PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Phan Benjawan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lex Layser (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benjawan comes to the cage accompanied by It Comes and It Goes. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Benjawan
vs
Layser

170 cm
25
145 lbs
11 - 14 - 0

172 cm
27
153 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Powerful

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 11 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Phan Benjawan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lex Layser!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Colin Fotheringham and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Layser throws a series of punches but Benjawan avoids them all with ease.
A punch combination from Benjawan misses.
Layser changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Layser dodges the punch combination from Benjawan.
A punch combination from Benjawan misses.
Benjawan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Layser clinches with his opponent.
Benjawan misses with the head strike.
Layser prevents Benjawan from breaking the clinch.
Benjawan lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Layser backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benjawan is trying to break free.
Benjawan's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Layser is working for takedown but Benjawan is calmly controlling the position for now.
Layser wants a takedown but no success here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Layser on the inside.
Layser throws a punch but it's blocked by Benjawan.
A nice left hand lands by Benjawan.
Benjawan tries to break free but Layser pushes him back against the cage.
Benjawan wants to break the clinch but can't.
Layser has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Benjawan avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
We've been informed that Layser has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Phan Benjawan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lex Layser.
Benjawan tries to break free but Layser pushes him back against the cage.
Layser is struggling to control the position.
Layser lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Benjawan is looking to break free of the clinch but Layser has double underhooks.
Layser is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Layser landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjawan misses with a hook from the clinch.
Layser tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Benjawan avoids it.
Layser changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Benjawan fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Layser lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

It looks like Phan Benjawan has been cut.
Benjawan thows a leg kick but Layser checks it
and Layser connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Phan Benjawan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benjawan throws a head kick that Layser semi-blocks.
Benjawan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Layser counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Layser.

Layser is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Benjawan is looking to stand up but Layser isn't so interested in that idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Layser trying to control but Benjawan is working from the bottom.
Layser postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Benjawan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Layser is one step ahead there.
Layser with a flurry of punches that miss.
Layser wants to control from the top but Benjawan keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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.
Layser fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Layser takes a kick to the side of the head.
Layser takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Layser tries to close the distance and clinch up but Benjawan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Benjawan is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Benjawan misses with a few strikes there.
Layser changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Benjawan slips under a jab from Layser.
Benjawan goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Layser moves out of range of the body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benjawan. Layser does a little dance to reset his feet.
Benjawan throws an overhand right that lands on Layser's shoulder, as Layser tries to avoid the shot.
Benjawan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Layser circles away quickly and effectively.
Layser throws a nice looking combination but Benjawan bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lex Layser will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Phan Benjawan's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Layser shoots in looking for a takedown but Benjawan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Layser's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Benjawan lands with a nice combination. Layser backs away looking to recover.
Layser on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Benjawan misses with a wild combination.
Benjawan misses with the combination.
Benjawan misses with a wild combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benjawan lands a glancing blow to the side of Layser's head.
Phan Benjawan is winning the standup battle so far.
Benjawan ducks under a wild hook from Layser.
Benjawan throws a sloppy head kick
and Layser counters with a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjawan misses with a double jab.
A decent looking cross lands there for Layser.
Layser avoids a punch combination nicely.
Layser tries to counter with a clinch but Benjawan shakes him off and moves away.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Benjawan.
Benjawan looks to score with a jab to the body but Layser is just out of range.
Layser missing with a left hand there. Benjawan was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Layser will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Benjawan connects with a single shot there.
Benjawan tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Layser doesn't manage to clinch there - Benjawan circles away.
Benjawan misses with a combination

and Layser counters with a nice double leg into side control. Benjawan won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Layser working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benjawan tries to bench press Layser off him but Layser keeps the position.

Layser has hold of Benjawan's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Benjawan tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Layser cranks the arm and Benjawan screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Benjawan, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Lex Layser!
Our winner, Lex Layser, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.