PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tyson Benjamin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reza Katebi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benjamin comes to the cage accompanied by Pastor Troy - It's About To Go Down. Tyson Benjamin could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Reza Katebi's chin.

Benjamin
vs
Katebi

179 cm
34
156 lbs
18 - 8 - 2

175 cm
28
165 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Good low kicks
Fast

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 - 8 - 2, fighting out of New York, Tyson Benjamin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Reza Katebi!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Franklyn Lucas and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Katebi lands a nice hook to Benjamin's body. Benjamin takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
No luck for Benjamin with that takedown attempt.
A punch lands to the side of Benjamin 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Benjamin fails with the takedown.
Katebi scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Katebi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Benjamin looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Katebi lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Benjamin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson Benjamin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benjamin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Katebi defends well and Benjamin ends up having to push Katebi into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Katebi's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Benjamin lands a nice shot to the body.
Benjamin wants to stall.
Katebi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Katebi is trying to maintain a safe position but Benjamin gets an underhook and turns Katebi into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katebi gets underhooks to prevent Benjamin's takedown attempt.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Katebi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Benjamin misses with a body punch.
Katebi content to slow the pace in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Benjamin.

Katebi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Katebi misses with a hook
and Benjamin counters with a body kick.
Benjamin throws a nice looking combination but Katebi bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Benjamin.
Katebi is looking to reverse the position.
Katebi told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Benjamin tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Benjamin lands some shots froms side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Katebi striking from the bottom but nothing landed.
Katebi is looking to reverse the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katebi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Benjamin's best efforts.
Katebi tries to roll over but Benjamin keeps him under control.
Benjamin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Katebi is looking to improve his position.
Benjamin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Katebi gets full guard.
Katebi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Benjamin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Benjamin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Katebi swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Benjamin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benjamin throwing strikes from guard but Katebi blocks nicely.
Katebi wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Benjamin is looking to work some ground and pound but Katebi has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benjamin pushes down on Katebi's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Katebi keeping hold of Benjamin's head, controlling as best he can.
Benjamin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Benjamin prevents Katebi from improving his position.
Katebi is looking to control Benjamin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Katebi avoid being mounted?
Benjamin missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Katebi keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Katebi wants to control but Benjamin is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katebi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Katebi.
Katebi trying to keep a closed guard but Benjamin is proving a slippery customer.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Benjamin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Benjamin is pushing down on Katebi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Katebi is fighting to maintain full guard but Benjamin has managed to sneak the leg through.
Katebi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Benjamin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Katebi's head.
Katebi wants to get back to full guard.
Benjamin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Benjamin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Benjamin lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tyson Benjamin dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Benjamin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Katebi tries to avoid it but Benjamin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Katebi to the ground. Katebi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Katebi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Benjamin moves away.
A jab from Katebi does it's job there.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Benjamin.

Benjamin gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Katebi to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Benjamin wants to stand and escape but Katebi is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benjamin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Katebi is one step ahead there.
Benjamin keeping moving, preventing Katebi from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Katebi trying to control the position from guard on top but Benjamin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Katebi with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Benjamin is pulling down on Katebi's head to control his posture.
Katebi advances position into side control!
Katebi in side control lands a decent elbow.

Katebi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Benjamin manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin passes to side control.

Benjamin swings around for an armbar but Katebi sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Benjamin's guard.
Benjamin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Katebi manages to get himself to full guard.

Katebi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tyson Benjamin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Benjamin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Benjamin throwing strikes from guard but Katebi blocks nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benjamin throws an elbow that misses. Katebi uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Benjamin's guard. Nice move by Katebi!

Benjamin keeping moving, preventing Katebi from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katebi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Benjamin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Benjamin wants to sweep here but Katebi controlling him for the moment.
Benjamin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Katebi advances to half guard.
Benjamin wants to get back to his feet.
Katebi tries to pass the half guard into mount. Benjamin knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Benjamin is trying to stand back up but Katebi is controlling him
Katebi is keen to just control but Benjamin is a slippery customer.
Benjamin tries to kick Katebi off but Katebi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Benjamin is trying to get back to full guard.
Benjamin trying to hold on to Katebi's head to control him but Katebi postures up.
Benjamin looks like he's trying to stand up.
Benjamin controlling the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Katebi shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Benjamin napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sloppy strikes there by Katebi.
Katebi tries to advance to mount but Benjamin denies him.

Katebi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Benjamin knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reza Katebi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Benjamin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Katebi as he avoids it easily.
Benjamin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Katebi scores with a leg kick.
Katebi cracks Benjamin with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Katebi throws a head kick but Benjamin moves out of range.
Benjamin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyson Benjamin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benjamin shoots for a double leg takedown but Katebi sprawls well. He's pushed Benjamin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice cross by Katebi.
Katebi scores with a nice head shot.
Katebi throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Benjamin on the side of the head.
Katebi connects with a high kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Katebi misses.
Benjamin shoots for a double leg takedown but Katebi sprawls well. He's pushed Benjamin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
No joy there for Benjamin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Benjamin moves out of range of the strikes.
Katebi works the jab nicely.
Katebi takes a swing at Benjamin's ribcage but misses.
Katebi connects with a body shot.
Katebi missing with a left hand there. Benjamin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Reza Katebi seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Benjamin moves out of range as Katebi strikes.
Benjamin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Benjamin has his takedown stuffed
and Katebi counters with a low kick, right behind Benjamin 's knee.
A lazy body kick from Katebi
and Benjamin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Benjamin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tyson Benjamin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Katebi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Katebi has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Katebi trying to control but Benjamin is working from the bottom.
Katebi distracts Benjamin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Benjamin is wriggling around but Katebi manages to pass to half guard.
Benjamin trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Katebi manages to pass to mount!
Katebi looking to finish Benjamin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Benjamin!
Benjamin can't escape the position.
Katebi trying to control but Benjamin is having none of it.
Katebi lands with some strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Benjamin takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Benjamin wants to hold on but Katebi pushes him away.
Katebi looking to control and managing it successfully.
Benjamin wants to try and get back to his feet.
Katebi avoids the attempt from Benjamin to control.
Katebi dominating with strikes here.
Katebi with shots to the head and body - Benjamin looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katebi is landing with some decent strikes but Benjamin is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Benjamin can't escape the position.
Benjamin is bucking up trying to escape but Katebi cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Katebi looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Benjamin is looking to improve his position but Katebi isn't that keen on the idea.
Benjamin manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Benjamin, under a barage of strikes from Katebi.
Benjamin tries to get to full guard but Katebi has control of the leg.
Benjamin tries to kick Katebi off but Katebi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reza Katebi comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Katebi 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:29
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 28:29
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reza Katebi!