PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Tad Ghostal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ghostal comes into the arena with Good King Wenceslas blaring out of the sound system. Benoit is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Praise. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ghostal
vs
Benoit

183 cm
31
145 lbs
26 - 10 - 0

170 cm
30
140 lbs
30 - 11 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 26 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Tad Ghostal!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Benoit!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Winston Howard and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab lands there for Benoit.
Ghostal gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Ghostal tried to score with a low kick but Benoit checks it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Benoit.
Ghostal really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Benoit fails in his attempt to clinch.
Benoit cracks the inside of Ghostal's front leg.
Benoit rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ghostal moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ghostal misses with an uppercut.
Ghostal ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Benoit misses with a series of wild punches.
Benoit ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ghostal moves away.
Benoit getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Nice defenses there by Benoit.
Michael Benoit seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benoit lands with a straight right. Ghostal didn't see that one coming.
Ghostal sizes up Benoit with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit throws a right hand that Ghostal ducks under and follows up with a left that Ghostal also avoids with ease.

Ghostal closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Benoit misses with a body punch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ghostal lands with a left to the head.
Benoit misses with a punch on the inside.
Benoit misses with the head strike.
Ghostal throws a punch but it's blocked by Benoit.
Benoit taking a breather.
Benoit misses with a punch on the inside.
Ghostal throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Ghostal blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Benoit softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Ghostal.
Ghostal taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Benoit throws a head punch that misses.
Ghostal throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit swings wildly with an uppercut but Ghostal uses good head movement to avoid it.
The referee calls for Benoit to work.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ghostal.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Benoit misses with a punch on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Ghostal fails to land.
A right hand to the body from Benoit.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Benoit tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benoit tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benoit lands with a short shot to the head.
Ghostal is stalling here.
Benoit misses with a hook to the ribs.
Benoit blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Benoit swings wildly with an uppercut but Ghostal uses good head movement to avoid it.
A right hook to the body lands for Benoit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghostal misses with a body punch.
Ghostal will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Benoit up against the cage.
Benoit blocking some punches.
Benoit throws a punch but it's blocked by Ghostal.
Ghostal looking to slow down the pace here.
Benoit lands a hook that snaps the head of Ghostal backwards.
Benoit takes a shot to the head.
Ghostal throws a punch but it's blocked by Benoit.
Ghostal lands a body shot in the clinch.
Benoit scores with a nice hook to the head.
Benoit misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ghostal throws a punch but it's blocked by Benoit.
Benoit goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Benoit misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit stalling in the clinch but Ghostal improves position.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benoit.
Ghostal misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Benoit fails to land.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Benoit lands with a short shot to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Benoit.
The referee is keeping an eye on Benoit - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benoit misses with some punches.
Benoit blocks a body shot from Ghostal.
Benoit working aggressively here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ghostal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Benoit - that landed with a thud.
Ghostal's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Benoit softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ghostal uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Benoit.
Ghostal takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ghostal throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Benoit sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Benoit.
Ghostal takes a swing at Benoit's ribcage but misses.
A combination from Ghostal does no damage.
Benoit scores with a jab to the head.
Benoit misses the jab.
Benoit rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
enabling Ghostal to counter with a crisp jab.
A telegraphed right hand from Benoit misses the target.
Ghostal throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Benoit misses with a looping right.
Benoit scores with a jab.
Benoit misses with a double jab

and Ghostal counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit can't find room to land a body shot as Ghostal controls the action.
Benoit stalling in the clinch.
Ghostal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ghostal blocks an uppercut.
Benoit working aggressively here.
Benoit blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Benoit fails to land.
Benoit misses with a short punch on the inside.
Benoit lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ghostal backwards.
Ghostal is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Benoit is keeping busy.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Benoit takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Benoit is trying to maintain a safe position but Ghostal gets an underhook and turns Benoit into the cage.
Ghostal works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A head punch on the inside from Benoit fails to land.
Benoit lands with a right to the head.
Ghostal is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Benoit pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ghostal gets through Benoit's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Benoit throws a punch but it's blocked by Ghostal.
Benoit is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ghostal misses with a hook from the clinch.
Benoit misses with the head strike.
Benoit throws a head punch that misses.
Benoit leaning his opponent against the cage.
Ghostal throws a punch but it's blocked by Benoit.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Stalling in the clinch from Benoit.
Benoit throws a punch but it's blocked by Ghostal.
A short right from Benoit.
A left hand lands to the body for Ghostal.
Benoit dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ghostal lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ghostal blocks a body shot from Benoit.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benoit.
Benoit struggles to land a body shot inside as Ghostal controls his hands.
Ghostal lands with a light punch inside.
A right hook to the body lands for Benoit.
A short right from Benoit.
Ghostal lands with a short shot to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Benoit creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Benoit goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ghostal lands with a right to the head.
Benoit misses with the head strike.
Benoit lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benoit throws a punch but it's blocked by Ghostal.
A body shot lands from Benoit.
Ghostal misses with a punch to the body.
The referee calls for Ghostal to work.
Benoit is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ghostal lands a right hand that snaps the head of Benoit backwards.
Ghostal lands a nice uppercut.
Michael Benoit seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Benoit makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Benoit working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Benoit looking to slow down the pace here.
Ghostal working aggressively here.
Ghostal lands with a short head shot on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Benoit.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ghostal takes a shot to the head.
Benoit throws a head punch that misses.
Ghostal scores with a shot to the side of Benoit's head.
A head punch on the inside from Ghostal fails to land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Benoit showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Benoit rushes Ghostal and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Benoit stalling in the clinch but Ghostal improves position.
Benoit fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benoit.
Benoit stalling in the clinch but Ghostal improves position.
Ghostal tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ghostal misses with a short punch on the inside.
Benoit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ghostal blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ghostal blocking some punches.
Ghostal softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ghostal goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ghostal is stalling here.
Ghostal has a couple of punches blocked by Benoit.
Benoit softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Ghostal is trying to maintain a safe position but Benoit gets an underhook and turns Ghostal into the cage.
Ghostal stalling the fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ghostal lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ghostal.
Ghostal presses Benoit against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ghostal.
Ghostal lands with a short shot to the head.
Benoit content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Benoit tries a body shot but Ghostal blocks it.
Ghostal wants to stall.
Benoit goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Benoit taking a breather.
Ghostal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benoit is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ghostal is keeping busy.
Benoit lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ghostal backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ghostal working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ghostal's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
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!
Good body shot from Ghostal.
A left hand lands to the body for Ghostal.
Benoit tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ghostal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ghostal fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Benoit.
Ghostal misses with a hook to the ribs.
Benoit has a couple of punches blocked by Ghostal.
Ghostal swings wildly with an uppercut but Benoit uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ghostal blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benoit.
Ghostal misses with a hook to the ribs.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ghostal lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ghostal tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit letting Ghostal take a breather here.
Benoit lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ghostal.
Benoit struggles to land a body shot inside as Ghostal controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Ghostal fails to land.
Ghostal misses with the head strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ghostal.
Ghostal lands a shoulder strike.
Benoit blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ghostal tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Benoit's elbow.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Ghostal misses with a punch on the inside.
Benoit throws a head punch that misses.
Benoit has a couple of punches blocked by Ghostal.
Ghostal throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Benoits head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Ghostal is keeping busy.
A shot in the inside from Benoit.
Benoit is leaning against Ghostal and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ghostal.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benoit lands a shoulder strike.
Ghostal misses with a punch on the inside.
Benoit lands with a left to the head.
Benoit lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Benoit doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ghostal tries to stall but Benoit uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ghostal lands a right hand.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ghostal as Benoit tries to tie him up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ghostal swings wildly with an uppercut but Benoit uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Tad Ghostal did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ghostal throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Benoit avoids a kick to the body.
A slow jab from Benoit misses its intended target.
A swing and a miss from Ghostal.
Benoit lands a right hook to the body.
Benoit lands with a good body shot.
Ghostal keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benoit keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ghostal.
Ghostal avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A jab from Ghostal misses.
Benoit throws a leg kick that is checked
and Ghostal counters with a nice kick to the body.
Ghostal takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Benoit misses the shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ghostal missing with a left hand there. Benoit was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Benoit's corner calls for a 1-2. Benoit obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Benoit swings widly with a right hand
and Ghostal counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ghostal lands a high kick!
The fighters circling - Benoit throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Benoit misses with a looping left.
Ghostal keeps Benoit at a distance using the push kick.
Ghostal avoids the body shot from Benoit.
A punch lands to the side of Ghostal 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Benoit jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Ghostal is rocked!
Ghostal throws a leg kick
and Benoit scores with a counter punch that sends Ghostal to the canvas! Benoit smells blood - he's punishing Ghostal with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! Ghostal has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:51 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michael Benoit!
Michael Benoit is the new bantamweight champion!
Michael Benoit thanked the fans post fight for their support.