PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Christian Birchmont (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Benoit's choice of entrance music: Praise. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Birchmont
vs
Benoit

177 cm
22
147 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

170 cm
24
140 lbs
19 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Christian Birchmont!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Benoit!
The judges for this bout are Hugh Johnson, Skip Squint and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Birchmont misses its intended target.

Birchmont clinches.
Benoit is leaning against Birchmont and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Birchmont tries to pull guard but Benoit won't allow it.
Benoit tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benoit misses with a punch on the inside.
Birchmont gets through Benoit's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Benoit gets through Birchmont's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Birchmont fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Birchmont jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Benoit walks away with a smile on his face. Birchmont gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Christian Birchmont. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benoit ducks under a wild hook from Birchmont.
Benoit stuns Birchmont with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Benoit looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Benoit wants to clinch up but Birchmont keeps it at a distance.
Birchmont misses with the combination.

Benoit has closed the distance and engaged Birchmont in a clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Birchmont tries to pull guard but Benoit won't allow it.
Benoit throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A short body shot lands from Benoit as the two fighters clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit lands with a right to the head.
Birchmont is trying to pull guard but Benoit has him pressed against the cage.
Benoit throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Birchmonts head.
Birchmont tries to circle away but Benoit has him pinned against the cage.
Benoit scores with a hook to the body.
Benoit throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Birchmonts head.
Birchmont's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Benoit tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Birchmont's elbow.
A short uppercut from Birchmont.
Benoit tries to throw a body punch but Birchmont avoids it by throwing Benoit back against the cage.
Benoit lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Birchmont.
A short right from Benoit.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benoit gets through Birchmont's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Birchmont tries to throw a body punch but Benoit avoids it by throwing Birchmont back against the cage.
Birchmont tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Birchmont tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Benoit just stands there and leans against the cage.
Benoit cracks Birchmont with a nice body shot.
Birchmont fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Birchmont decides to pull guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Benoit pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Birchmont is keeping the position for now.

Benoit decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benoit moves into the clinch.
Birchmont tries to pull guard but Benoit forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Benoit is working Birchmont over against the cage.
Benoit tries to work over Birchmont's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Nice body punch from Benoit - that landed with a thud.
Benoit scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Benoit lands a hook to the side of the head.
Benoit struggles to land a body shot inside as Birchmont controls his hands.
Benoit lands a left hand.
Nice body punch from Benoit.
Benoit lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Good body shot from Benoit.
Birchmont is breathing heavily.
Birchmont fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Birchmont fails to pull guard.
Benoit cracks Birchmont with a nice body shot.
Benoit lands with a left to the head.
Birchmont tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Benoit lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit lands a body punch in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Benoit.
Benoit makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A hook to the body from Benoit.
Benoit lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Benoit scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Benoit.
Benoit lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Birchmont.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benoit cracks Birchmont with a nice body shot.
Benoit is leaning against Birchmont and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Benoit lands a right hand that snaps the head of Birchmont backwards.
Benoit lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Birchmont backwards.
Benoit lands a nice shot to the body.
Benoit stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A body shot lands from Benoit.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Benoit.
Benoit lands a hook to the side of the head.
Benoit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Benoit lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Benoit throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Birchmonts head.
Benoit lands with a right to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit struggles to land a body shot inside as Birchmont controls his hands.
A short body shot lands from Benoit as the two fighters clinch.
Benoit lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Benoit cracks Birchmont with a nice body shot.
Benoit lands a nice uppercut.
Benoit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Benoit lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Birchmont is rocked!
Benoit pushes Birchmont back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Oh Birchmont is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A nice left hand lands by Benoit.
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 4:32 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michael Benoit!
Michael Benoit seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.