PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sammy Spishak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benji Cheshire (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Spishak comes to the cage accompanied by Sleeping with Sirens. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Spishak
vs
Cheshire

185 cm
29
216 lbs
10 - 13 - 0

189 cm
27
220 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Great elbows
Good gas tank

The Adrenaline Matrix

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sammy Spishak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Benji Cheshire!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cheshire moves in looking to clinch but Spishak pushes him off.
Cheshire wants to clinch up but Spishak keeps it at a distance.
Spishak sizes up Cheshire with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Spishak cracks a nice hook into Cheshire's ribs.
Spishak misses the jab.
Spishak avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've been told by Spishak's head coaches at Rape Academy that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Spishak misses with a telegraphed body shot

and Cheshire counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Cheshire is controlling the pace.
Cheshire is keen to just control but Spishak is a slippery customer.
Spishak tries to get to full guard but Cheshire has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheshire with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Benji Cheshire wasn't active enough on the ground.
Cheshire tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Spishak manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Spishak moves out of range of the body kick.
Cheshire moves in looking to clinch but Spishak pushes him off.
Cheshire tries to clinch up.
Spishak swats away the attempt to clinch by Cheshire.
A decent looking cross lands there for Spishak.
Spishak just misses with a punch to the body.
Cheshire has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Cheshire tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Spishak counters with a nice body shot.

Cheshire takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spishak tries to land a knee to the head but Cheshire blocks with his arms.
Spishak wants a takedown but no success here.
Spishak controlling the action here for a moment.
Cheshire misses with an elbow over the top.
Spishak throws an elbow that misses.
Spishak avoiding damage as Cheshire throws knees to the body.
Cheshire prevents the takedown attempt.
Spishak is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Cheshire pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sammy Spishak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spishak can't break the clinch.
Spishak is looking for a takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Spishak drops down looking for an ankle pick but Cheshire pulls his leg out and moves away.
Spishak is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cheshire sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spishak thows a body shot but no joy.
Spishak swats away the attempt to clinch by Cheshire.
Cheshire is looking to clinch.
Cheshire wants to clinch.
Cheshire wants to clinch up but Spishak keeps it at a distance.
Spishak is looking to wear down Cheshire with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Cheshire misses with a takedown attempt - Spishak sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Cheshire closes the distance looking to clinch
and Spishak counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cheshire gets a clinch.
Spishak takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Sammy Spishak has been cut.

Cheshire lands a takedown into guard.

Spishak throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cheshire wants to control from the top but Spishak keeps moving.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cheshire sitting in guard, not really doing much.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spishak not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benji Cheshire dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sammy Spishak's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cheshire closes the distance and clinches.
Spishak pushes off an throws an elbow but Cheshire leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Spishak managing to block the knees to the body from Cheshire.
Spishak tries for a takedown. No joy.
Spishak can't break the clinch.
Cheshire misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Spishak.
Cheshire missing with knees to the body.

Spishak's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Cheshire tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Spishak makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Cheshire doesn't manage to clinch there - Spishak circles away.
Cheshire tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Spishak manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cheshire displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Spishak throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cheshire is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Spishak.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cheshire looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Spishak circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cheshire wants to clinch up but Spishak keeps it at a distance.
Cheshire shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Spishak pinned against the cage. Spishak gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Spishak has a takedown stuffed.
Spishak connects with a right hand. Cheshire shakes it off.
Spishak shoots in and drives through. Cheshire sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sammy Spishak. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cheshire tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Sloppy strikes from Spishak. Those never looked like landing.
Cheshire fails in his attempt to clinch.
Spishak circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cheshire tries to close the distance and clinch but Spishak swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Cheshire stuffs the takedown.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Cheshire.
Cheshire is looking to slow Spishak down with leg kicks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Cheshire tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Cheshire takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Cheshire tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Spishak manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cheshire creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spishak blocks the elbow strike.

Spishak escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Spishak is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Cheshire.
Spishak looks to score with a jab to the body but Cheshire is just out of range.

Spishak tries to keep at a distance but Cheshire has taken the fight into the clinch.
Spishak missing with knees to the body.

Cheshire has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Spishak is trying to keep an underhook but Cheshire manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cheshire controlling the action here.
Cheshire lands strikes from half guard.

Spishak actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spishak is looking to control Cheshire's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Spishak avoid being mounted?
Spishak moves into full guard.

Spishak escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cheshire gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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!
Spishak is trying to keep Cheshire in close.
Benji Cheshire has got the better of the ground game so far.
Cheshire engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cheshire postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Benji Cheshire will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sammy Spishak's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Spishak avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Spishak. No joy for Cheshire on that attempt.
Cheshire throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A slow jab from Spishak misses its intended target.
No joy there for Spishak, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The fight stays on the outside here - Cheshire looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Cheshire wants to clinch.
Cheshire wants to clinch.

Cheshire shoots in and bounces Spishak off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spishak not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cheshire slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Spishak isn't going anywhere.
Cheshire wants to lay and pray for a moment but Spishak keeps working.
Spishak is trying to control Cheshire's posture but Cheshire avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cheshire is looking to take a break and control but Spishak is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Spishak is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Spishak is trying to control Cheshire's posture but Cheshire avoids it.
Cheshire tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Spishak fails with a takedown attempt.
The fighters circle momentarily. Cheshire darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Cheshire tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Spishak manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Cheshire tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cheshire tries to clinch but Spishak is having none of it.
Cheshire wants to clinch up but Spishak keeps it at a distance.
Cheshire doesn't manage to clinch there - Spishak circles away.
Spishak misses the jab.
Cheshire keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Cheshire clinches up with Spishak and pushes him back against the cage.
Cheshire taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Spishak is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Cheshire is defending well for now.
Cheshire stops a takedown attempt from Spishak.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sammy Spishak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cheshire creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Spishak's defenses.
Spishak pressing his opponent against the cage.
Spishak throws an elbow but it's blocked.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Spishak manages to break the clinch.
Cheshire tries to close the distance and clinch up but Spishak swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Spishak circles away from the clinch attempt.
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!
Cheshire doesn't manage to clinch there - Spishak circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benji Cheshire really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sammy Spishak's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Spishak goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Cheshire.
Spishak avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice shot by Spishak.
Benji Cheshire seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice body kick from Cheshire.
Spishak fails to land with a series of punches.
Spishak throws a hook but Cheshire blocks it.
Spishak fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cheshire manages to avoid it.
Cheshire tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Spishak paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Spishak looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Spishak circles away from the clinch attempt
and Spishak counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cheshire drives through and clinches with Spishak against the cage.
Cheshire looking to throw knees to the head but Spishak is blocking nicely.
Spishak is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cheshire is keeping busy.

Spishak escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cheshire bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Spishak's head.
Cheshire tries to clinch up
and Spishak connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Spishak just misses with a punch to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spishak throws a looping overhand right but Cheshire ducks down to avoid it.
Cheshire tries to close the distance and clinch up but Spishak swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Cheshire tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Spishak manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Spishak circles away from the clinch attempt.
A looping hook to the body misses from Cheshire. Spishak does a little dance to reset his feet.

Spishak fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Cheshire to the ground. Spishak is now in Cheshire's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Spishak trying to control the position from guard on top but Cheshire is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cheshire managing to control the position.
Spishak trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cheshire not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cheshire looking for a sweep. Not yet Cheshire, not yet.
Cheshire trying to keep a closed guard but Spishak is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Benji Cheshire was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Spishak circles away from the clinch attempt.
Cheshire with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Spishak to score with a decent uppercut.
Cheshire is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Spishak dives in for a single leg takedown but Cheshire sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Cheshire throws an elbow that misses.
Cheshire is trying to stall.
Spishak managing to block the knees to the body from Cheshire.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spishak wants a takedown.
Cheshire comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Cheshire effectively controlling the action here.
Benji Cheshire seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Cheshire lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Cheshire managing to block the knees to the body from Spishak.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Cheshire.

Sammy Spishak's cut is getting worse.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Spishak takes an elbow to the forehead.
Cheshire lands with a right to the head.
Cheshire lands on the inside with an uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Cheshire with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cheshire managing to block the knees to the body from Spishak.
Spishak is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sammy Spishak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cheshire is trying to drag Spishak to the mat but Spishak just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benji Cheshire dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Sammy Spishak's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cheshire looks to clinch
and Spishak cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Cheshire darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Cheshire performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Cheshire drops an elbow to the side of Spishak's head.
Cheshire perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Spishak moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Cheshire is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

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

Spishak has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Cheshire can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Spishak is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Cheshire content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Spishak has locked up a guillotine! Spishak's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Cheshire is holding on here and Spishak must be using up a lot of energy. Cheshire has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Spishak gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 5, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Sammy Spishak!