PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Stefan Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gilligan Obama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Obama has chosen sound of maddness as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bennett
vs
Obama

191 cm
22
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stefan Bennett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gilligan Obama!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, John Roberts and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bennett forces Obama back against the cage and clinches.
Bennett lands an uppercut.
Obama tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Obama is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bennett is keeping busy.
Obama wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Obama breaks from the clinch.

Bennett takes the fight into the clinch.
Obama has Bennett pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bennett manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Obama is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Bennett breaks the clinch.
Bennett tries to clinch there but Obama circles away.
Bennett moves in looking to clinch but Obama pushes him off.
Gilligan Obama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bennett looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bennett tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Obama dodges the punch combination from Bennett.

Obama gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett wants to pass the guard but Obama is keeping the position.
Bennett 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.

Obama is looking for a triangle but Bennett pushes his legs off easily.
Obama looks gassed!
Obama can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bennett controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Bennett trying to control but Obama is working from the bottom.

Bennett stands and steps away. Obama gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Left hook, right uppercut from Bennett.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett misses with a two punch combination.
Bennett moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

Bennett forces Obama back against the cage and clinches.
Bennett manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Bennett has picked Obama up - he's going for a ride! Bennett dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Bennett content to control rather than advance.
Bennett's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Obama is not content to let Bennett control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Obama is trying to escape back to his feet but Bennett uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Bennett working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bennett trying to control the action but Obama is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefan Bennett dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Obama clinches but Bennett breaks the clinch

and Bennett counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bennett controlling the action here.

Bennett gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Bennett is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Obama can't fight it off and eventually Bennett manages to take the fight to the floor. Obama looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Obama wants to sweep but no luck.
Obama is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Obama throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Bennett stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Obama swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Bennett drops back looking for a leg! Obama is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Obama manages to kick Bennett off! Bennett jumps back into Obama's guard.
Bennett postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two 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.

Obama has his feet on Bennett's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Bennett tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Obama swivels and escapes.
Bennett's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Bennett duly obliges.
Obama showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bennett.

Bennett moves into range and clinches up with Obama.
Obama is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Bennett wants the takedown. Obama is fighting it off but Bennett persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Obama's guard against the cage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bennett slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bennett controlling from the top position.
Bennett content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bennett throws a big right hand that misses.
Obama wants to stand and escape but Bennett is having none of it.

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.
Obama has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Bennett has passed into side control.
An elbow from Bennett crashes against the mat.
Obama is trying to control Bennett's posture but Bennett avoids it.
Obama is trying to buck Bennett off.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Obama lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Bennett has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Bennett and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stefan Bennett dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bennett looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bennett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Obama swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bennett lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Obama backs up against the cage.
Bennett misses with a takedown attempt - Obama sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Obama misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bennett fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Obama checks it well.
Obama closes the distance but Bennett moves to the side

and Bennett counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bennett.
Bennett not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Obama is working an open guard so Bennett takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Obama takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Obama closes the distance but Bennett moves to the side
and Bennett counters with a left and a right that stings Obama.
Bennett tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Obama swivels and escapes.
Obama fails in his attempt to clinch.

Obama gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Obama looking to throw knees to the head but Bennett is blocking nicely.

Bennett manages to break the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Bennett.
Bennett tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bennett fails in his attempt to clinch.

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.
Bennett fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bennett tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Bennett has Obama up against the cage in a clinch.
Bennett lands a hook to the side of the head.
Bennett blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bennett scores with a hook to the body.
Obama misses with an elbow strike.
Obama keeps control of Bennett as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bennett lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Obama letting Bennett take a breather here.
Obama trying to land knees to the body.
Obama tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bennett pressing his opponent against the cage.

Obama is fighting off a takedown attempt but Bennett is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Obama to the mat. Obama regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Bennett is stalling in the full guard.
Stefan Bennett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bennett wants to control from the top but Obama keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett stops Obama from standing up.
Bennett not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Obama wants to get back to his feet but Bennett is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bennett controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

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.

Obama manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Bennett fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Stefan Bennett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bennett looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Obama closes the distance and clinches.
Bennett misses with some punches.
Obama throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bennett blocks it with crossed arms.
Bennett is stalling here.

Obama breaks from the clinch.
Bennett tries to clinch there but Obama circles away.
Obama misses with a kick to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stefan Bennett showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bennett 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stefan Bennett!