
Garcia shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Garcia throws a sloppy head kick and Benjamin moves out of range easily.
Benjamin goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Benjamin misses with a body kick.
A head kick by Benjamin misses

and Garcia holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Garcia blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Benjamin has Garcia pressed against the cage, preventing Garcia from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Benjamin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Garcia has him pressed against the cage.
Benjamin tries to throw a body punch but Garcia avoids it by throwing Benjamin back against the cage.
Garcia has Benjamin pressed against the cage, preventing Benjamin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Garcia has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Benjamin trying to land knees to the body.

Benjamin jumps into guard, dragging Garcia to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin wants to stand but Garcia is controlling the position.

Benjamin is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Garcia tries to score a body lock takedown but Benjamin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sam Benjamin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mateush Garcia.
Benjamin can't break the clinch.

Benjamin breaks from the clinch.
Sam Benjamin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garcia blocks the body kick.
Benjamin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick misses from Benjamin.
Benjamin swats away the attempt to clinch by Garcia.
Benjamin throws a sloppy head kick and Garcia moves out of range easily.

Benjamin pushes Garcia up against the cage in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mateush Garcia will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Garcia gets a takedown into half guard.
Garcia thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Garcia wants to pass to mount but Benjamin is defending the position.
Garcia wants to control but Benjamin is keeping him busy.
Garcia sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Benjamin defending well though.
Garcia is breathing heavily.

Benjamin manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garcia has a takedown stuffed.
Benjamin tries to bum rush Garcia with a series of wild strikes but Garcia uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Garcia tries to keep at a distance but Benjamin has taken the fight into the clinch.

Benjamin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Benjamin 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.

Benjamin decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Garcia shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Benjamin sprawls well. Benjamin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Garcia gets slowly back to his feet.
Benjamin misses with a double jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Benjamin shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Garcia manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Garcia looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Garcia is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Benjamin stands up and waves to Garcia to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benjamin takes the fight into the clinch.
Benjamin gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Garcia.
Sam Benjamin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mateush Garcia.
Benjamin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Garcia avoids it.
Garcia trying to control the position but instead, Benjamin has worked for underhooks and has pushed Garcia into the cage.

That's four 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.
Benjamin is trying to break the clinch but Garcia has him pressed against the cage.
Benjamin tries to break free but Garcia pushes him back against the cage.
Benjamin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Garcia has him pressed against the cage.
Benjamin wants to break the clinch but can't.

Garcia pulls Benjamin into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benjamin is looking to stand up but Garcia won't let him.

Garcia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Benjamin is aware though and is defending well.
Benjamin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Benjamin gets to his feet - Garcia follows without any prompting.
Benjamin throws a series of punches but Garcia moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Benjamin dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Garcia takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Garcia fails with the takedown.
Benjamin tries to clinch

and Garcia counters with a nice double leg into side control. Benjamin won't be happy with that.
Garcia tries to move into full mount but can't pass Benjamin's legs.
Garcia wants to stand but Benjamin has his arm trapped.
Benjamin tries to buck Garcia off but Garcia is having none of it.
Mateush Garcia has got the better of the ground game so far.

Garcia is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Benjamin knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Benjamin tries to bench press Garcia off him but Garcia keeps the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Garcia's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Benjamin tries to kick Garcia off but Garcia keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Benjamin is staying active underneath Garcia, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Benjamin misses with a head kick.
Garcia throws a nice looking combination but Benjamin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A head kick by Benjamin misses

and Garcia holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Benjamin's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Garcia managing to block the knees to the body from Benjamin.

Benjamin successfully pulls guard.
Benjamin wants to get back to his feet but Garcia is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Benjamin pushes Garcia off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Garcia swats away the attempt to clinch by Benjamin.

Benjamin instigates a clinch.
Garcia managing to block the knees to the body from Benjamin.
Garcia is looking to break free of the clinch but Benjamin has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garcia is trying to drag Benjamin to the mat but Benjamin just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Benjamin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Benjamin breaks from the clinch.
Benjamin throws and low kick but Garcia moves out of range easily.
Benjamin tries to clinch there but Garcia circles away.
Garcia fails with a takedown attempt.
Sam Benjamin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mateush Garcia.

Benjamin closes the distance and pushes Garcia back into the cage.
Benjamin working hard to break the clinch.
Benjamin working hard to break the clinch.
Garcia is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Benjamin gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Benjamin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Benjamin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Garcia shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Benjamin pinned against the cage. Benjamin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

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.
Garcia moves out of range of the body kick from Benjamin.

Benjamin pushes Garcia up against the cage in a clinch.
Garcia fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Garcia keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Benjamin's efforts to push away.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Benjamin has had enough of the clinch but Garcia keeps him there for the moment.
Benjamin is looking to break free of the clinch but Garcia has double underhooks.
Garcia tries to pull guard but Benjamin holds him up against the cage and eventually Garcia drops back down to his feet.

Benjamin manages to break the clinch.
Garcia avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Benjamin moves into the clinch.
Benjamin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Benjamin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Benjamin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

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