PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Michael Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christian Birchmont (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benoit kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Praise. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Benoit
vs
Birchmont

170 cm
24
140 lbs
17 - 4 - 0

177 cm
21
147 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Vandal Fight Boutique (prices $8 - $30)

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 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Christian Birchmont!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Damien Edna and Summer Carpenter.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benoit steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Birchmont.

Birchmont clinches up with Benoit and pushes him back against the cage.
Benoit struggles to land a body shot inside as Birchmont controls his hands.
Benoit misses with a body punch.
Benoit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Birchmont swings wildly with an uppercut but Benoit uses good head movement to avoid it.
Birchmont tries a body shot but Benoit blocks it.
Benoit tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Birchmont's elbow.
Benoit blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Benoit struggles to land a body shot inside as Birchmont controls his hands.
Benoit tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benoit misses with a body punch.
Benoit tries a body shot but Birchmont blocks it.
Benoit throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Benoit.
Birchmont prevents a body shot from Benoit.
Benoit lands with a right to the head.
Benoit lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Birchmont misses with a hook to the ribs.
Benoit misses with a hook to the ribs.
Birchmont tries to throw a body punch but Benoit avoids it by throwing Birchmont back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birchmont misses with a short punch on the inside.
Benoit tries to throw a body punch but Birchmont avoids it by throwing Benoit back against the cage.
Birchmont goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Birchmont lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Benoit backwards.
Birchmont misses with a punch to the body.
Benoit blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Benoit tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Birchmont's elbow.
Birchmont misses with some punches.
Benoit tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Birchmont's elbow.
Benoit lands a shoulder strike.
Benoit blocking some punches.
A left hand lands to the body for Benoit.
Benoit lands a nice uppercut.
Birchmont doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Benoit blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Benoit.
Benoit can't find room to land a body shot as Birchmont controls the action.
Benoit tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Birchmont's elbow.
Benoit scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benoit scores with a nice hook to the head.
Benoit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Benoit lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
A right handed body shot lands from Benoit.
Birchmont swings wildly with an uppercut but Benoit uses good head movement to avoid it.
Birchmont blocks a body shot from Benoit.
Benoit working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Benoit lands a body shot in the clinch.
Benoit blocking some punches.
Benoit misses with a hook to the ribs.
Benoit tries a body shot but Birchmont blocks it.
Benoit lands a right hand that snaps the head of Birchmont backwards.
Benoit lands a body punch.
Benoit working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Benoit lands a left hand that snaps the head of Birchmont backwards.
Benoit can't find room to land a body shot as Birchmont controls the action.
Birchmont misses with a punch on the inside.
Benoit blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birchmont tries to throw a body punch but Benoit avoids it by throwing Birchmont back against the cage.
Benoit lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Benoit blocks a body shot from Birchmont.
Birchmont misses with some punches.
Benoit blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Benoit.
Benoit lands a nice shot to the body.
Benoit lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Birchmont or not.
Benoit lands a shot to the body.
Birchmont misses with a short punch on the inside.
Benoit scores with a hook to the body.
Benoit tries a body shot but Birchmont blocks it.
Benoit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benoit lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Birchmont backwards.
Benoit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Birchmont misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Benoit tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benoit lands a nice shot to the body.
A right hook to the body lands for Benoit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit tries to throw a body punch but Birchmont avoids it by throwing Benoit back against the cage.
Birchmont misses with a short punch on the inside.
Birchmont tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benoit misses with a body punch.
Birchmont doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Birchmont misses with some punches.
Birchmont prevents a body shot from Benoit.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Benoit throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Birchmonts head.
Benoit working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Birchmont doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Birchmont misses with a hook from the clinch.
Birchmont has a couple of punches blocked by Benoit.
A right hook to the body lands for Benoit.
A hook to the body from Birchmont.
Benoit is working Birchmont over against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Birchmont misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice right hand lands inside from Benoit.
Benoit misses with a hook to the ribs.
Benoit lands a body shot in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Benoit connects with a nice looking jab.

Benoit forces Birchmont back against the cage and clinches.
Benoit misses with a body punch.
Benoit prevents a body shot from Birchmont.
Michael Benoit has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Birchmont lands with a left to the head.
Birchmont misses with a hook from the clinch.
Benoit tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Birchmont's elbow.
Benoit tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benoit tries to work over Birchmont's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Birchmont prevents a body shot from Benoit.
Benoit tries a body shot but Birchmont blocks it.
Birchmont lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Benoit fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Benoit misses with a hook to the ribs.
Benoit tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benoit tries to work over Birchmont's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A nice left hand lands by Birchmont.
Benoit lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benoit misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Birchmont prevents a body shot from Benoit.
Birchmont blocks a body shot from Benoit.
Benoit lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Birchmont tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benoit goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short left from Benoit.
Benoit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Birchmont prevents a body shot from Benoit.
A hook to the body from Benoit.
Benoit lands a body punch in the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Birchmont fails to land.
Benoit lands a nice shot to the body.
Birchmont misses with a hook from the clinch.
Benoit struggles to land a body shot inside as Birchmont controls his hands.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benoit digs a right hand underneath Birchmont's ribcage. Birchmont let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Benoit lands with a light punch inside.
Benoit can't find room to land a body shot as Birchmont controls the action.
Benoit tries to work over Birchmont's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Benoit lands a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit lands a body punch.
Benoit blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Benoit misses with a hook to the ribs.
Birchmont can't find room to land a body shot as Benoit controls the action.
Benoit goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Benoit goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Benoit lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Birchmont has a couple of punches blocked by Benoit.
Benoit tries to throw a body punch but Birchmont avoids it by throwing Benoit back against the cage.
Benoit blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Birchmont misses with a short punch on the inside.
Benoit misses with a punch to the body.
Birchmont throws a punch but it's blocked by Benoit.
Benoit gets through Birchmont's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Benoit lands a body punch in the clinch.
Birchmont swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Birchmont fails to land.
Benoit lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Birchmont backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Birchmont has a couple of punches blocked by Benoit.
Benoit tries to throw a body punch but Birchmont avoids it by throwing Benoit back against the cage.
Benoit is leaning against Birchmont and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Benoit.
Benoit lands a left hand that snaps the head of Birchmont backwards.
Birchmont prevents a body shot from Benoit.
Benoit lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Birchmont or not.
Nice body punch from Benoit - that landed with a thud.
Benoit lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Birchmont or not.
Birchmont is breathing heavily.
Benoit lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Birchmont swings wildly with an uppercut but Benoit uses good head movement to avoid it.
Birchmont goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Benoit lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benoit throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Benoit misses with a punch to the body.
Birchmont tries to work over Benoit's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Birchmont prevents a body shot from Benoit.
Birchmont blocks a body shot from Benoit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Benoit.
Birchmont blocks a body shot from Benoit.
Birchmont tries to work over Benoit's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A body shot lands from Benoit.
Benoit lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Benoit lands a nice shot to the body.
Benoit lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Birchmont.
Benoit lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Benoit struggles to land a body shot inside as Birchmont controls his hands.
Benoit tries to throw a body punch but Birchmont avoids it by throwing Benoit back against the cage.
Benoit tries to work over Birchmont's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Benoit tries to throw a body punch but Birchmont avoids it by throwing Benoit back against the cage.
Benoit scores with a nice hook to the head.
Benoit is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Birchmont can do to turn this around?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Benoit tries to throw a body punch but Birchmont avoids it by throwing Benoit back against the cage.
Birchmont misses with some punches.
Benoit misses with a body punch.
Benoit stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Birchmont lands a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Benoit dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Benoit tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Birchmont was well out of range. Poor timing from Benoit.

Benoit takes the fight into the clinch.
Benoit can't find room to land a body shot as Birchmont controls the action.
Benoit blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Birchmont fails to land.
Benoit tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Birchmont's elbow.
Benoit lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Birchmont has a couple of punches blocked by Benoit.
Benoit struggles to land a body shot inside as Birchmont controls his hands.
Benoit blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Benoit cracks Birchmont with a nice body shot.
Birchmont misses with a body punch.
Benoit lands with a left to the head.
Benoit lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Benoit lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Birchmont.
Benoit lands a right hand that snaps the head of Birchmont backwards.
Benoit lands with a left to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benoit lands a right hand that snaps the head of Birchmont backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benoit lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Benoit can't find room to land a body shot as Birchmont controls the action.
Benoit lands a body shot in the clinch.
Birchmont blocks a body shot from Benoit.
Benoit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Benoit scores with a hook to the body.
Birchmont takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Benoit softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Birchmont blocks a body shot from Benoit.
Benoit misses with a punch to the body.
Birchmont throws a head punch that misses.
A hook to the body from Benoit.
Benoit goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Benoit misses with a body punch.
Birchmont blocks a body shot from Benoit.
Benoit tries to throw a body punch but Birchmont avoids it by throwing Benoit back against the cage.
Benoit tries a body shot but Birchmont blocks it.
Birchmont misses with the head strike.
Benoit has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Birchmont's elbow.
Benoit blocks an uppercut.
Benoit pushes Birchmont back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice left hand lands by Birchmont.
Birchmont lands a shoulder strike.
A short body shot lands from Benoit as the two fighters clinch.
Benoit struggles to land a body shot inside as Birchmont controls his hands.
Benoit tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Birchmont's elbow.
Benoit lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Benoit lands a right hand that snaps the head of Birchmont backwards.
Benoit tries a body shot but Birchmont blocks it.
Benoit lands with a light punch inside.

Birchmont is rocked!
Benoit lands with a short shot to the head.
Birchmont is still on wobbly legs! Can Benoit finish him?
Benoit dips a shoulder and cracks Birchmont with a mighty uppercut! Birchmont falls back against the cage and Benoit unloads with a barrage of strikes! Birchmont is completely out with his eyes open, only supported by the cage! Save him ref! Eventually the ref decides to do his job and jumps in - Benoit screams abuse at the incompetent official before going over to celebrate with his corner. Brutal stuff!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michael Benoit!
Michael Benoit took to the mic in his post fight interview and said 'I have won back what is mine. I don\'t plan to give it back again!'.