PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Toney Benjamin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Krishna Widardjo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Widardjo has chosen Arctic Monkeys - Brainstorm as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Benjamin
vs
Widardjo

152 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

160 cm
18
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Toney Benjamin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Krishna Widardjo!
The judges for this bout are Ron Honeybunn, Francis DeMontford and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benjamin shoots in looking for a takedown but Widardjo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Benjamin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Widardjo has closed the distance and engaged Benjamin in a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Widardjo.
Benjamin has Widardjo pressed against the cage, preventing Widardjo from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Widardjo blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Benjamin tries to pull guard but Widardjo holds him up against the cage and eventually Benjamin drops back down to his feet.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Widardjo holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Benjamin is trying to pull guard but Widardjo has him pressed against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toney Benjamin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A body shot lands from Widardjo.
Benjamin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Widardjo gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Benjamin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Widardjo just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Widardjo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Widardjo successfully pulls guard.
Widardjo has control of Benjamin's left arm, preventing Benjamin from doing any damage.
Widardjo looking to hit a scissor sweep but Benjamin is one step ahead there.
Benjamin could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Widardjo isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Benjamin stacks Widardjo 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 Benjamin!
Widardjo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Benjamin wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Widardjo tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Benjamin easily slips into full mount!
Widardjo regains half guard.
Widardjo is trying is best to control the position here.
Widardjo tries to get to full guard but Benjamin has control of the leg.
Widardjo keeping control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Widardjo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Benjamin pulls his head out easily.
The fighters are battling for position here. Widardjo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Widardjo trying to control the position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Benjamin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin trying to control the position from guard on top but Widardjo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Benjamin avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Widardjo thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benjamin throws a big elbow that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Widardjo has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Benjamin is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Widardjo.
Widardjo can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Krishna Widardjo dominated that round.
That's time! Benjamin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Widardjo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Widardjo throws the kick towards the body but Benjamin avoids it.

Widardjo closes the distance and clinches.
Widardjo working hard to break the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Widardjo goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Widardjo turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Widardjo looking to control but instead Benjamin has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Widardjo is looking to take a break and control but Benjamin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin is trying to stand back up but Widardjo is controlling him

Widardjo escapes and gets back to his feet.
Widardjo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Widardjo connects with a looping right hand.

Widardjo takes the fight into the clinch.
Widardjo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Widardjo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Widardjo stalling.
Benjamin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Benjamin misses with the head strike.
Benjamin tries to pull guard but Widardjo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Benjamin trying to control the position but instead, Widardjo has worked for underhooks and has pushed Benjamin into the cage.
Benjamin tries to pull guard but Widardjo won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toney Benjamin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benjamin fails to pull guard.
Widardjo gets underhooks to prevent Benjamin's takedown attempt.

Widardjo ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Widardjo no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Widardjo lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Benjamin!
Widardjo controlling the pace for now.

Widardjo moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Benjamin has worked his arm free - good work by Benjamin!
Widardjo throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Benjamin works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Widardjo sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Widardjo is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Benjamin manages to get to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Krishna Widardjo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Widardjo lands a nice looking body shot.

Benjamin tries to keep at a distance but Widardjo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Widardjo wants to break the clinch but can't.
Benjamin tries to pull guard but Widardjo won't allow it.
Widardjo is trying to break the clinch but Benjamin is controlling him.
Widardjo wants to break the clinch but can't.

Widardjo gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Widardjo controlling the action here.
Benjamin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Widardjo is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Widardjo escapes and gets back to his feet.

Widardjo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Benjamin throws a head punch that misses.
Benjamin fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Widardjo has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Benjamin is trying to keep an underhook but Widardjo manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Benjamin is positioning himself well to prevent Widardjo advancing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Widardjo looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Widardjo is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Benjamin reverses the position - he's now on top in Widardjo's guard.
Widardjo will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Widardjo working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin being controlled here momentarily.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Krishna Widardjo wasn't active enough on the ground.
Widardjo throws a head kick but Benjamin moves out of range.
Benjamin fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Toney Benjamin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Widardjo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Widardjo stands up from half guard.
Krishna Widardjo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Benjamin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Widardjo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Widardjo wants to pass the guard but Benjamin is keeping the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benjamin working a defensive guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Krishna Widardjo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Widardjo 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 Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 27:30
Judge Francis DeMontford scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Krishna Widardjo!