PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tyrion Lannister (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phan Benjawan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benjawan comes into a darkened arena with his song building. It Comes and It Goes kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lannister
vs
Benjawan

165 cm
29
145 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

170 cm
25
145 lbs
9 - 14 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Tyrion Lannister!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Phan Benjawan!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, James Atkins and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lannister shoots for a double leg takedown but Benjawan sprawls well. He's pushed Lannister's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
A little jabbing left from Benjawan on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Lannister tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Benjawan is able to avoid easily.
It seemed like Benjawan was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Benjawan uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lannister.
Benjawan misses with a double jab.
An attempted straight right counter from Lannister misses the target.
Tyrion Lannister seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benjawan throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Benjawan connects with a leg kick. Lannister looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Benjawan moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Lannister throws a poor cross that misses
letting Benjawan counter with a right hand.
Lannister swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Benjawan misses with a combination
and Lannister counters with a low kick, right behind Benjawan 's knee.
The crowd cheers as Lannister lands an impressive looking overhand right. Benjawan doesn't seem phased though.
Lannister pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lannister throws an overhand right that lands on Benjawan's shoulder, as Benjawan tries to avoid the shot.
Benjawan now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice body kick there by Benjawan.
Benjawan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Lannister circles away quickly and effectively.
Benjawan connects with a solid leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjawan on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Lannister throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Benjawan sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lannister throws a series of punches but Benjawan avoids them all with ease.
A swing and a miss from Lannister.
A combination from Lannister does no damage.
Good leg kick by Benjawan there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Lannister throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Lannister takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Lannister looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Benjawan is fending him off so far but Lannister persists. Nope, Benjawan circles away and we're back to standing.
Phan Benjawan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lannister misses with a hook
and Benjawan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Lannister tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Benjawan counters with a two punch combo.
Lannister checks the leg kick nicely there.
Benjawan lands a nice looking body kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benjawan thumps Lannister with a low kick.
Lannister slips a jab and a cross from Benjawan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lannister misses with a wild combination.
Lannister lands a jab.
Benjawan misses with a two punch combination.

Lannister looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Benjawan!
Lannister in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Lannister taking a breather here.
Lannister wants to lay and pray for a moment but Benjawan keeps working.
Benjawan is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjawan is not content to let Lannister control the position.
Lannister in side control, throwing shots but Benjawan defends.

Lannister thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Lannister tries for a kimura but Benjawan is defending well.
Benjawan wants to control but Lannister postures up.

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.
Lannister is looking to take a break and control but Benjawan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Lannister tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Lannister has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Benjawan tries to buck Lannister off but he can't manage it.

Lannister is working for a guillotine from mount but Benjawan frees his head quite easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Phan Benjawan will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Benjawan gets caught flat footed, as Lannister shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Lannister is stalling in the full guard.
Lannister wants to control from the top but Benjawan keeps moving.
Benjawan is pulling down on Lannister's head. It's preventing any offense from Lannister, at least for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lannister throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Benjawan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lannister. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Benjawan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Lannister postures up in Benjawan's guard and throws a big left but Benjawan blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lannister wants to control from the top but Benjawan keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Benjawan wants to sweep here but Lannister controlling him for the moment.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Lannister or perhaps it was just good defense by Benjawan, which made it look bad.
Lannister dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Benjawan misses with a series of wild punches.
Benjawan connects with a body shot.

Lannister drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjawan has momentary wrist control but Lannister slips an elbow through the middle.
Benjawan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lannister manages to get himself to full guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lannister lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Lannister looking to pass the guard.
Benjawan wants to get back to his feet but Lannister passes into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benjawan wants to get back to his feet.
Benjawan 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.

Lannister is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Benjawan is just riding it out for now. Lannister eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjawan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Benjawan.
Lannister tries to free his leg and advance position but Benjawan is retaining full guard.
Benjawan wants to sweep but no luck.
Lannister wants to control from the top but Benjawan keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Lannister thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

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.
Lannister throws a big elbow that misses.
Benjawan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lannister working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lannister wants to control from the top but Benjawan keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Benjawan throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Phan Benjawan seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Benjawan throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Tyrion Lannister is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benjawan keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Benjawan keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benjawan walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Lannister checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Lannister tries for a takedown but Benjawan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Benjawan is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tyrion Lannister will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Benjawan.
Benjawan cracks Lannister with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Lannister misses with a hook.
A nice combination there by Benjawan.
Benjawan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lannister was well out of range. Poor timing from Benjawan.
Lannister throws a quick inside leg kick.
Lannister on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

Lannister shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Lannister showed some decent athleticism there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Lannister is looking for a kimura here.
Lannister throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lannister is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Lannister tries to pass to full mount but Benjawan defends it.
Benjawan wants to get back to his feet.

Lannister is looking for a kimura here.

Lannister is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Benjawan doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lannister.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Benjawan wants to control but Lannister is keeping busy.
Lannister looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Lannister is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Lannister is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lannister is keen to just control but Benjawan is a slippery customer.

Lannister is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Lannister throwing shots but Benjawan is blocking nicely.

Benjawan pushes Lannister off and gets back to his feet.
Lannister is looking to clinch but Benjawan is avoiding it.
Benjawan punishes Lannister's body with a nice straight punch.
Lannister shoots and misses
and Benjawan counters with a stiff right hand.
Lannister misses with an attempted mid kick.
Benjawan scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Benjawan, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Lannister fails with the takedown.
Lannister swings for the body but Benjawan moves out of range.
Lannister throws a series of punches but Benjawan moves out of range.
Lannister takes a head kick and keeps coming.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lannister fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tyrion Lannister. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Benjawan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lannister will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Lannister uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Benjawan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Lannister throws a shot from downtown. Benjawan moves away and avoids it.
Benjawan misses with a wild combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phan Benjawan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Benjawan 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Phan Benjawan!
A very excited looking Phan Benjawan made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.