PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matthieu Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lee Perry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Perry has chosen Run For Cover as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Benoit
vs
Perry

185 cm
30
198 lbs
26 - 10 - 2

189 cm
25
212 lbs
15 - 2 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

BioPharm Nutrition
Dynamic Nutrition $35 159 Recovery

KAISER
Hellraiser Fightgear ($10-$20 clothing)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 10 - 2, fighting out of New York, Matthieu Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lee Perry!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Benoit. Perry does a little dance to reset his feet.
Benoit takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Perry throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Benoit swings widly with a right hand
and Perry connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Perry throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Perry throws a front kick aimed at Benoit's knee but Benoit avoids it well.
Perry lunges at Benoit with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Benoit's hand.
Perry fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lee Perry seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benoit just misses with a punch to the body.
Benoit throws a nice outside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Perry throws a leg kick that misses.
Sloppy strikes from Benoit. Those never looked like landing.
Perry fails with a takedown attempt.
Perry tries to clinch up but Benoit circles away and keeps his distance.
Perry swats away the attempt to clinch by Benoit.
Perry misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A solid leg kick lands there for Perry.
Perry shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Benoit defends it nicely.
Matthieu Benoit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Perry.
Nice sprawl there from Benoit as Perry shoots in.
Perry slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Benoit tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Perry was well out of range. Poor timing from Benoit.
Perry misses with a wild body shot.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Benoit, as that shot connected.
Benoit dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Benoit with a jab.
A low kick from Benoit misses
and Perry counters with a nice body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benoit throws a low kick, looking for Perry's leg but Perry calmly moves out of range.
Perry shoots in but Benoit avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Perry stuns Benoit with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Perry loads up on a big right hand but Benoit slips the punch.
Perry misses the body punch

and Benoit counters with a single leg into guard. Perry didn't expect that.
Benoit throws a strike but Perry rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Perry advances position into side control!
Perry trying to control the action but Benoit is working from the bottom.
Perry lands an elbow.
Benoit tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Benoit actively working from the bottom here.
Benoit moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Perry stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Benoit swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Benoit keeping moving, preventing Perry from controlling successfully.
Benoit can't keep his opponent in guard - Perry advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Benoit is refusing to be controlled, as Perry sits in half guard.
Perry throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perry is looking to advance position but Benoit won't allow it.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Perry missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Perry works his way into full mount!
Perry tries to control but Benoit wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benoit blocking the ground and pound.
Benoit throwing hammer fists to the chest of Perry. What's that going to do exactly?
Perry raining down hammerfists from mount.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Perry can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Benoit is looking to escape.
Perry thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lee Perry dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Perry throws a leg kick but Benoit sees it coming and moves out of range.
Perry tries to clinch but Benoit moves out of range.
Benoit takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Benoit fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Benoit tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Perry throws a poor cross that misses
and Benoit counters with a series of strikes. Perry will be more careful next time no doubt.
Perry throws a hook but Benoit blocks it.
Benoit tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Perry was well out of range. Poor timing from Benoit.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Perry throws a body punch but Benoit moves out of range.
Lee Perry seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Perry closes the distance and clinches.
A short right from Perry.
Benoit tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A right hand to the body from Benoit.

Benoit gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Perry regains guard.
Benoit distracts Perry with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Benoit won't allow Perry to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit tries to free his leg and advance position but Perry is retaining full guard.
Benoit is working hard here to advance position.
Benoit scoring with some ground and pound.
Perry utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Benoit trying to control the position from guard on top but Perry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matthieu Benoit overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Benoit is stalling in the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Benoit has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Benoit postures up in Perry's guard and throws a big left but Perry blocks it.
Benoit preventing the sweep.

Benoit drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Perry dives on top into guard.
Benoit wants to sweep but no luck.
Perry trying to control the position from guard on top but Benoit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Perry working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Perry is looking to work some ground and pound but Benoit has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perryis looking to pass into half guard but Benoit pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Benoit is in guard.
Benoit trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benoit working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Benoit sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Perry's guard.
Perry is trying to maintain the position but Benoit is very close to passing his half guard.
Perry regains full guard. Nicely done.
Perry trying to keep a closed guard but Benoit is proving a slippery customer.
Benoit distracts Perry with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perry looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Benoit lands a couple of digs.
Perry utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Perry wants to sweep but no luck.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Perry has Benoit pulled in close to control his posture.
Perry keeping full guard, as Benoit tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthieu Benoit dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Benoit scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Benoit keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A clash of legs there as Benoit blocks the low kick.
Perry tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Benoit scores with a punch to the head.
Perry with a jab.
Perry throws a head kick that misses.
A good leg kick by Benoit.
Perry swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Benoit misses with a low kick.
Benoit throws a combination. Perry tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Benoit, as that shot connected.
Perry connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

It looks like Matthieu Benoit has been cut.
Perry swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Perry slips a jab from Benoit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perry ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Benoit moves away.
Benoit lands a slapping body shot.
Perry throws the left hand but Benoit avoids the punch easily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Perry.
Perry shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Benoit sprawls well. Benoit wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Perry gets slowly back to his feet.
Perry takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Perry with a jab.
Perry lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Perry fails in his attempt to clinch.
Perry takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Benoit shoots in looking for a takedown but Perry manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Benoit's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Benoit throws a body punch but Perry moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit moves out of range as Perry strikes.
Benoit throws a nice outside leg kick.
Perry throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Perry lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benoit misses with a wild body shot.

Perry rushes Benoit and presses him up against the cage.
Benoit tries to throw a body punch but Perry avoids it by throwing Benoit back against the cage.
Benoit lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Benoit jumps guard but Perry turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Benoit gets through Perry's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Perry is working for takedown but Benoit is calmly controlling the position for now.
Matthieu Benoit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lee Perry.

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

Benoit closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Benoit is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Perry scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Benoit tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A right hand to the body from Benoit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit lands with a right to the head.
Benoit makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Perry blocks an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Benoit.
Benoit lands an uppercut.

Perry is rocked!
A shot in the inside from Benoit.
Perry is still on wobbly legs! Can Benoit finish him?
Benoit struggles to land a body shot inside as Perry controls his hands.
Perry blocks a body shot from Benoit.
Perry being controlled against the cage.
Perry seems to have recovered his senses.
Perry works on Benoit's body with a couple of short punches.
Perry is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Benoit is keeping busy.
Perry tries a body shot but Benoit blocks it.
Perry tries for a takedown. No joy.
Perry's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Perry tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Perry prevents a body shot from Benoit.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Perry misses with a punch to the body.
Benoit works on Perry's body with a couple of short punches.
Benoit can't find room to land a body shot as Perry controls the action.
Benoit pushes Perry back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Benoit lands a body punch.
Benoit lands a left hand.
A shot in the inside from Benoit.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Benoit creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Benoit missing with knees to the body.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Benoit here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Benoit misses with a hook to the ribs.

Perry breaks the clinch.
A shot to the liver by Perry. Beautiful body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Benoit dives in and grabs Perry's left leg, looking for a takedown. Perry pushes down on Benoit's head and hops out.
Benoit ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Perry moves away.
Benoit throws a good cross that connects.
Benoit throws a nice outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthieu Benoit clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Matthieu Benoit's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Benoit throws out a loose jab but Perry uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Perry looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Benoit throws out a loose jab but Perry uses good head movement to avoid it.
Perry connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Perry takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Perry just misses with a punch to the body.
A left and a right from Benoit both land. Nice combination.
Benoit swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Perry fails to land with a series of punches.
Benoit throws a hook but Perry avoids it easily.
Perry checks the leg kick.
Perry looks to land a left hand but Benoit moved out of range nicely.
Perry is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Perry slaps away a takedown attempt from Benoit, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perry tries to clinch
and Benoit counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Benoit looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Perry scores with a jab to the body.
Perry avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Benoit lands a jab-cross combination.
Benoit takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Perry bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Benoit scores with a nice right hand.
Perry ducks under a wild hook from Benoit.
Benoit throws a series of punches but Perry moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Benoit gets caught napping as Perry dives in and scores a takedown. Benoit manages to retain guard.

Benoit working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Perry doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Perry manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perry is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Benoit trying to control the position.

Benoit is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Perry trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Perry looking to pass the guard.
Perry passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perry wants to lay and pray for a moment but Benoit keeps working.
Benoit dodges the ground and pound from Perry.
Perry wants to control for a moment but Benoit uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Perry lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Perry trying to pass the guard but Benoit defending well.
Benoit trying to control here.
Perry is pressing down on Benoit's thigh, looking to free his foot. Benoit is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit tries to roll over but Perry keeps him under control.
Perry is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Benoit reverses the position - he's now on top in Perry's guard.
Benoit wants to control from the top but Perry keeps moving.
Benoit throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Perry looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Lee Perry will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Matthieu Benoit's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Benoit takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Perry scores with a sloppy right hand. Benoit should have avoided that one.
Some wild striking there from Perry.
Perry throws a leg kick which misses Benoit's front leg but catches the back leg as Benoit tries to avoid it.
Some wild striking there from Benoit.

Perry shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Perry showed some decent athleticism there.
Benoit wants to get back to full guard.
Perry tries to pass to full mount but Benoit defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perry is looking to take a break and control but Benoit is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Perry looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Benoit avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Perry.
Perry missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Benoit gets back to full guard.
Perry passes into half guard.
Benoit is trying to maintain the position but Perry is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Perry landing with the ground and pound.
Perry throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Perry wants to control from the top but Benoit keeps moving.

Benoit throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Perry advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perry working the head and body with strikes.
Perry throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Benoit is looking for a sweep. Perry is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Perry has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Perry with the ground and pound from mount.
Perry lands a heavy elbow.
Perry lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Perry looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Perry prevents Benoit from getting the reversal.
Perry scoring with strikes but Benoit is staying in there.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Perry lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Benoit is rocked!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Perry wants to control the pace but Benoit is squirming around nicely.
Benoit in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Oh Benoit is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Matthieu Benoit's cut is getting worse.
Perry loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Benoit scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Perry land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Perry stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:39 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lee Perry!
Lee Perry was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.