PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mikey Legs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andre Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Legs
vs
Benoit

150 cm
25
130 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

170 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mikey Legs!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Andre Benoit!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Colin Fray and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Benoit drives through and clinches with Legs against the cage.
Legs is trying to break the clinch but Benoit is controlling him.
Benoit leaning against his opponent.
Benoit goes for a takedown in the clinch but Legs prevents it.
Legs is trying to break free.
Legs looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Legs is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Benoit to keep the fight standing.

Benoit pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Benoit blocks a head kick by Legs.
Benoit avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Benoit gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Legs fails to pull guard.
Legs jumps guard but Benoit stands there with Legs around his waist. Legs gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikey Legs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benoit tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Legs.
Legs lands a body shot in the clinch.
Legs looking to stall.
Legs looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Benoit lands with a left to the head.
Legs tries for a takedown. No joy.
Benoit leaning his opponent against the cage.
Benoit is looking for a takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Legs escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Benoit stuffs the takedown attempt from Legs. Legs gets slowly back to his feet.
Legs shoots in looking for a takedown. Benoit tries to sprawl out of it but Legs keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Benoit manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Legs fails to land the takedown.
Benoit is looking to clinch but Legs is avoiding it.

Legs rushes Benoit and presses him up against the cage.
Legs can't find room to land a body shot as Benoit controls the action.
Legs tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Benoit just stands there and leans against the cage.
Legs avoiding damage as Benoit throws knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benoit has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Legs uses from the top position.
Legs controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Legs trying to control but Benoit is working from the bottom.
Benoit is controlling Legs's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

We're going to have a standup here because Mikey Legs wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Legs wants to clinch.
Benoit throws a leg kick but Legs checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit tries to clinch up but Legs circles away and keeps his distance.
Legs tries to score a power double leg takedown but Benoit sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Legs somewhat.
Benoit stuffs the takedown.
Legs moves to clinch but Benoit breaks away
and Benoit counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Legs thinking.
Benoit swinging wildly here.
Legs keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nice takedown defense from Benoit. No joy for Legs on that attempt.

Benoit clinches up with Legs and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Andre Benoit will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Legs fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Benoit avoids it really well and circles away.
Benoit throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Legs's waist but Legs gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Benoit off to one side.
Benoit misses with an uppercut. Legs saw that one coming.
Benoit throws a head kick that misses.
Benoit tries to clinch but Legs moves out of range.
Legs fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Legs shoots in looking for a takedown but Benoit manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Legs's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikey Legs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Legs tries for a takedown but Benoit sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Benoit shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Legs as he avoids it easily.
Mikey Legs is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Benoit tries for a takedown but Legs sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Legs fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Benoit tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Benoit has a takedown stuffed.
Legs darts in looking for a takedown but Benoit gets double underhooks and turns Legs into the cage.
Benoit wants a takedown but no success here.
Benoit tries to break free but Legs pushes him back against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Legs manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit trying to control but Legs is working from the bottom.

Legs is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Benoit defends well.

Benoit stands up from Legs's guard - Benoit perhaps looking for a knockout.
No luck for Benoit with that takedown attempt.

Benoit closes the distance and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benoit manages to break the clinch.
Legs goes for a double leg but Benoit avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Benoit continues to drive forward.
Legs displaying some good clinch control by pressing Benoit up against the cage.
Legs tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Benoit manages to break the clinch.
Benoit misses with the combination.
Legs swats away the attempt to clinch by Benoit.

Benoit drives through and clinches with Legs against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit looking to slow down the pace here.

Benoit successfully pulls guard.
Benoit looking to control.
Legs looking to sit in guard and control but Benoit gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Legs keeping moving, preventing Benoit from controlling successfully.
Legs might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benoit wants to stand and escape but instead Legs has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andre Benoit showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Legs will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Legs changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Benoit tries to avoid it but Legs manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Benoit to the ground. Benoit escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Legs shoots in and drives through. Benoit sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikey Legs. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Legs shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Benoit as he avoids it easily.
Legs shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Benoit but Benoit pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Benoit fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Legs avoids it really well and circles away.
Andre Benoit seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Legs throws a sloppy head kick and Benoit moves out of range easily.
Legs misses with a takedown attempt - Benoit sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Benoit shoots in for a takedown but Legs shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit shoots in looking for a takedown but Legs manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Benoit's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Benoit throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Legs's waist but Legs gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Benoit off to one side.
Benoit fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Legs avoids it really well and circles away.
Benoit fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Legs wants to clinch up but Benoit keeps it at a distance.
Legs darts in looking for a takedown but Benoit gets double underhooks and turns Legs into the cage.
Legs prevents a body shot from Benoit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit looking for a takedown.
Legs is looking to break free of the clinch but Benoit has double underhooks.
Benoit tries to break free but Legs pushes him back against the cage.

Benoit pulls Legs into guard.
Benoit not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Benoit keeping full guard, as Legs tries to pass.
Benoit keeping moving, preventing Legs from controlling successfully.
Legs tries to stand but Benoit is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mikey Legs.
Legs tries to close the distance and clinch but Benoit swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Benoit doesn't manage to clinch there - Legs circles away.
Legs throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Legs shoots for a double leg takedown but Benoit sprawls well. He's pushed Legs's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Benoit fails with a takedown attempt.
Legs rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Benoit moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Benoit shoots for a double leg takedown but Legs sprawls well. He's pushed Benoit's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Benoit fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Legs misses with a takedown attempt - Benoit sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Benoit looks for a takedown but Legs sprawls well.
Legs tries to score a power double leg takedown but Benoit sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Legs somewhat.
Benoit looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Mikey Legs has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Andre Benoit is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A punch combination from Benoit misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Mikey Legs.
Well Benoit 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29

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