PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abdul Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andreas Saar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abdul Benson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Benson
vs
Andreas Saar

218 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abdul Benson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Andreas Saar!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benson fails with a takedown attempt.
Saar dives in for a single leg takedown but Benson sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Saar breaks from the clinch.

Saar tries to keep at a distance but Benson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Benson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Saar smiles and moves away.
Saar changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Benson tries to avoid it but Saar manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Benson to the ground. Benson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Benson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Benson wants it to stay on the feet.
Abdul Benson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andreas Saar.

Benson rushes Saar and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Benson prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saar holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Benson is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Saar breaks from the clinch.

Saar drives through with a takedown into Benson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Saar throws a big elbow that misses.
Benson keeping moving, preventing Saar from controlling successfully.
Saar looking to pass the guard.
Benson trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benson looking for a guillotine here but Saar defends easily.

Benson wriggles free and stands up.
No luck for Saar with that takedown attempt.
A nice combination there by Benson.
Saar shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Saar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson thows a body shot but no joy.
Saar fails with a takedown attempt.
Saar lands a lovely overhand right.

It looks like Abdul Benson has been cut.

Benson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Saar pressing his opponent against the cage.
Benson is trying to push Saar away but Saar has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Saar utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Benson is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Saar jumps into guard, dragging Benson to the mat.
Saar wants to improve his position but instead Benson has moved into half guard.
Benson is thwarting Saar's attempts to control the position.
Saar is looking to improve his position.
Benson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Saar looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Benson is looking for a kimura here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andreas Saar dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Abdul Benson's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Saar closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Saar gets underhooks to prevent Benson's takedown attempt.
Saar has Benson pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Benson manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Saar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Benson avoids the head kick by Saar.
Benson misses with a series of wild punches.
Saar shoots in but Benson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Benson darts in looking for a takedown but Saar gets double underhooks and turns Benson into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saar jumps into guard, dragging Benson to the mat.
Benson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Benson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Saar wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Benson is now in half guard.

Benson is working for a kimura but Saar is defending it quite comfortably.

Benson seems to be working for a kimura but Saar defends the submission attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Saar trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saar wants to improve his position but Benson is controlling well.
Saar wants to stand back up but Benson manages to pass into side control.
Benson takes advantage of some sloppy striking from Saar to pass into mount.
Saar is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Saar is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saar is looking to get to half guard.
Benson manages to capitalize on a mistake by Saar to take his back!
Saar rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Saar makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Saar.
Benson postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Andreas Saar has got the better of the ground game so far.
Benson wants to pass the guard but Saar is keeping the position.
Saar trying to control the position.

Saar has an active guard here but Benson has managed to pass into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andreas Saar showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Abdul Benson'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!

Benson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Saar defends well and Benson ends up having to push Saar into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Saar lands an elbow that stopped Benson in his tracks for a moment.
Saar tries for a takedown. No joy.
Saar wants a takedown but no success here.
Benson is trying to stall.
Benson trying to land knees to the body.
Saar has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Benson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Abdul Benson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andreas Saar.

Saar gets control of Benson's arms and successfully pulls guard. Saar will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Saar keeping full guard, as Benson tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saar isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Benson stacks Saar on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Benson!
Saar can't do much from the bottom here.
The ground and pound from Benson seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Saar can't do much from the bottom here.
Saar stops Benson from passing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benson decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Benson tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Saar counters with a single leg into guard. Benson didn't expect that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Benson is looking for a triangle here but Saar uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saar is looking to take a break and control but Benson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Saar scoring with punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson regains half guard there - taking advantage of Saar's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Benson is staying active underneath Saar, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Saar has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Benson is trying to escape the mount.
Saar cracks Benson with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Benson is desperately trying to improve his position but Saar has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saar looking to control but Benson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Saar has control of Benson's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Benson regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Saar can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Benson is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Saar lands a nice shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andreas Saar comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Saar has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andreas Saar!