PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Micah Simon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Simon
vs
Bennett

162 cm
24
162 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
22
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Micah Simon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Ryan Bennett!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Elvis Blanc and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bennett stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bennett wants it to stay on the feet.
Bennett is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Bennett forces Simon back against the cage and clinches.
Simon could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Bennett lands a body shot.
Simon is looking to take this one to the mat.

Bennett has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Simon clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Bennett throwing sloppy strikes.
Bennett scores with punches from the back.
Bennett really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Simon. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Simon is covering up but some of the strikes from Bennett are getting through and doing damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bennett seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Simon's chin but Simon turns very nicely into Bennett's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Simon.
Bennett is trying to keep Simon in close.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bennett can do anything to dispel that myth.

Simon has gone for a leg lock! Bennett slips out almost immediately though and dives into Simon's guard.

Simon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bennett told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett is working Simon over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bennett pushing down on Simon's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Simon manages to get to full guard.
Bennett makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bennett with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bennett stands up over Simon, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Simon manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bennett manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett looking to hit a scissor sweep but Simon is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Simon is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bennett managing to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simon with a nice head shot there.

That's four 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.

Simon stands and steps away. Bennett gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Simon shoots in looking for a takedown. Bennett tries to sprawl out of it but Simon keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bennett manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Micah Simon. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Bennett closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Simon did well to prevent Bennett getting side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Simon blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bennett.
Bennett wants to control but Simon is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Bennett dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Simon fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bennett, pushing him back against the cage.

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

Simon feints and as Bennett raises his hands in defense, Simon changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bennett is wriggling around but Simon manages to pass to half guard.

Simon winds up and cracks Bennett with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Simon is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ryan Bennett has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bennett avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Simon.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennett keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simon is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Simon seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bennett does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Simon is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Bennett is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Bennett trying to hold on to Simon's head to control him but Simon postures up.
Simon thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bennett's head.
Bennett has hold of Simon's hands but Simon slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Bennett is trying to get back to full guard.
Simon lands strikes from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Simon is working away from the top position though.
Simon is looking to take a break and control but Bennett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Simon throws a strike but Bennett avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Bennett looking to hit a scissor sweep but Simon is one step ahead there.
Simon trying to control the position from guard on top but Bennett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett trying to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Simon swats away the attempt to clinch by Bennett.

Bennett gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Simon tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Simon lands a shoulder strike.
Bennett trying to control the position but instead, Simon has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bennett into the cage.
Bennett landing knees to the body.

Simon jumps guard and drags Bennett to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett throws a big right hand that misses.
Bennett is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bennett trying to control but Simon is working from the bottom.
Bennett is looking to work some ground and pound but Simon has wrist control.
Bennett trying to stand up but can't free himself from Simon's guard.
Bennett throws a big elbow that misses.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bennett throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Simon scores with a takedown into Bennett's guard.
Simon throws a big elbow that misses.
Simon is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bennett has his hands on Simon's head, controlling the position.
Simon throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennett looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Simon is controlling him.
Bennett avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Simon has a takedown stuffed.
Bennett wants to clinch.
Ryan Bennett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Simon shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bennett but Bennett pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Bennett has taken the fight to the clinch.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Simon tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Simon gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Simon is trying to work for a kimura but Bennett is defending well.
Simon throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bennett is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett trying to control here.
Simon throwing shots but Bennett is blocking nicely.
Simon 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.

Bennett pushes Simon off and gets back to his feet.

Bennett feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Bennett is stalling in the full guard.
Simon utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett looking to pass the guard.

Bennett postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Simon is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bennett, into his guard.

Simon stands up and waves to Bennett to follow him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Simon misses with a takedown
and Bennett counters with a stiff right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Ryan Bennett.
Well Bennett 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Bennett!