PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Julius Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tom Pompom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Tom Pompom was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Bennett
vs
Pompom

185 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Excellent boxer
Good chin

Excellent boxer
Determined

KAISER
Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Julius Bennett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Tom Pompom!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Anthony Taglia and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bennett fails to land with a series of punches.
Bennett looks to land a combination but Pompom avoids it well.
No joy there for Bennett, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Bennett is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Pompom.
Bennett definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Bennett swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pompom tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Bennett manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Pompom swats away the attempt to clinch by Bennett.
Pompom showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bennett.
Pompom throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bennett appears to be looking for a big counter.
Pompom avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bennett lands with a nice combination. Pompom backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Tom Pompom has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Pompom tries to keep at a distance but Bennett has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pompom tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bennett's elbow.
Come on Pompom - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Pompom tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Bennett's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pompom misses with a body punch.
Pompom is trying to maintain a safe position but Bennett gets an underhook and turns Pompom into the ropes.
Pompom lands a nice uppercut.
Pompom goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Pompom struggles to land a body shot inside as Bennett controls his hands.

Bennett breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pompom tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Bennett paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pompom throws a nice looking combination but Bennett bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Pompom stalks Bennett and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Bennett's face. Bennett staggers backwards, shaken.
Bennett throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pompom showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bennett.

Pompom rushes Bennett and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Pompom stalling in the clinch but Bennett improves position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bennett breaks the clinch.
Tom Pompom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bennett throws a series of punches but Pompom avoids them all with ease.
A little jabbing left from Pompom on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Pompom is looking to chop away at Bennett's legs.
Pompom wants to clinch but Bennett slips to the side
and Bennett counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pompom lands a jab-cross combination.
Bennett throws a nice looking combination but Pompom bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Pompom rushes Bennett and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.

Bennett pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pompom falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bennett counters with a series of strikes. Pompom will be more careful next time no doubt.
Pompom misses with a two punch combination.
Bennett throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bennett misses with a series of wild punches.
Pompom scores with a jab.
Bennett misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett misses with a straight right.
Pompom scores with a one two! Bennett had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Bennett takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Pompom wants to clinch
and Bennett makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Pompom connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bennett momentarily.
Bennett has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Bennett swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bennett has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bennett motions for Pompom to come forward. Bennett throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Pompom wants to land a leg kick but Bennett is out of range.
Pompom wants to slow Bennett down by chopping away at his legs.
Pompom misses with a few strikes there.

Pompom closes the distance and pushes Bennett back into the ropes.

Bennett breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Bennett.
Pompom tries to counter with a clinch but Bennett shakes him off and moves away.
Bennett throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bennett. Pompom does a little dance to reset his feet.

Pompom clinches up against the ropes.
Pompom misses with a hook to the ribs.

Bennett pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pompom tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bennett swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Pompom moves forwards but Bennett connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Pompom closes the distance and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Pompom's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pompom looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bennett tries to bum rush Pompom with a series of wild strikes but Pompom uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pompom's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Pompom duly obliges.

Pompom closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Pompom misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tom Pompom will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Tom Pompom's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Pompom instigates a clinch.
Pompom will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Bennett up against the ropes.
Pompom misses with a hook to the ribs.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Pompom escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pompom throws a low kick but it's checked well by Bennett.
Pompom misses with a two punch combination.
Pompom looks to land a combination. Bennett sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Pompom misses with a few strikes there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bennett scores with a jab and follows up with an uppercut that drops Pompom to his knees! He bounces straight back to his feet but is forced to take the mandatory standing 8 count before he's allowed to continue. We're back under way and the fighters meet in the middle of the canvas to re-engage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nice defenses there by Pompom.
Bennett throws a big shot that misses.
Bennett fails to land with a series of punches.
Pompom lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bennett circles away quickly and effectively.
Bennett tries to bum rush Pompom with a series of wild strikes but Pompom uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pompom let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bennett throws a hook but Pompom avoids it easily.
Pompom is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bennett feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Bennett throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pompom.
Pompom tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Pompom ducks under a wild hook from Bennett.
Pompom looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bennett will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Pompom has closed the distance and engaged Bennett in a clinch.

Pompom's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Julius Bennett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bennett misses the jab.
A punch combination from Pompom misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett misses with a series of wild punches.
Bennett lands a right hook to the body.
Julius Bennett is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bennett lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pompom circles away quickly and effectively.
A punch combination from Bennett misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pompom scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Bennett takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Julius Bennett is winning the standup battle so far.
Bennett on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Bennett misses with an uppercut.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pompom throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Bennett tries to break free but Pompom pushes him back against the ropes.
A body shot lands from Pompom.
Pompom can't find room to land a body shot as Bennett controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett tries to circle away but Pompom has him pinned against the ropes.

Bennett breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bennett misses with an uppercut. Pompom saw that one coming.
Sloppy strikes from Bennett. Those never looked like landing.
Bennett shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Pompom eats them both and turns towards Bennett to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Bennett misses with a few strikes there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bennett throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Pompom throws a combination. Bennett tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A decent looking cross lands there for Pompom.
Pompom tries to bum rush Bennett with a series of wild strikes but Bennett uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pompom throws out a leg kick but Bennett moves out of range and Pompom only half commits.
Bennett misses with a series of wild punches.
Pompom is looking for the big counter here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bennett dodges the punch combination from Pompom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pompom rushes Bennett and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Pompom tries to throw a body punch but Bennett avoids it by throwing Pompom back against the ropes.
Tom Pompom seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Pompom tries to work over Bennett's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bennett is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
A battle for position here, against the ropes.

Bennett breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pompom scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Pompom has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Bennett finds it's way round the side to connect with Pompom's head.
Pompom fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bennett with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Pompom to score with a decent uppercut.
Pompom misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bennett is looking for a counter combo.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bennett fails to land with a series of punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Bennett will take that round after scoring the only knockdown of the round.
The cut man is working on Tom Pompom's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Pompom lands with a nice combination. Bennett backs away looking to recover.
Bennett misses with a two punch combination.
Pompom misses with a few strikes there.
Pompom has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Bennett takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Bennett is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bennett misses with a double jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Good body shot from Pompom.

Bennett escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pompom swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Pompom throws a nice looking combination but Bennett bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bennett thuds his right hand into Pompom's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Bennett throws a jab when Pompom was well out of range.
Pompom will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab from Pompom.
Bennett looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bennett showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pompom.
Pompom misses with a double jab
and Bennett counters with a series of strikes. Pompom will be more careful next time no doubt.
Bennett misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pompom tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Bennett is able to avoid easily.
Pompom throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pompom takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Pompom gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pompom looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett looks to land a combination but Pompom avoids it well.
Pompom throws a series of punches but Bennett moves out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pompom throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
A combination from Bennett does no damage.
Bennett blocks a head kick by Pompom.
Pompom misses with a low kick as Bennett jumps back.
Bennett went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Pompom stalling against the ropes.
A nice left hand lands by Pompom.
Pompom trying to control the position but instead, Bennett has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pompom into the ropes.
Pompom misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bennett.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bennett pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bennett misses with a series of wild punches.
Bennett tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bennett looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Pompom looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pompom is working the combinations to good effect here.
Pompom lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bennett's sensitive parts.
Pompom throws a right and a left that both miss.

Pompom moves into the clinch successfully.
Pompom tries to throw a body punch but Bennett avoids it by throwing Pompom back against the ropes.
Pompom tries a body shot but Bennett blocks it.

Bennett's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pompom fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Bennett checks it well.
Pompom moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Pompom cracks Bennett with an open hand slap.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pompom misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pompom takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Bennett drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fighters circling - Pompom throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bennett showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pompom.
Bennett misses with a double jab.
Julius Bennett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pompom 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.
Bennett was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Bennett avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pompom misses with a few strikes there.
Tom Pompom is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Pompom takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pompom looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Pompom throws a right and a left that Bennett avoids nicely.
As Pompom looks to move away, Bennett throws a big counter combo bu Pompom just gets out of the way.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tom Pompom comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pompom 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!