PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Lotus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Lotus might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Eye of the tiger. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lotus
vs
Bennett

186 cm
23
183 lbs
5 - 9 - 1

177 cm
25
176 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 1, fighting out of London, Tommy Lotus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Bennett!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, James Ackerman and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bennett on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
A combination from Bennett does no damage.
Lotus fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bennett manages to avoid it.
Lotus throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lotus moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Matt Bennett has been cut.
Bennett misses with a hook.
Bennett looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bennett looks to throw the jab but Lotus is out of range.
Bennett loads up on a big right hand but Lotus slips the punch.
Lotus misses with a few strikes there.
Bennett throws a jab when Lotus was well out of range.
Bennett throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Lotus counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lotus goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lotus throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Bennett stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Lotus clobbers Bennett with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Lotus looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bennett drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Lotus looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bennett looking to sit in guard and control but Lotus gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bennett is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lotus seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Bennett looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lotus sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Bennett utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bennett not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Bennett looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bennett wants to sweep here but Lotus controlling him for the moment.
Bennett looks gassed!
Lotus showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Bennett is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Lotus cracks Bennett with a good jab.
Bennett throws a hook but Lotus avoids it easily.
Bennett is looking to score with low kicks.
Tommy Lotus is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lotus lands a right hook to the body.
Lotus ducks under a wild hook from Bennett.
Bennett misses with the combination.
Lotus misses with a few strikes there.
A combination from Lotus does no damage.
Bennett is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Bennett misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A punch combination from Lotus misses.
Bennett misses with a wild body shot.
Lotus misses with a body shot.
Lotus fails to land with a series of punches.
Bennett shoots in looking for a takedown. Lotus tries to sprawl out of it but Bennett keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Lotus manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bennett scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Lotus swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bennett.
Lotus throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bennett throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Lotus to counter with a crisp jab.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lotus misses with a wild combination.
A big left from Bennett misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Lotus dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Bennett's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Lotus looks to land a left hand but Bennett moved out of range nicely.
Lotus lands a jab-cross combination.
Bennett throws a combination that misses
and Lotus counters with a left and a right that stings Bennett.
Tommy Lotus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lotus throws a right and a left that Bennett avoids nicely.
Bennett thows a body shot but no joy.

Bennett feints and as Lotus raises his hands in defense, Bennett changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bennett postures up.
Lotus wants to get back to his feet but Bennett is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bennett trying to control the position from guard on top but Lotus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lotus is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Lotus stopping the sweep attempt from Bennett.
Lotus has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bennett is proving hard to escape from.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Bennett not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's two 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.
Bennett can't keep his opponent in guard - Lotus advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Lotus is stalling here. Bennett is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Lotus seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Bennett has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Bennett is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lotus has escaped the position, nice work there.
Bennett is breathing heavily.
Lotus sneaks back into half guard.

Bennett is trying to work for a kimura but Lotus is defending well.
Lotus gets full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lotus is looking to stand up but Bennett isn't so interested in that idea.

Lotus is looking for a triangle but Bennett pushes his legs off easily.
Bennett trying to control the position from guard on top but Lotus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lotus looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bennett wants to control from the top but Lotus keeps moving.

Bennett is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Lotus is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Lotus has escaped and now he's on top!
Lotus postures up.

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.
Lotus passes into half guard.
Bennett is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lotus's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lotus's back!

Bennett is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Lotus has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Bennett doesn't have the hooks in and Lotus manages to turn into his guard.
Bennett keeping moving, preventing Lotus from controlling successfully.

Bennett has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lotus can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Lotus dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matt Bennett's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Lotus works Bennett's body with a nice hook.
A big left from Bennett misses.
Lotus uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Bennett has time to react.
Tommy Lotus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bennett throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lotus throws a nice looking combination but Bennett bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Lotus uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bennett.
Lotus defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bennett.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lotus lands with a straight right. Bennett didn't see that one coming.
Lotus swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
A left and a right from Lotus both land. Nice combination.
Bennett takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bennett misses with the body kick
and Lotus counters with a straight right hand.
Lotus swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Bennett.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett dodges the punch combination from Lotus.
Lotus uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Bennett has time to react.
Lotus displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Lotus ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bennett moves away.
Bennett looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Lotus thuds his right hand into Bennett's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Lotus slips a jab from Bennett.
Lotus lands with a nice body punch.
Bennett thows a body shot but no joy.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Lotus!
Tommy Lotus is winning the standup battle so far.
Bennett swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Lotus cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bennett on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lotus changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lotus misses with a wild body shot.
Bennett takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Bennett slips a jab and a cross from Lotus.
Bennett jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Lotus misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bennett has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Bennett takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Lotus lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Bennett swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Lotus misses with a combination
and Bennett counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Lotus ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett throws a shot to the body.
Lotus looks to land a combination but Bennett avoids it well.
Some wild striking there from Lotus.
Lotus throws a series of punches but Bennett avoids them all with ease.
Lotus is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Lotus throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lotus misses with a series of wild punches.

Lotus gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Lotus is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bennett can do to turn this around?

Bennett has gone for a leg lock! Lotus slips out almost immediately though and dives into Bennett's guard.
Lotus stopping the sweep attempt from Bennett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lotus wants to control from the top but Bennett keeps moving.
Matt Bennett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bennett tries to strike from the bottom.
Bennett wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Lotus is now in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lotus missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tommy Lotus is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Lotus in particular looking to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy Lotus showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lotus, 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommy Lotus!