PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Reginald Benjamin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lenny Sparrow (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sparrow comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Ice Cream- Lil Wayne kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Benjamin
vs
Sparrow

192 cm
22
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Nemesis Cage Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Reginald Benjamin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Lenny Sparrow!
The judges for this bout are , and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sparrow is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Benjamin tries a head kick but it misses.
Sparrow shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Benjamin as he avoids it easily.

Sparrow scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Sparrow is looking to take a break and control but Benjamin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Benjamin is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benjamin trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Sparrow is trying to control the action in half guard but Benjamin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Benjamin wants to get back to his feet.
Sparrow is keen to just control but Benjamin is a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sparrow fails to land the takedown.

Benjamin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin tries to stand but can't do so whilst Sparrow controls his leg.
Benjamin is breathing heavily.
Benjamin wants to stand but his hand is trapped. Sparrow uses the opportunity to regain full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sparrow manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sparrow controlling his opponent.
Sparrow landing strikes from the mount.
Sparrow can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Benjamin is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Benjamin wants to get back to his feet.
Sparrow trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Sparrow has hold of Benjamin's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Benjamin manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Benjamin is squirming around, avoiding Sparrow's attempts to control the action.
Benjamin's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Sparrow gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparrow wants to control from the top but Benjamin keeps moving.
Sparrow prevents Benjamin from getting back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sparrow tries for a takedown but Benjamin circles away easily

and Benjamin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Reginald Benjamin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lenny Sparrow.
Benjamin wants to stand but Sparrow has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Sparrow looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sparrow controls Benjamin momentarily but Benjamin frees himself.
Sparrow looking for a sweep. Not yet Sparrow, not yet.

Sparrow looking for a guillotine here but Benjamin defends easily.
Sparrow working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Reginald Benjamin will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Sparrow shoots in but Benjamin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Reginald Benjamin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Benjamin throws a head kick that misses.
Benjamin wants to clinch up but Sparrow keeps it at a distance.
Benjamin shoots and misses

and Sparrow counters with a single leg into guard. Benjamin didn't expect that.
Sparrow won't allow Benjamin to get back to his feet.
Sparrow is looking to work some ground and pound but Benjamin has wrist control.
Benjamin wants to get back to his feet but Sparrow is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sparrow sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparrow passes Benjamin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Benjamin is trying to stand up here but Sparrow is controlling him well.

Sparrow decides to stand and escape the position.
Sparrow with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sparrow with a lazy takedown attempt
and Benjamin counters with an inside leg kick.

Sparrow shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Benjamin wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sparrow seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Lenny Sparrow has got the better of the ground game so far.
Benjamin wants to get back to his feet.
Sparrow is taking a breather. Benjamin says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Sparrow decides to return to a standing position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sparrow shoots and misses
and Benjamin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Reginald Benjamin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lenny Sparrow.
Benjamin circles away from the clinch attempt.

Sparrow drives through with a takedown into guard.
Benjamin is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sparrow is controlling him.

Benjamin scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Sparrow doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Benjamin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Benjamin tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Sparrow.
The fighters are battling for position here. Sparrow manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benjamin stands and steps away. Sparrow gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Horrible takedown by Sparrow or perhaps it was just good defense by Benjamin which made him look bad.
A right-left combo lands from Benjamin.
Benjamin doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Sparrow counters by moving into the clinch.
Benjamin cracks Sparrow with a nice body shot.

Sparrow decides to pull guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benjamin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Sparrow has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Benjamin off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lenny Sparrow showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Benjamin misses with a wild body shot.

Sparrow closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Benjamin explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Sparrow closes the distance and clinches up with Benjamin, looking for a takedown. Sparrow pushes Benjamin against the cage but Benjamin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Sparrow tries to keep at a distance but Benjamin has taken the fight into the clinch.

Benjamin has hold of one of Sparrow's legs. Sparrow is fighting the takedown attempt but Benjamin gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Benjamin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sparrow is proving hard to escape from.
Sparrow looking to hit a scissor sweep but Benjamin is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sparrow is pulling down on Benjamin's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sparrow trying to keep a closed guard but Benjamin is proving a slippery customer.

Benjamin gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Sparrow shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Benjamin counters with a head kick. That will keep Sparrow thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Nice takedown defense from Benjamin. No joy for Sparrow on that attempt.
Reginald Benjamin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lenny Sparrow.
Sparrow checks the leg kick.
Benjamin doesn't manage to clinch there - Sparrow circles away.

Sparrow clinches with his opponent.
Sparrow is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benjamin breaks the clinch.
Sparrow has his takedown stuffed
and Benjamin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sparrow displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Benjamin throws out the jab.
Good leg kick by Sparrow there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Sparrow misses with a takedown attempt

and Benjamin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sparrow's guard.
Benjamin wanted to stand there but Sparrow had control of the position.
Benjamin stops Sparrow from standing up.
Sparrow wants to control but Benjamin passes easily into half guard.
Benjamin tries to stand but can't do so whilst Sparrow controls his leg.
Sparrow is looking for a sweep. Benjamin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin blocks the strikes from Sparrow.
Benjamin wants to stand but Sparrow has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Benjamin prevents Sparrow from improving his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Benjamin moves in looking to clinch but Sparrow pushes him off.

Sparrow gets the takedown into side control.
Benjamin is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Sparrow has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sparrow decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Sparrow fails with a takedown attempt.

Benjamin clinches with his opponent.
Benjamin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Benjamin prevents the takedown attempt.
Sparrow has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Benjamin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Benjamin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reginald Benjamin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Benjamin 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lenny Sparrow!