PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yodthanong Photirat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wan Benming (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benming has chosen Fight the power as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Photirat
vs
Benming

171 cm
27
159 lbs
6 - 15 - 0

165 cm
25
164 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

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 6 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Yodthanong Photirat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wan Benming!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benming throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Photirat keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Photirat moves into the clinch.
Benming wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Photirat has him pressed against the cage.

Photirat's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
An inside leg kick from Photirat misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Benming.

Benming pushes Photirat up against the cage in a clinch.
Benming should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Photirat turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Photirat decides to stand back up.
Benming keeps the fight on the outside.
Photirat moves in looking to clinch but Benming pushes him off.
Photirat wants to clinch
and Benming counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Photirat thinking.
Benming shoots in looking for a takedown but Photirat manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Benming's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benming circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Photirat tries to clinch
and Benming counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Photirat moves to clinch but Benming breaks away

and Benming holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Photirat missing with knees to the body.
Our sources have told us that Photirat has been working on his knees in the buildup to the fight.

Benming jumps guard and drags Photirat to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Benming looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Benming thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Photirat working some strikes from top position.
Photirat would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benming working for a triangle but Photirat defends it easily.
Photirat would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Benming looking to hit a scissor sweep but Photirat is one step ahead there.
Photirat tries to stand but Benming is controlling from the bottom.
Benming manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benming working for a guillotine from mount but Photirat is in no mood to give up.

Benming looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Photirat is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Benming goes for an armbar but Photirat turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Photirat.
Photirat stopping the sweep attempt from Benming.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Photirat wants to stand but Benming is controlling his posture from full guard.

Benming is working an open guard so Photirat takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yodthanong Photirat will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Photirat tries to clinch up but Benming circles away and keeps his distance.
Yodthanong Photirat is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Photirat moves to clinch but Benming breaks away
and Benming counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Photirat tries to clinch there but Benming circles away.
Photirat looks to clinch
and Benming counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Photirat showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Benming.
Photirat tries to clinch up but Benming circles away and keeps his distance.
No luck for Benming with that takedown attempt.
Photirat wants to clinch but Benming slips to the side
letting Benming counter with a right hand.
Benming avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Photirat as Benming shoots in.
Photirat fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've been informed that Benming has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Photirat wants to clinch up but Benming keeps it at a distance.
Benming just misses with a punch to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Photirat tries to close the distance and clinch up but Benming swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Benming shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Photirat as he avoids it easily.
Yodthanong Photirat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wan Benming.
Benming jabs at Photirat's body.
Photirat tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Benming counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Photirat wants to clinch.
Photirat tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Benming counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Photirat tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Benming paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Photirat tries to clinch there but Benming circles away.

Photirat fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Benming, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benming wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Photirat has him pressed against the cage.
Photirat tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Benming avoids it.
Photirat on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Photirat stops a takedown attempt from Benming.
Photirat tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A knee to the head by Photirat.

It looks like Wan Benming has been cut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Benming jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Photirat walks away with a smile on his face. Benming gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Photirat closes the distance and clinches.
Photirat with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Photirat pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Photirat defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Benming.
Photirat is looking to clinch but Benming is avoiding it.
Benming avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Photirat keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Photirat tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Photirat is looking to clinch but Benming is avoiding it.
Photirat tries to clinch up but Benming circles away and keeps his distance.
Photirat wants to clinch up but Benming keeps it at a distance.
Benming is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Photirat rather than just go for the knockout.

Benming closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Benming lands in his opponent's guard.
Benming trying to move into half guard but instead Photirat has managed to sweep!
Photirat stopping the sweep attempt from Benming.
Photirat showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Photirat wants to stand but Benming has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Photirat decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Benming, up you get!
Photirat tries to clinch but Benming is having none of it.
Photirat moves in looking to clinch but Benming pushes him off.
Benming takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Photirat misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice takedown defense from Photirat. No joy for Benming on that attempt.
Photirat tries to clinch up but Benming circles away and keeps his distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benming looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Yodthanong Photirat is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Photirat tries to clinch there but Benming circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yodthanong Photirat dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wan Benming's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Benming circles away from the clinch attempt
and Benming counters with a left to the body.
Photirat tries to clinch up but Benming circles away and keeps his distance.

Benming gets tackled into the cage by Photirat. Photirat maintains the clinch.
A knee to the head by Photirat.
Photirat missing with knees to the body.
Photirat looking to throw knees to the head but Benming is blocking nicely.
Benming wants to break the clinch but can't.
Benming wants to take the fight to the mat but Photirat manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Benming tries to circle away but Photirat has him pinned against the cage.

Benming pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Photirat closes the distance but Benming moves to the side
and Benming counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Photirat thinking.
Benming keeps the fight on the outside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Photirat moves into the clinch.
Benming can't get the takedown.
Benming wants a takedown but no success here.
Yodthanong Photirat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wan Benming.
Photirat looking to stall.

Benming drags the fight down to the ground.
Photirat wanted to stand there but Benming had control of the position.
Photirat stopping the sweep attempt from Benming.
Photirat wants to control from the top but Benming keeps moving.

Photirat gets to his feet - Benming follows without any prompting.
Benming shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Photirat defends it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Photirat doesn't manage to clinch there - Benming circles away.
Photirat tries to close the distance and clinch up but Benming swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Benming shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yodthanong Photirat seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benming has a takedown stuffed.
Photirat scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Photirat tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Benming manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Photirat fails with an attempt to clinch.
Benming fails with the takedown.
Photirat is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Photirat fails with an attempt to clinch.

Photirat has Benming up against the cage in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Benming's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Photirat's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Photirat tries to clinch but Benming is having none of it.
Benming shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Photirat but Photirat pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Benming avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Benming takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Photirat moves in looking to clinch but Benming pushes him off.
Photirat tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Photirat tries to close the distance and clinch up but Benming swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Photirat displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Benming.
Photirat moves in looking to clinch but Benming pushes him off.
Photirat tries to close the distance and clinch up but Benming swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Photirat lands a nice leg kick that just misses Benming's sensitive parts.
Photirat is looking to clinch but Benming is avoiding it.
Photirat avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Photirat tries to close the distance and clinch but Benming swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Photirat tries to close the distance and clinch up but Benming swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Photirat moves to clinch but Benming breaks away
and Benming counters with a two punch combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yodthanong Photirat showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Photirat has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yodthanong Photirat!
Yodthanong Photirat thanked the fans post fight for their support.
Wan Benming was interviewed post fight and said 'I would like to thank everyone for supporting tonights event'.