PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mike Charles (ranked 1784 p4p, 219 weight class) and Benz Bulver (ranked 3858 p4p, 406 weight class). Charles comes into the arena with Renegades Of Funk - Rage Against The Machine blaring out of the sound system. Bulver has chosen Little Eagle Soars as his entrance music. 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 Benz Bulver was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Charles
vs
Bulver

175 cm
29
158 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

170 cm
29
160 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Freebok (85% Laundry)

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 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mike Charles!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Benz Bulver!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Chris Edwards and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Charles decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Bulver is trying to stand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Charles sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bulver defending well though.
Bulver is looking to improve his position.
Charles 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.
Bulver is doing well to control the position and prevent Charles from advancing to side control.
Charles is taking a breather. Bulver 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.
Charles is pressing down on Bulver's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bulver is holding on for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bulver is refusing to be controlled, as Charles sits in half guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Charles is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Charles is taking a breather. Bulver 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.
Bulver is looking to improve his position.
Charles tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bulver knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bulver swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bulver fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Charles. That snapped Bulver's head back.
Charles shoots in for a takedown but Bulver shows good takedown defense.
Bulver tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Charles wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Bulver throws a good cross that connects.
Benz Bulver is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bulver throws a jab when Charles was well out of range.
Charles dodges the punch combination from Bulver.

Charles darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Charles looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bulver tries to get to full guard but Charles has control of the leg.
Bulver is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Charles controlling the pace.
Charles seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bulver for as long as he can get away with.
Bulver is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Charles wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bulver keeps working.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Bulver gets full guard.
Bulver wants to stand up but Charles is controlling him.

Charles stands up from Bulver's guard - Charles perhaps looking for a knockout.
Bulver misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bulver looks to land a body kick but Charles moved away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bulver is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Charles avoids the head kick by Bulver.
Charles wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Bulver goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benz Bulver dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Charles uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bulver.
No joy there for Bulver, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mike Charles is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bulver looks to score with a jab to the body but Charles is just out of range.
Charles is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Bulver.
A head kick misses from Charles.
Bulver connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Charles tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bulver defends well and Charles ends up having to push Bulver into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bulver misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bulver lands with a good body shot.
Charles uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bulver.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Charles shoots and misses
and Bulver counters with a right hand to the body.
Mike Charles seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bulver stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bulver wants it to stay on the feet.
Bulver lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Charles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bulver pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A head kick by Charles misses
letting Bulver counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bulver throws a head kick that misses.
Bulver connects with a single shot there.
Charles fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Charles fails to land the takedown.
Charles shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bulver as he jumps to the side.
Charles fails with a takedown attempt.
Bulver ducks under a wild hook from Charles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Charles moves in looking to clinch but Bulver pushes him off.
Charles takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Bulver misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Charles.
Charles fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
The crowd cheers as Bulver lands an impressive looking overhand right. Charles doesn't seem phased though.
Bulver sizes up Charles with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Some wild striking there from Bulver.
Bulver connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bulver lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Bulver misses with a combination

and Charles holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bulver is trying to push Charles away but Charles has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Bulver breaks the clinch.
Charles misses with a series of wild punches.
Despite the aggression on Bulver's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Charles tries to clinch up but Bulver circles away and keeps his distance.
Bulver looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Charles wants to clinch up but Bulver keeps it at a distance.
Bulver looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Charles dives in for a single leg takedown but Bulver sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bulver misses with a body kick.
Bulver with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Charles fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bulver avoids it really well and circles away.
Bulver tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bulver looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bulver misses with a two punch combination.
Bulver lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Bulver pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Charles ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Charles wants to clinch up but Bulver keeps it at a distance.
Charles shoots for a double leg takedown but Bulver sprawls well. He's pushed Charles's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bulver looks like he wants to counter punch here.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Charles.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bulver looks to land a combination but Charles avoids it well.
Bulver misses with an uppercut.
Bulver misses the shot to the body.
It appears Charles was looking to counter with a kick there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benz Bulver 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Charles misses with a low kick.
Bulver has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Charles takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Charles slips a straight right by Bulver.
Bulver lands with a kick to the temple. Charles shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Charles fails in his attempt to clinch.
Charles darts in looking for a takedown but Bulver gets double underhooks and turns Charles into the cage.
Despite the aggression on Bulver's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Charles blocks a jab.
Charles tries to close the distance and clinch but Bulver swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Charles rushes Bulver and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bulver is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Bulver breaks the clinch.
Bulver swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Bulver connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Charles momentarily.
Benz Bulver seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Charles or perhaps it was just good defense by Bulver, which made it look bad.
Bulver will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bulver lands the left hand.
Charles is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Charles closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bulver circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Charles. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bulver misses with the combination.
Charles changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Charles avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bulver throws a right and a left that Charles avoids nicely.
Bulver misses with a body shot.
The fight stays on the outside here - Charles looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bulver stuffs the takedown.

Charles clinches up against the cage.
Bulver is trying to force a seperation but Charles has the dominant position.
A right hook to the body lands for Bulver.
Bulver scores with an uppercut up the middle.

Bulver manages to break the clinch.
A slow jab from Bulver misses its intended target.
Charles uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bulver.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Charles darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Charles looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bulver wants to get back to his feet.
Charles is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Bulver wants to control but Charles is keeping busy.
Benz Bulver is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Charles missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bulver tries to roll over but Charles keeps him under control.

Charles is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bulver keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bulver moves into full guard.
Mike Charles has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bulver really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Charles. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bulver is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Charles is controlling him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benz Bulver comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bulver winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 William Gold scores the fight 26:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 26:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benz Bulver!
Benz Bulver really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Freebok (85% Laundry) logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.