PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hank Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jem Levi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Benoit
vs
Levi

182 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Hank Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jem Levi!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Winston Howard and Bruno Hogan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benoit looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Levi is fending him off so far but Benoit persists. Nope, Levi circles away and we're back to standing.
Benoit displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Levi.
Levi misses with a body kick.
Benoit tries to grapple but his opponent circles
letting Levi counter with a right hand.
Benoit misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Levi is looking to clinch.

Benoit looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Levi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Benoit trying to control but Levi is working from the bottom.
Benoit looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Levi can't keep his opponent in guard - Benoit advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Levi is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Benoit jumps into side control!

Benoit is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Levi knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Levi struggling a bit here.
Benoit misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benoit wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Levi, who protects the arm well.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Levi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Benoit wants to lay and pray for a moment but Levi keeps working.
Levi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levi gets back to half guard.
Levi trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Benoit wants to control the pace but Levi is squirming around nicely.
Levi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Benoit misses with a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Levi working to try and regain half guard.
Levi tries to hold on but Benoit postures up.
Benoit takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Levi is trying to stand up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Levi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Levi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Benoit breaks from Levi's wrist control and lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Benoit dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Benoit shoots in looking for a takedown but Levi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Benoit's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Levi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Benoit tries to avoid it but Levi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Benoit to the ground. Benoit escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Levi.

Benoit looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Benoit is stalling in the full guard.
Benoit passes Levi's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Levi is looking for a sweep. Benoit is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Benoit content to control rather than advance.
Benoit scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Levi's head.
Levi tries to roll over but Benoit keeps him under control.

Benoit stands up and beckons Levi to join him on the feet.
Benoit keeps the fight on the outside.
Levi displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Benoit.
Levi punishes Benoit's body with a nice straight punch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Benoit.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hank Benoit. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levi dives in and grabs Benoit's left leg, looking for a takedown. Benoit pushes down on Levi's head and hops out.
Levi is breathing heavily.
Levi keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Levi shoots in for a double leg but Benoit sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Levi tries for a takedown but Benoit circles away easily

and Benoit counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Levi wants to get back to full guard but Benoit has passed into side control.

Benoit stands up.
Benoit tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Levi fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Benoit to the ground. Levi is now in Benoit's guard.

Levi stands up and waves to Benoit to follow him.

Benoit moves into the clinch.
Benoit stalling in the clinch but Levi improves position.
Benoit avoiding damage as Levi throws knees to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Levi just misses with a elbow thrown towards Benoit's brow.
Benoit can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit is trying to stall.
Levi is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Levi is trying to break the clinch but Benoit is controlling him.
Benoit tries to circle away but Levi has him pinned against the cage.
Benoit drops down looking for an ankle pick but Levi pulls his leg out and moves away.
Levi tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hank Benoit dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Levi tries to clinch but Benoit moves out of range.
Levi tries to clinch but Benoit is having none of it.
Benoit keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Levi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Benoit, pushing him back against the cage.
Benoit throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Benoit fails to pull guard.
Benoit looking to stall.

Benoit pulls guard effortlessly.
Benoit trying to control the position.
Benoit manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit avoids the attempt from Levi to control.
Levi is looking to improve his position but Benoit isn't that keen on the idea.
Hank Benoit overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Benoit thowing shots but they're missing.
Benoit controlling the position easily from mount.
Benoit trying to control but Levi is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Levi is trying to escape the mount.
Levi wants to control but Benoit is having none of it.
Benoit looking to control and managing it successfully.
Levi is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Levi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit controlling his opponent.
Levi tries to lock up and control but Benoit gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Benoit sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Benoit avoids the attempt from Levi to control.
Levi is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Benoit controlling the position easily from mount.
Benoit tries to control but Levi wriggling away.
Benoit throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Benoit looking to control but Levi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Benoit raining down shots from the mount!
Jem Levi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hank Benoit is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benoit wants to control the pace but Levi is squirming around nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hank Benoit showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Benoit, 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge Winston Howard scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hank Benoit!