PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Benji Lab (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and BOZ Fighter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). BOZ Fighter will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Lab
vs
Fighter

169 cm
19
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
160 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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, Benji Lab!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, BOZ Fighter!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Lou da Vinci and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lab misses with an uppercut. Fighter saw that one coming.
A big right from Lab misses.
Fighter looks to land a combination but Lab avoids it well.

Lab drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Fighter looking to control.
Lab has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lab is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Fighter is trying to keep Lab in close.
Lab is stalling in the full guard.
Fighter working a defensive guard here.
Lab slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Fighter looking for a sweep. Not yet Fighter, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fighter manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Lab is in all sorts of trouble here.
Lab on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Lab tries to get out of the position.

Fighter jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Lab manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Lab is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Fighter is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Fighter looking to control but Lab is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Lab is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lab is squirming around, avoiding Fighter's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fighter avoids the attempt from Lab to control.
Lab is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Lab is working to get back to half guard.
Lab swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Fighter can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lab is looking to escape.
Fighter is looking to stand but Fighter has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Fighter looks gassed!
Fighter trying to control but Lab is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lab wants to control but Fighter is having none of it.
Lab is trying desperately to improve position.
Lab is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Lab is squirming around, avoiding Fighter's attempts to control the action.
Fighter prevents Lab from getting the reversal.
Fighter tries to control but Lab wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lab stops Fighter from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Lab tries to hold on but Fighter pushes him away.
Lab tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lab is squirming around, avoiding Fighter's attempts to control the action.
Lab blocking the ground and pound.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fighter thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Lab tries to hold on but Fighter postures up.
Fighter prevents Lab from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benji Lab dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lab misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Benji Lab seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Lab misses.
Lab looks to land a left hand but Fighter moved out of range nicely.
Fighter misses with a series of wild punches.
Fighter shoots for a takedown but Lab saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lab tries to clinch there but Fighter circles away.
Lab thows a body shot but no joy.
Lab tries to clinch up.

Lab feints and as Fighter raises his hands in defense, Lab changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Fighter looking for a guillotine here but Lab defends easily.
Lab 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fighter has Lab pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lab is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fighter keeping full guard, as Lab tries to pass.
Lab sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Fighter trying to keep a closed guard but Lab is proving a slippery customer.
Lab stays in close to Fighter's body and controls the position.
Fighter throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Lab slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Benji Lab just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lab.
A punch combination from Fighter misses.
Fighter wants to clinch.
Lab doesn't manage to clinch there - Fighter circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fighter misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lab misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Fighter.
Lab throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lab takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Lab tries to clinch there but Fighter circles away.
Lab misses with a leg kick.
Fighter displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Lab throws out the jab.

Fighter clinches with his opponent.
Fighter lands a knee to the body.
Fighter missing with knees to the body.
Fighter blocks an uppercut.
Fighter prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benji Lab. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Fighter manages to break the clinch.
Danga de danga de dang - Fighter scores with a four punch combination!
Fighter throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Lab's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Fighter shoots in for a takedown but Lab shows good takedown defense.

Lab closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Lab prevents Fighter from improving his position.
Fighter wants to control but Lab is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Well, if Lab is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Fighter trying to hold on to Lab's head to control him but Lab postures up.
Still in half guard, Lab seems content to control.
Fighter wants to control but Lab is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Fighter is looking to improve his position.
Well, if Lab is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benji Lab dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Fighter uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lab.
Lab has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Fighter.
Lab takes a swing at Fighter's ribcage but misses.
Fighter clinches but Lab breaks the clinch

and Lab counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lab.
Lab trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lab preventing the sweep.
Lab 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.
Lab seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Fighter for as long as he can get away with.

Fighter had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Lab is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Fighter Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Lab's back instead.
Fighter takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lab trying to control the hands but Fighter breaks the grip.

Fighter working for a choke but Lab is defending well.
Lab trying to control but not successfully.
A lull in the action here.
You can see the frustration on Lab's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Lab just trying to survive but Fighter is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Fighter's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Fighter is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Lab defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Lab tries to break free.
Lab avoids the strikes from Fighter.
Benji Lab overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fighter wants to control but Lab is keeping busy.
Fighter might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Lab kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Fighter misses with punches from the back.
Lab has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Fighter.

Fighter is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Lab knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Lab for a finish.

Fighter is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fighter trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Fighter is hanging on to Lab's back as he tries to escape.
Lab knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fighter on the ground.
Fighter avoiding Lab 's attempts to control his hands.
Lab tries to roll but Fighter sticks to his back.
Lab holding on to Fighter's left wrist, preventing the choke.
Lab is keeping busy.
You can see the frustration on Lab's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lab is working hard here to advance position.
Fighter trying to control momentarily.
Lab trying to control the hands but Fighter breaks the grip.
Lab tries to escape but Fighter has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Lab really must keep his cool here. He's controlling one of Fighter's hands and whilst he does that, he's got a chance of escaping the position.
BOZ Fighter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lab breaks Fighter's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benji Lab showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lab, 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benji Lab!