PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Micheal Maynard (ranked 24894 p4p, 0 weight class) and Papa Benjamin (ranked 7692 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Maynard
vs
Benjamin

169 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

166 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Micheal Maynard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Papa Benjamin!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Colin Fotheringham and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benjamin misses with a looping left.

Maynard throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Benjamin was covering up waiting for the punch and Maynard finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Maynard is working Benjamin over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Maynard connects with a couple of short punches.
Maynard chips away with some ground and pound.
Benjamin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Benjamin looking for a sweep. Not yet Benjamin, not yet.
Maynard stands up over Benjamin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maynard postures up and lands a big shot to Benjamin's brow.

Maynard stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Benjamin misses with a head kick.
Maynard seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Benjamin throws a lazy head kick

and Maynard counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maynard throws a big elbow that misses.
Benjamin is trying to keep Maynard in close.
Maynard stands up over Benjamin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Maynard is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Maynard stands up over Benjamin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Maynard throwing strikes from guard but Benjamin blocks nicely.
Maynard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benjamin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Maynard controls the pace.
Benjamin looking for a sweep. Not yet Benjamin, not yet.
Maynard works over Benjamin with some ground and pound from guard.
Maynard cracks Benjamin with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maynard makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Benjamin has momentary wrist control but Maynard slips an elbow through the middle.
Benjamin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Maynard controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Benjamin is looking to sweep but instead, Maynard has passed into half guard.
Benjamin trying to control but Maynard postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benjamin is trying to get back to full guard.
Maynard working the head and body with strikes.
Maynard lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Maynard takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Maynard slips a nice elbow through Benjamin's hands, connecting with Benjamin's forehead.
Benjamin is trying to control but Maynard passes into side control!
Benjamin takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Maynard working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Maynard landing a few strikes.
Maynard 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.
Maynard lands a decent elbow from side control.
Maynard working the head and body with strikes.
Maynard working the ground and pound.
Benjamin is looking to regain half guard here but Maynard keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard scores with punches from side control.
Benjamin is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Maynard is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Benjamin taking shots to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Maynard avoids the attempt from Benjamin to control.
Maynard working the ground and pound effectively.
Benjamin is desperately trying to improve his position but Maynard has a good base and remains in mount.
Maynard landing strikes from the mount and Benjamin is in trouble!
Benjamin wants to hold on but Maynard pushes him away.
Maynard lands a heavy elbow.
Maynard lands a nice shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micheal Maynard dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Maynard shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Maynard makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Micheal Maynard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Benjamin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Maynard with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Maynard showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Maynard with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maynard postures up.
Maynard postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Maynard makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Maynard works over Benjamin with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maynard with a nice head shot there.
Maynard scoring with punches to the head and body.
Maynard lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Maynard's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Maynard is looking to work some ground and pound but Benjamin has wrist control.
Benjamin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Maynard. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Maynard's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Benjamin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Maynard is one step ahead there.
Maynard working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Maynard cracks Benjamin with a solid left hand.
Maynard working some strikes from top position.
Benjamin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maynard postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Maynard is working Benjamin over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Benjamin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Maynard is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Benjamin can do to turn this around?
Maynard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Maynard postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Maynard working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Maynard lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Benjamin working a defensive guard but Maynard manages to pass into side control anyway.
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!
Maynard remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Check out the look on Maynard's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maynard cracks Benjamin with a big elbow.
Benjamin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Maynard lands a few punches from side control.
Benjamin is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Maynard is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Maynard landing shots from mount.
Maynard breaks from Benjamin's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Maynard raining down hammerfists from mount.
Benjamin tries to lock up and control but Maynard gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Maynard looking to finish Benjamin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Benjamin!
Maynard is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Benjamin can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benjamin is bucking up trying to escape but Maynard cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard cracks Benjamin with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Benjamin is wriggling around trying to escape.
Benjamin in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Maynard punishing his opponent with strikes.

Benjamin is rocked!
A nice elbow there by Maynard.
Benjamin is still in real trouble! Can Maynard finish him?
Benjamin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Benjamin in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Maynard working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Maynard punishing his opponent with strikes.
Maynard lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Maynard looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Maynard cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micheal Maynard dominated that second round.
That's time! Maynard's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Benjamin. Maynard shrugs it off though.
Benjamin seems to have recovered his senses.
Benjamin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Maynard counters by clinching up.
Benjamin gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Maynard.
Benjamin throws a head punch that misses.
Maynard has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Benjamin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Maynard gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Benjamin regains guard.
Maynard's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Benjamin is trying to keep Maynard in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maynard landing with the ground and pound.
Maynard is working Benjamin over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin looking to control.
Maynard lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Benjamin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Maynard with a nice head shot there.
Maynard scoring with punches to the head and body.
Benjamin is trying to control the position but Maynard postures up.
Maynard is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Maynard lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Maynard lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Maynard lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Maynard trying to control but Benjamin is working from the bottom.
Maynard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Benjamin's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maynard postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Maynard is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Maynard scoring with some ground and pound.
Benjamin is looking to sweep but instead, Maynard has passed into half guard.
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. Maynard connects with a nice short shot to Benjamin's temple.
Benjamin taking some punishment here, with Maynard in his half guard.
Benjamin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Benjamin is still trying to improve position.
Benjamin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Maynard takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin trying to control but Maynard postures up.
Benjamin is not content to let Maynard control the position.
Maynard lands with a punch from half guard.
Benjamin tries to get to full guard but Maynard has control of the leg.
Maynard winds up and cracks Benjamin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Nice strikes from Maynard there.
Maynard takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Benjamin is looking for a sweep. Maynard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Papa Benjamin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard drops an elbow to the side of Benjamin's head.
Maynard working Benjamin over with strikes.
Maynard is nestled in close to Benjamin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Maynard lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Maynard lands a nice short elbow.
Benjamin taking some punishment here, with Maynard in his half guard.
Maynard is nestled in close to Benjamin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
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. Maynard connects with a nice short shot to Benjamin's temple.
Benjamin trying to hold on to Maynard's head to control him but Maynard postures up.
Maynard sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Micheal Maynard is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Micheal Maynard showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Maynard, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 30:26
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:26
Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Micheal Maynard!