PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Hugo Wolf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phan Benjawan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benjawan has chosen It Comes and It Goes as his entrance music. 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?

Wolf
vs
Benjawan

170 cm
29
158 lbs
18 - 11 - 0

170 cm
27
145 lbs
12 - 16 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid Muay Thai
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Spartan Nutrition

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 18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Hugo Wolf!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Phan Benjawan!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Phil Schofield and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benjawan misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Wolf shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Benjawan as he avoids it easily.
Benjawan just misses with a punch to the body.
Wolf dodges the punch combination from Benjawan.
Benjawan throws a right and a left that both miss.
Wolf drops down looking for a counter takedown but Benjawan sprawls and moves away.

Wolf closes the distance and clinches.
Benjawan is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Benjawan lands with a light punch inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wolf is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hugo Wolf. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wolf tries for a takedown. No joy.

Wolf turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Benjawan bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benjawan looks to throw a body kick

and Wolf counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Wolf.
Benjawan is wriggling around but Wolf manages to pass to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wolf slips a nice elbow through Benjawan's hands, connecting with Benjawan's forehead.
Wolf drops an elbow to the side of Benjawan's head.
Benjawan is looking for a sweep. Wolf is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benjawan is looking to escape.
Benjawan really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Wolf. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Wolf working over Benjawan with some ground and pound. Benjawan looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Benjawan is staying active underneath Wolf, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Benjawan trying to control from the bottom.
Wolf prevents Benjawan from standing back up.
Benjawan avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Wolf.
Wolf seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Wolf not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nice strikes from Wolf there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjawan is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Wolf scores with a couple of nice shots.
Benjawan is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Wolf scores with a couple of nice shots.
Wolf trying to control from half guard but Benjawan is working away.
Benjawan taking some punishment here, with Wolf in his half guard.
Benjawan tries to roll over but Wolf keeps him under control.
Wolf lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wolf looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Wolf seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Wolf looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Benjawan with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Wolf working over Benjawan with some ground and pound. Benjawan looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ground and pound from Wolf.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wolf not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Wolf missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Benjawan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Benjawan manages to get to full guard.
Wolf connects with a couple of short punches.
Wolf stops Benjawan from standing up.
Wolf stands up over Benjawan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Benjawan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wolf.
Wolf with a nice head shot there.
Benjawan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Benjawan wants to stand up but Wolf is controlling him.
Wolf postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wolf is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Wolf lands a couple of digs.
Wolf with a nice head shot there.
Wolf stands up over Benjawan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Wolf accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Benjawan pulls Wolf in close to his closed guard and prevents Wolf from doing any damage or advancing position.
Benjawan keeping full guard, as Wolf tries to pass.
Wolf throws a big right hand that misses.
Wolf postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Wolf throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Benjawan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Wolf dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Benjawan throws a series of punches but Wolf avoids them all with ease.
Wolf shoots in for a takedown but Benjawan shows good takedown defense.
Benjawan throws a half hearted mid kick.
Wolf closes this distance looking for a takedown but Benjawan circles away.
A slapping body kick lands there for Benjawan.
Wolf shoots in for a takedown but Benjawan shows good takedown defense.
Benjawan unleashes a big counter combination but Wolf bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hugo Wolf. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wolf shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Benjawan sprawls well. Benjawan wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Wolf gets slowly back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wolf doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Benjawan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Benjawan.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wolf looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Benjawan has hold of Wolf's hands but Wolf slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Benjawan tries to roll over but Wolf keeps him under control.
Wolf missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Benjawan keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wolf missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Wolf not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Wolf sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Benjawan defending well though.
Wolf slips a nice elbow through Benjawan's hands, connecting with Benjawan's forehead.
Benjawan is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wolf lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Wolf thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Wolf looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Wolf connects with a nice short shot to Benjawan's temple.
Wolf throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Wolf scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Wolf is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Benjawan pushes Wolf off looking to stand but Wolf dives back in and keeps control.
Benjawan trying to control from the bottom.
Wolf drops an elbow to the side of Benjawan's head.
Wolf thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wolf thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Benjawan's head.
Wolf throws a strike but Benjawan avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Wolf throwing strikes but missing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Wolf's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Wolf postures up and lands a big shot to Benjawan's brow.
Wolf postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Benjawan is on top in guard.

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Wolf holds on and takes a little breather.
Benjawan tries to stand but Wolf is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benjawan looking to sit in guard and control but Wolf gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Benjawan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Wolf is one step ahead there.
Wolf tries to free his leg and advance position but Benjawan is retaining full guard.
Benjawan wants to get back to his feet but Wolf is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Benjawan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wolf.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wolf with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Wolf wants to control from the top but Benjawan keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugo Wolf dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Wolf takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Benjawan thumps Wolf with a low kick.
Benjawan feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Wolf's calf.
Benjawan throws a leg kick that misses.
Wolf half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Wolf fails with a takedown attempt.
Despite the aggression on Benjawan's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Benjawan lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benjawan slaps away a takedown attempt from Wolf, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjawan displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wolf.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hugo Wolf. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Benjawan throws a right and a left that Wolf avoids nicely.
Wolf changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Wolf is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Benjawan can do to turn this around?
Benjawan lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Wolf circles away quickly and effectively.
Benjawan just misses with a punch to the body.
Benjawan lands with a thumping leg kick.
Wolf dodges the punch combination from Benjawan.
Wolf attempts a counter takedown but Benjawan avoids it well and moves away.
Benjawan throws a leg kick but Wolf sees it coming and moves out of range.
Benjawan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Phan Benjawan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Phan Benjawan is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjawan throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Benjawan throws a head kick that misses.
Wolf drops down looking for a counter takedown but Benjawan sprawls and moves away.

Wolf darts in and clinches Benjawan up against the cage.
Wolf wants to take the fight to the mat but Benjawan manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Wolf blocks an uppercut.
Wolf wants to take the fight to the mat but Benjawan manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Benjawan working hard to break the clinch.
Benjawan looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Benjawan misses with a hook from the clinch.
Wolf being controlled against the cage.
Benjawan working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Wolf pulls guard.
Benjawan must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Benjawan wants to stand but Wolf is controlling his posture from full guard.
Wolf has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Wolf looking to hit a scissor sweep but Benjawan is one step ahead there.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Wolf is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wolf lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Wolf postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Wolf throws an elbow that misses. Benjawan uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Wolf's guard. Nice move by Benjawan!
Wolf 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.
Wolf trying to control the position here.
Hugo Wolf is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Benjawan throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wolf works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Phan Benjawan comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Wolf has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 William Gold scores the fight 29:28
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28

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