PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roy Benavidez (ranked 967 p4p, 120 weight class) and Padraig McNamara (ranked 1514 p4p, 193 weight class). McNamara has chosen Kung liligaya ka sa piling ng iba as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Benavidez
vs
McNamara

180 cm
28
197 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

188 cm
30
185 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Roy Benavidez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Padraig McNamara!
The judges for this bout are Chad Campbell, Alyssa Summers and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benavidez dodges the punch combination from McNamara.
A quick step to the side and Benavidez tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Benavidez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McNamara.
McNamara throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
McNamara keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Nice sprawl there from Benavidez as McNamara shoots in.
Benavidez is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
McNamara's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Benavidez connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! McNamara scrambles back to his feet.
McNamara looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Decent striking displayed by McNamara there.
A shot to the body from McNamara misses
and Benavidez counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Benavidez connects with a body shot.
No joy there for Benavidez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Benavidez throws a hook to the side of McNamara's head but McNamara sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Benavidez misses with a jab to the body
and McNamara counters with a left to the body.
Benavidez takes a body punch but keeps moving.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benavidez tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McNamara was well out of range. Poor timing from Benavidez.
McNamara lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Jab, jab by Benavidez - just one landing.
Benavidez misses the jab.
Benavidez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from McNamara.
McNamara cracks Benavidez with a good jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benavidez misses the jab.
Benavidez on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
McNamara closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Benavidez is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McNamara.
And McNamara responds with a good body kick, but Benavidez manages to step out the way in time.
McNamara lands with an overhand left.
McNamara with a hook.
Benavidez swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McNamara shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Benavidez as he avoids it easily.
McNamara chopping away at his opponent's legs.
McNamara loads up on a big right hand but Benavidez slips the punch.
A little feinted left hand from Benavidez on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
McNamara tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Benavidez swivels and escapes.
Roy Benavidez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Padraig McNamara.
McNamara turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Benavidez misses with a looping left.
Benavidez ducks under a wild hook from McNamara.
Benavidez cracks McNamara with an open hand slap.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benavidez misses with a hook.
Benavidez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but McNamara circles away quickly and effectively.
Benavidez throws a looping overhand right but McNamara ducks down to avoid it.
Benavidez defending well as McNamara loads up on a big left hand.
Benavidez blocks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McNamara dodges the punch combination from Benavidez.
Benavidez gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Benavidez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
McNamara scores with the left hand. Benavidez knows he should have avoided that one.
McNamara throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A swing and a miss from McNamara.
McNamara ducks under a wild hook from Benavidez.
Benavidez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nice uppercut lands for McNamara. That snapped Benavidez's head back.
Benavidez scores with a punch to the head.
Benavidez throws a body punch but McNamara moves out of range.

Benavidez gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
McNamara postures up and lands a big shot to Benavidez's brow.
Benavidez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Benavidez is looking for a triangle but McNamara pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNamara passes easily into side control. Nice work.

McNamara tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no McNamara has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

McNamara is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Benavidez is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

McNamara swings around for an armbar but Benavidez sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into McNamara's guard.
Benavidez wants to control from the top but McNamara keeps moving.

McNamara is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Benavidez defends well.

McNamara working for a triangle but Benavidez defends it easily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Benavidez slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez trying to control the position but McNamara is working away.

Benavidez tries for a kimura but McNamara is defending well.
McNamara tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Benavidez trying to control the action but McNamara is working from the bottom.
McNamara tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Benavidez wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Benavidez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. McNamara knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
McNamara manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Padraig McNamara will probably get the nod.
That's time! Benavidez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McNamara tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Benavidez was well out of range. Poor timing from McNamara.
McNamara lands a jab to the nose.
Benavidez looks to score with a jab to the body but McNamara is just out of range.
A cross from Benavidez lands.
Benavidez lands a slapping body shot.
A big right from McNamara misses.
McNamara misses with a straight right.
Benavidez takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
McNamara keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Benavidez.
Benavidez looks to land a combination but McNamara avoids it well.
Benavidez scores with a jab to the head.
Benavidez just misses with a punch to the body.
Benavidez misses with a hook. McNamara ducked under it nicely.
Crunch! McNamara slams his shin into Benavidez's torso.
Benavidez uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from McNamara.
Benavidez is looking to counter punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benavidez moves out of range of the body kick from McNamara.
A punch lands to the side of McNamara 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Benavidez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McNamara manages to avoid it.
McNamara takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A decent looking cross lands there for McNamara.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McNamara lands a lovely overhand right.
McNamara throws a body shot but no joy.
Benavidez misses with a straight right.
Benavidez is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
McNamara throws a leg kick but Benavidez moved away.
Benavidez throws a body punch but McNamara moves out of range.
Benavidez cracks McNamara with an open hand slap.
McNamara cracks Benavidez with a good jab.
Benavidez moves away from the strike by McNamara.
McNamara throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Benavidez scores with a shot to the body.
Roy Benavidez is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Benavidez thuds his right hand into McNamara's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

McNamara dives in and scores a takedown into Benavidez's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benavidez has control of McNamara's left arm, preventing McNamara from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

McNamara avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
McNamara tries to free his leg and advance position but Benavidez is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McNamara postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McNamara wants to pass the guard but Benavidez is keeping the position.

McNamara avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
McNamara postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

McNamara drops back looking for a leg! Benavidez is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Benavidez manages to kick McNamara off! McNamara jumps back into Benavidez's guard.
McNamara preventing the sweep.
McNamara is pushing down on Benavidez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Benavidez is fighting to maintain full guard but McNamara has managed to sneak the leg through.

McNamara wants to work for an arm triangle but Benavidez is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Benavidez regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNamara sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Benavidez's guard.
McNamara is thwarting Benavidez's attempts to control the position.

McNamara seems to be looking for submissions.
Benavidez manages to get to full guard.
McNamara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benavidez is keeping the position for now.

Benavidez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Padraig McNamara has got the better of the ground game so far.

McNamara got a little sloppy there for a moment and Benavidez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, McNamara has managed to get both his arms back between Benavidez's legs - danger averted.
McNamara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benavidez is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benavidez looking for a guillotine here but McNamara defends easily.
McNamara wants to pass the guard but Benavidez is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Benavidez is on top in guard.

Benavidez got a little sloppy there for a moment and McNamara has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Benavidez has managed to get both his arms back between McNamara's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Roy Benavidez will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Benavidez misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McNamara.
McNamara throws a series of punches but Benavidez avoids them all with ease.
A slow jab from McNamara misses its intended target.
McNamara has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
McNamara closes the distance and clinches up with Benavidez, looking for a takedown. McNamara pushes Benavidez against the cage but Benavidez circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Benavidez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but McNamara manages to avoid it.
Benavidez checks the leg kick nicely there.
Benavidez misses with a looping right.
Benavidez blocks a jab.
Benavidez moves out of range as McNamara strikes.
McNamara looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
McNamara throws a jab but it's blocked by Benavidez.
Benavidez throws a looping overhand right but McNamara ducks down to avoid it.

McNamara 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benavidez can't keep his opponent in guard - McNamara advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

McNamara is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Benavidez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time McNamara.
Benavidez manages to get to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Benavidez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and McNamara defends well.
McNamara pushes down on Benavidez's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Benavidez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Benavidez works his way to full guard. Good work.
Benavidez trying to keep a closed guard but McNamara is proving a slippery customer.

McNamara thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
McNamara wants to pass the guard but Benavidez is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McNamara throwing strikes but missing.

McNamara is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Benavidez looking for a guillotine here but McNamara defends easily.
McNamara throws a big right hand that misses.
Benavidez keeping full guard, as McNamara tries to pass.

McNamara drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and McNamara jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Benavidez looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Benavidez looking to hit a scissor sweep but McNamara is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McNamara avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Benavidez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Benavidez throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

McNamara avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
McNamara postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
McNamara wants to pass the guard but Benavidez is keeping the position.
Benavidez pulls McNamara in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez can't keep his opponent in guard - McNamara advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Benavidez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Benavidez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

McNamara seems to be working for a kimura but Benavidez defends the submission attempt.
McNamara wants to free his trapped foot but Benavidez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Benavidez actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Padraig McNamara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McNamara has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chad Campbell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Padraig McNamara!
Post fight, Padraig McNamara took to the microphone: 'Ready? Pour into your hand, apply evenly over your hair, massage gently, and then rinse thoroughly.'.