PBP Commentary

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

Pena
vs
Speilding

217 cm
20
161 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
23
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Benedict Pena!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dan Speilding!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Ron Honeybunn and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Pena.
Pena fails with a takedown attempt.
Speilding cracks the inside of Pena's front leg.

Pena gets caught flat footed, as Speilding shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Pena keeping moving, preventing Speilding from controlling successfully.
Speilding with a flurry of punches that miss.

Speilding stands and steps away. Pena gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Speilding shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Pena napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Pena really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Pena gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Speilding is looking to take a break and control but Pena is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pena tries to kick Speilding off but Speilding keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Speilding missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Speilding trying to mount his opponent but Pena defends it.
Speilding prevents Pena from standing back up.
Speilding throwing shots but Pena is blocking nicely.
Pena wants to get back to his feet.

Speilding stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Speilding shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Speilding showed some decent athleticism there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Speilding trying to control the action but Pena is working from the bottom.

Speilding stands up out of the half guard.
Speilding misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Speilding moves out of range as Pena throws a body kick.

Speilding closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Pena is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Speilding has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Pena blocks a head kick by Speilding.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Speilding does no damage.

Pena gets caught flat footed, as Speilding shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Speilding looks winded!

Pena is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Pena is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Speilding is defending well for now.
Speilding looking to throw knees to the head but Pena is blocking nicely.

Speilding decides to pull guard.
Pena content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Pena drops back, looking for a kneebar! Speilding looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Speilding looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Speilding!

Pena sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pena works his way to full guard. Good work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Speilding decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Speilding forces Pena back against the cage and clinches.
Speilding gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pena.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benedict Pena. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Speilding's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Speilding misses with a double jab.

Speilding shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Pena's guard.
Speilding trying to control the position from guard on top but Pena is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Speilding works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Speilding dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pena tries to land a front kick but Speilding steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Pena dives in and grabs Speilding's left leg, looking for a takedown. Speilding pushes down on Pena's head and hops out.
Pena blocks a head kick by Speilding.
Pena shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Speilding as he jumps to the side.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Speilding enables Pena to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Speilding manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Speilding wants to sweep here but Pena controlling him for the moment.
Pena postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Speilding is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Pena is aware though and is defending well.
Pena tries to free his leg and advance position but Speilding is retaining full guard.
Speilding is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Speilding has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pena trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Speilding wants to sweep here but Pena controlling him for the moment.
Pena is looking to work some ground and pound but Speilding has wrist control.
Pena won't allow Speilding to get back to his feet.

Pena wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Pena tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Speilding working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Pena is trying to improve his position.
Pena is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Speilding asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Speilding decides to stand back up. Speilding steps back and let's Pena get back to his feet.

Speilding forces Pena back against the cage and clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pena is trying to break the clinch but Speilding has him pressed against the cage.

Speilding manages to break the clinch.

Speilding gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Speilding trying to stall but Pena improves his position.
Speilding avoiding damage.

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

Speilding gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Speilding breaks the clinch.

Speilding has closed the distance and engaged Pena in a clinch.

Speilding gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Speilding is breathing heavily.

Pena kicks Speilding off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Speilding will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Speilding throws a head kick that misses.
Pena changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

Speilding pushes Pena up against the cage in a clinch.
Speilding on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Pena gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Speilding has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Pena is on him like a limpet, forcing Speilding back against the cage.

Pena breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pena throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Speilding unleashes a big counter combination but Pena bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Speilding rushes Pena and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

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

Pena gets caught napping as Speilding dives in and scores a takedown. Pena manages to retain guard.

Pena manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Speilding's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Speilding clinches up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Speilding showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Speilding stuffs the takedown attempt from Pena. Pena gets slowly back to his feet.

Speilding darts in and clinches Pena up against the cage.

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

Speilding moves into the clinch successfully.
Pena has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Speilding decides to pull guard.
Pena throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pena preventing the sweep.
Pena postures up in Speilding's guard and throws a big left but Speilding blocks it.
Pena scoring with some ground and pound.

Pena drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Speilding manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Pena has Speilding in his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pena tries to strike from the bottom.
Speilding works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Pena tries to get to full guard but Speilding has control of the leg.

Speilding decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Pena gets tackled into the cage by Speilding. Speilding maintains the clinch.
Pena tries to stall but Speilding uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Pena is trying to break the clinch but Speilding is controlling him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Pena tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Speilding has picked Pena up - he's going for a ride! Speilding dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Speilding is looking for a kimura but Pena is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Speilding to get the leverage.
Pena tries to kick Speilding off but Speilding keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Speilding is looking to take a break and control but Pena is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pena throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Speilding throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Pena moves into full guard.
Speilding trying to control the position from guard on top but Pena is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Speilding slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Speilding missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pena is pressing down on Speilding's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Speilding gets to his feet. Pena looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Speilding moves into the clinch.
Pena is trying to pull guard but Speilding turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benedict Pena. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Speilding utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Dan Speilding seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

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

Speilding moves into the clinch successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Speilding breaks the clinch.

Speilding fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Pena to the ground. Speilding is now in Pena's guard.

Pena is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Speilding presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nice elbow from Speilding.
Pena tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Speilding's elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Speilding.

Speilding escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Speilding fails to land with a series of punches.
Speilding moves out of range of the body kick from Pena.
Speilding throws a sloppy head kick and Pena moves out of range easily.
Speilding defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Pena.
Benedict Pena has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dan Speilding is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Pena motions for Speilding to come forward. Pena throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dan Speilding comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Speilding 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 Ben Watson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ron Honeybunn scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dan Speilding!