PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shaun Styles (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benoit's entrance music is Spineshank - New Disease. A fine choice. Chris Benoit has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Benoit
vs
Styles

225 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

190 cm
18
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Unique Wear and Custom Design

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chris Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Shaun Styles!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, William Peck and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Styles tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Benoit paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Benoit really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Styles tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Styles has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Benoit.
A combination from Benoit does no damage.

Styles closes the distance and pushes Benoit back into the cage.
Styles tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Benoit's elbow.
Benoit is trying to force a seperation but Styles has the dominant position.
Benoit will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Styles up against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Styles.
Styles prevents Benoit from breaking the clinch.

Benoit breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Benoit throws a right and a left that both miss.

Benoit gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Styles with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Benoit has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Benoit is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Styles fails to pull guard.
Styles tries for a takedown. No joy.
The referee calls for Styles to work.
Styles wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Benoit breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Benoit lands with a kick to the temple. Styles shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Styles manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Benoit on his heels. He'll look to pass Benoit's guard now, I'm sure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Benoit wants to stand and escape but Styles is having none of it.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Benoit looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Styles has picked Benoit up and slammed him! Benoit can't keep hold of the triangle and Styles manages to pass to side control!
Styles working away.
Styles in side control, throwing shots but Benoit defends.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benoit trying to remain calm as Styles controls from the top position.
Styles cracks Benoit with a big elbow.
Benoit is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit tries to control but Styles manages to take his back.
Benoit is breathing heavily.
Styles scores with punches from the back.
Styles really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Benoit.
Benoit turns into Styles and is now in his guard.

Styles pushes Benoit off and gets back to his feet.
Benoit fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Styles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benoit takes the fight into the clinch.
Styles keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Benoit's efforts to push away.
Benoit wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Styles is trying to trip Benoit. He has hold of a leg but Benoit is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Styles persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
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!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Benoit is on top in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Benoit is looking to stand up but Styles won't let him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Styles working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Benoit doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Benoit manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Styles throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Shaun Styles will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Nice jab there from Benoit.
Benoit rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Styles moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Styles connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Styles has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Benoit throws a combination that misses

and Styles counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Styles.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benoit is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Styles is controlling him.
Benoit looking for a sweep. Not yet Benoit, not yet.
Styles stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Benoit swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Styles scoring with some ground and pound.
Styles pushing down on Benoit's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Styles has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit trying to control but Styles postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Styles working Benoit over with strikes.
Ground and pound from Styles.
Benoit is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Styles scores with a couple of nice shots.
Benoit is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Benoit manages to get to full guard.
Styles looking to pass the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Benoit will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Benoit is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Benoit wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Styles has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Benoit after a bit of a struggle.
Styles digs a right hand into Benoit's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Benoit's gas tank.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benoit wants to break the clinch but can't.
A frustrated look appears on Styles's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Benoit escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Styles shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Styles throws a head kick but Benoit moves out of range.
Styles shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Benoit defends it nicely.
Chris Benoit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shaun Styles.
Benoit throws a right and a left that Styles avoids nicely.

Benoit moves into the clinch.
Styles keeps control of Benoit as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Benoit breaks the clinch.
Benoit lands a high kick!
Nice uppercut there from Benoit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Styles tries to clinch there but Benoit circles away.
A head kick misses from Benoit.
Styles tries to clinch but Benoit moves out of range.
Styles shoots in for a takedown but Benoit shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Benoit moves into the clinch successfully.
Benoit tries to circle away but Styles has him pinned against the cage.

Benoit pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Styles moves into the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Styles is working for takedown but Benoit is calmly controlling the position for now.

Benoit breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Chris Benoit will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Styles takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Chris Benoit is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Styles tries to clinch up but Benoit circles away and keeps his distance.

Benoit has managed to clinch.
Benoit has had enough of the clinch but Styles keeps him there for the moment.

Benoit manages to break the clinch.

Benoit moves into the clinch.
Styles tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Benoit just stands there and leans against the cage.
Benoit is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Styles manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Styles has a closed guard, preventing Benoit from standing up.

Styles looking for a guillotine here but Benoit defends easily.
Styles takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Styles is proving hard to escape from.

Benoit gets to his feet. Styles looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Benoit throws a combination that misses

and Styles counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Benoit!
Benoit tries to hold on but Styles postures up.
Benoit is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Styles sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Styles's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Benoit wants to hold on but Styles pushes him away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Benoit sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Styles not doing much here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Benoit scores with a jab. Styles acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Benoit takes the fight into the clinch.
Styles is struggling to control the position.
Styles is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Styles pulls guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Styles is trying to control the position but Benoit postures up.
Benoit looking to pass the guard.
Benoit looking to sit in guard and control but Styles gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Styles is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Styles got a little sloppy there for a moment and Benoit has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Styles has managed to get both his arms back between Benoit's legs - danger averted.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Shaun Styles.
I think Styles has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:29
Judge William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Shaun Styles!