PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Odin Markkanen (ranked 338 p4p, 230 weight class) and Luuk Benjamin (ranked 34 p4p, 24 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Markkanen
vs
Benjamin

170 cm
37
146
20 - 5 - 0

177 cm
27
150
18 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)
Bondi MMA 🏝️

30th Century Beer Store
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Odin Markkanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Luuk Benjamin!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Markkanen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Markkanen misses the target.
Benjamin throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Markkanen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
A big right from Markkanen misses.
A jab lands there for Markkanen.
Markkanen throws a front kick aimed at Benjamin's knee but Benjamin avoids it well.
Benjamin is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Benjamin fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Markkanen.
Benjamin swings widly with a right hand
and Markkanen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markkanen missing with a left hand there. Benjamin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Good exchange - Markkanen coming out on top.
Markkanen walks into a stiff left hand from Benjamin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin scores with the left hand. Markkanen knows he should have avoided that one.
Benjamin thuds a left hand into Markkanen's body.
Markkanen throws a chopping leg kick but Benjamin manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Markkanen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A head kick from Benjamin lands but Markkanen takes it in his stride.

It looks like Odin Markkanen has been cut.
Benjamin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Benjamin lands a nice looking body kick.
Benjamin throws a push kick but Markkanen slaps the foot to one side.
It looked like Markkanen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Benjamin's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Markkanen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Benjamin scrambles back to his feet.
Benjamin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Markkanen throws out the jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Markkanen swinging wildly here.
Benjamin appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Benjamin looks to land a left hand but Markkanen moved out of range nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benjamin scores with a kick to the midsection.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benjamin. Markkanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Markkanen uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Benjamin.
Markkanen is looking to counter with head kicks.
A punch lands to the side of Benjamin 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Benjamin is rocked!
Luuk Benjamin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Benjamin connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Markkanen keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benjamin lands a nice shot that snaps Markkanen's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Benjamin there.

Markkanen is rocked!
Markkanen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Benjamin throws out a counter right but Markkanen avoids it with no problem.
Markkanen lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Markkanen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Benjamin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Markkanen throws out a powerful jab.
Markkanen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Benjamin is still on wobbly legs! Can Markkanen finish him?
Benjamin wants to stay close but Markkanen steps back to make room for something. Benjamin seems frozen to the spot and bam! huge swing of the leg from Markkanen and Benjamin drops like he has been shot! A huge head kick and it's all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Odin Markkanen!
Odin Markkanen spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.