PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ray Lennox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benjamin Bengazzoni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benjamin Bengazzoni has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lennox
vs
Bengazzoni

172 cm
23
163 lbs
9 - 4 - 1

183 cm
24
181 lbs
10 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Hellbent
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ray Lennox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Benjamin Bengazzoni!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Colin Fotheringham and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lennox shoots in looking for a takedown. Bengazzoni tries to sprawl out of it but Lennox keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bengazzoni manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bengazzoni connects with a high kick.

It looks like Ray Lennox has been cut.
Lennox misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bengazzoni.
Lennox tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bengazzoni manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bengazzoni throws a predictable looking body shot

and Lennox counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lennox.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lennox pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bengazzoni is keeping the position for now.
Lennox throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lennox won't allow Bengazzoni to sweep him here.
Lennox tries to free his leg and advance position but Bengazzoni is retaining full guard.
Lennox sitting in guard here, content to control.
Bengazzoni avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lennox working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bengazzoni thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ray Lennox seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lennox looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Benjamin Bengazzoni is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lennox misses with a hook. Bengazzoni ducked under it nicely.
Lennox throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bengazzoni swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Lennox counters with a single leg into guard. Bengazzoni didn't expect that.
Lennox pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bengazzoni is keeping the position for now.
Lennox trying to control but Bengazzoni is working from the bottom.
Lennox has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lennox throws a strike but Bengazzoni rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Bengazzoni trying to control but Lennox is working from the bottom.

Lennox looking for a guillotine here but Bengazzoni defends easily.
Lennox looking to control.

Lennox looking for a guillotine here but Bengazzoni defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lennox looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bengazzoni trying to control but Lennox is working from the bottom.

Bengazzoni got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lennox has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bengazzoni has managed to get both his arms back between Lennox's legs - danger averted.
Bengazzoni slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lennox looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Lennox had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bengazzoni defends it easily.
Bengazzoni is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ray Lennox dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ray Lennox's cut.
That's time! Lennox's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Lennox shoots in but Bengazzoni avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Lennox shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Lennox throws a front kick that sends Bengazzoni stumbling back into the cage.
Lennox pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Bengazzoni back to the cage. Lennox follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Lennox moves into range and connects with a jab.
An inside leg kick lands from Lennox.
Bengazzoni slips a jab from Lennox.
Lennox is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bengazzoni can do to turn this around?
A punch combination from Bengazzoni misses.
The fighters circling - Bengazzoni throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Lennox avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Lennox feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Bengazzoni's calf.
Bengazzoni has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Bengazzoni there as he acknowledges the shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bengazzoni throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bengazzoni displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lennox.
Lennox displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bengazzoni throws out the jab.
A shot to the body from Bengazzoni misses

and Lennox counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bengazzoni blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lennox.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bengazzoni is holding on to half guard well.
Bengazzoni felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Lennox perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Bengazzoni really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lennox. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bengazzoni avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lennox.
Lennox not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Lennox not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bengazzoni is staying active underneath Lennox, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lennox looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Lennox takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Bengazzoni slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Nice jab there from Bengazzoni.
Lennox throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bengazzoni sees it coming and avoids it easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lennox lands a nice looking body shot.
Lennox throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Lennox throws a hook to the side of Bengazzoni's head but Bengazzoni sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bengazzoni fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Lennox on the side of the head.
Lennox tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Bengazzoni is able to avoid easily.
Bengazzoni throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Lennox moves out of range of the body kick from Bengazzoni.
Lennox slips a jab from Bengazzoni.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bengazzoni throws a good cross that connects.
Lennox looks to score with a jab to the body but Bengazzoni is just out of range.
Bengazzoni feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lennoxs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Bengazzoni scores with a one two! Lennox had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Lennox throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bengazzoni counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lennox takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Lennox with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bengazzoni to score with a decent uppercut.
Bengazzoni has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Lennox thuds his right hand into Bengazzoni's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Lennox tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bengazzoni defends well and Lennox ends up having to push Bengazzoni into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Lennox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lennox is trying to pull guard but Bengazzoni turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Lennox blocking some punches.
Bengazzoni lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Lennox changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bengazzoni fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Bengazzoni clinches up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lennox tries to pull guard but Bengazzoni won't allow it.
Bengazzoni lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Bengazzoni throws a head punch that misses.
Bengazzoni is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Bengazzoni working aggressively here.
Lennox drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bengazzoni gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Bengazzoni working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Lennox scores with a shoulder strike.
A head punch on the inside from Lennox fails to land.
Bengazzoni fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lennox tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bengazzoni smiles and moves away.
Lennox moves out of range as Bengazzoni strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benjamin Bengazzoni showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ray Lennox's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Lennox throws a chopping leg kick but Bengazzoni manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Lennox throws an overhand right that lands on Bengazzoni's shoulder, as Bengazzoni tries to avoid the shot.
A shot to the liver by Lennox. Beautiful body shot.
Lennox walks into a jab.
No luck for Lennox with that takedown attempt.
Lennox misses with a wild body shot.
Bengazzoni throws a jab when Lennox was well out of range.
Lennox shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bengazzoni dodges the punch combination from Lennox.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bengazzoni tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lennox manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bengazzoni swats away the attempt to clinch by Lennox.
Bengazzoni misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bengazzoni leaves Lennox with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ray Lennox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lennox tries to work over Bengazzoni's front leg with a kick but Bengazzoni checks it.
Bengazzoni misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lennox.
Bengazzoni does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Lennox defending well as Bengazzoni loads up on a big left hand.
Bengazzoni swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Lennox.
Nice defenses there by Lennox.
Bengazzoni throws a hook but Lennox blocks it.

Bengazzoni gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lennox is trying to pull guard but Bengazzoni has him pressed against the cage.
Lennox tries to pull guard but Bengazzoni holds him up against the cage and eventually Lennox drops back down to his feet.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Lennox.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lennox decides to pull guard.
Lennox is trying to keep Bengazzoni in close.

Lennox looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lennox throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Lennox has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bengazzoni can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Lennox looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lennox is looking for a triangle but Bengazzoni pushes his legs off easily.

Lennox has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Bengazzoni 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 Lennox.
Bengazzoni wants to control but Lennox is keeping him busy.
Bengazzoni taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Lennox tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Bengazzoni trying to control the action but Lennox is working from the bottom.
Lennox can't do much from the bottom here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Ray Lennox overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benjamin Bengazzoni comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bengazzoni has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Donald Grub scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benjamin Bengazzoni!
After winning the bout, Benjamin Bengazzoni thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.