PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tyson Benjamin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ricky Ponting (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benjamin comes to the cage accompanied by Pastor Troy - It's About To Go Down. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Benjamin
vs
Ponting

179 cm
31
156 lbs
18 - 6 - 1

170 cm
30
160 lbs
18 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Tyson Benjamin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ricky Ponting!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Bruno Hogan and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ponting scores with a body shot.
Ponting misses with a jab, cross combination.
Benjamin shoots in for a double leg but Ponting sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Benjamin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Benjamin scores with a head kick. Ponting tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Benjamin throws a lazy uppercut
and Ponting counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ponting throws a jab but it's blocked by Benjamin.
Ponting defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Benjamin.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson Benjamin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benjamin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ponting throws out the jab.
Ponting throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Sloppy strikes from Ponting. Those never looked like landing.
Ponting throws a body punch but Benjamin moves out of range.
Ponting misses with an uppercut. Benjamin saw that one coming.
Benjamin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ponting swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ponting jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ponting swings widly with a right hand
and Benjamin counters with a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponting misses with a wild body shot.
Benjamin takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Benjamin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ponting swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Benjamin throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Ricky Ponting seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benjamin tries to clinch but Ponting is having none of it.
Ponting lands a nice hook to Benjamin's body. Benjamin takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
A jab from Ponting misses.
Benjamin staying out of range there.
A head kick misses from Ponting.
Ponting missing with a left hand there. Benjamin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Benjamin dives in for a single leg takedown but Ponting sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Benjamin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ponting throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Benjamin takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Benjamin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A head kick misses from Benjamin.
Ponting jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ponting is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An inside leg kick lands from Benjamin.
Benjamin misses with a takedown
and Ponting counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Benjamin is breathing heavily.
Ponting looks to score with a jab to the body but Benjamin is just out of range.
Benjamin misses with a takedown attempt
and Ponting counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ponting avoids the head kick by Benjamin.

Ponting looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Benjamin keeping moving, preventing Ponting from controlling successfully.
Ponting keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Benjamin's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponting keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Benjamin's head.
Ponting is looking to work some ground and pound but Benjamin has wrist control.
Ponting working some strikes from top position.
Ponting pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benjamin is keeping the position for now.
Benjamin trying to control the position.
Ponting missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ponting is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Benjamin seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Benjamin trying to keep a closed guard but Ponting is proving a slippery customer.
Ponting throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Benjamin wants to sweep but no luck.
Benjamin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ponting is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponting is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ponting lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's 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!
Ponting wants to control from the top but Benjamin keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ponting accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Benjamin pushes Ponting off and scrambles back to his feet.
Ponting keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Benjamin walks into a stiff left hand from Ponting.
Benjamin ducks under a wild hook from Ponting.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Ponting dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ponting shoots in but Benjamin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ponting throws a big shot that misses.

Ponting gets a takedown into half guard.
Benjamin trying to hold on to Ponting's head to control him but Ponting postures up.
Benjamin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Benjamin is trying to get back to full guard.
Ponting is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ponting winds up and cracks Benjamin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Benjamin has hold of Ponting's hands but Ponting slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Ponting gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponting looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Benjamin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ponting as he jumps to the side.
Benjamin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ponting manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Benjamin fails to land the takedown.
Ricky Ponting seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ponting scores with a nice head shot.
Ponting ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A jab from Benjamin misses.
Benjamin takes one to the side of the head.
Benjamin takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Benjamin blocks a head kick by Ponting.
Ponting looks to land a combination but Benjamin avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponting stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson Benjamin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benjamin dodges the punch combination from Ponting.
Ponting misses with an uppercut.
Benjamin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ponting sprawls well. Ponting wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Benjamin gets slowly back to his feet.
Ponting changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ponting throws out a loose jab but Benjamin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ponting lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Benjamin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ponting lands with a cross.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponting misses with a head kick.
Ponting scores with a nice right hand.
A head kick misses from Benjamin.
Ponting jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ponting throws a shot from downtown. Benjamin moves away and avoids it.
Benjamin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ponting.
Ponting jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ponting looks to land a right hand but Benjamin moved out of range.
Tyson Benjamin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ponting stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ponting wants it to stay on the feet.
Benjamin blocks a jab.
Ponting with a jab.
Ponting shoots in for a takedown but Benjamin shows good takedown defense.
Benjamin wants to clinch but Ponting slips to the side
letting Ponting counter with a right hand.

Ponting shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin controls Ponting momentarily but Ponting frees himself.
Ponting slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ponting trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ponting accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Benjamin is working an open guard so Ponting takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Ponting lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
We've been informed that Ponting has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

Ponting shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Benjamin manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Ponting decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Benjamin, up you get!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Benjamin slips a straight right by Ponting.
Ponting stuns Benjamin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Benjamin tries to clinch but Ponting moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ricky Ponting showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ponting fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Benjamin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ponting finds it's way round the side to connect with Benjamin's head.
Benjamin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ponting manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Benjamin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Benjamin takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ponting looks to throw the jab but Benjamin is out of range.
Benjamin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ponting paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Benjamin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Benjamin ducks under a wild hook from Ponting.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ponting fails to land the takedown.
Ponting tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Benjamin swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponting loads up on a big right hand but Benjamin slips the punch.
Ponting lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ponting scores with a jab to the jaw.
Ponting throws a body punch but Benjamin moves out of range.
Ponting stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ponting wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson Benjamin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ponting keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Ponting looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Benjamin!
Benjamin struggling a bit here.
Benjamin is not content to let Ponting control the position.
Ponting looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Benjamin is avoiding damage well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ponting wants to lay and pray for a moment but Benjamin keeps working.
Ponting looks up at the clock and then as Benjamin takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Ponting smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ponting working the ground and pound but Benjamin is defending the strikes.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benjamin avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Ponting.
Benjamin wants to get back to his feet but Ponting is dominant here and he's now got Benjamin's back!
Ponting lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Ponting has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Benjamin controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Benjamin fending off the submission attempt from Ponting.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Ponting's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin rolls, trying to escape but Ponting keeps control of the position.
Ponting missing with strikes.
Ponting tries to get the hooks in deep but Benjamin pushed the leg off.
Ponting softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Ponting lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Benjamin hold on?!
Tyson Benjamin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Ponting's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Benjamin takes a big shot to the side of the head.

Ponting working for the choke.
Benjamin is trying to get back to his feet but Ponting has full control of the position and if anything, Benjamin has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Benjamin trying to control the hands but Ponting won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponting lands punches and elbows.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ponting missing with strikes from the back.
Benjamin has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Ponting has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Benjamin is trapped and Ponting is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Benjamin is taking damage to the body and head.
Ponting lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Ponting is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Ponting gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Ponting gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Ponting apologises and we restart here on the feet.

Benjamin is rocked!

It looks like Tyson Benjamin has been cut.
Benjamin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Oh Benjamin is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Benjamin throws a low kick, looking for Ponting's leg but Ponting calmly moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ponting lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Benjamin. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Benjamin gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Ponting rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Benjamin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ricky Ponting comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ponting winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ricky Ponting!
A very excited looking Ricky Ponting made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.