PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Henri Bender (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jay Z (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Z has chosen New York as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bender
vs
Z

185 cm
23
175 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

177 cm
19
174 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™
•‡• LION Clothing •‡•

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Henri Bender!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jay Z!
The judges for this bout are Paulsen Ambrosius, Wagner Zegers and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bender works Z's body with a nice hook.

Bender closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Bender trying to mount his opponent but Z defends it.
Bender is working hard here to advance position.
Z tries to roll over but Bender keeps him under control.
Bender wants to control but Z is keeping him busy.
Bender tries to pass the half guard into mount. Z knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Z gets back to full guard.
Z wants to sweep here but Bender controlling him for the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Z misses with a takedown attempt - Bender sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bender tries to close the distance and clinch but Z swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Z gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Bender counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Z wants to get back to full guard.
Bender is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Z!
Bender fails to advance to Z's back.
Z is desperately trying to improve his position but Bender has a good base and remains in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bender working for a guillotine from mount but Z is in no mood to give up.
Z is in all sorts of trouble here.
Z sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
The fighters are battling for position here. Z manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bender is breathing heavily.
Z wants to sweep but no luck.

Bender avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Z looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Bender puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Z regains full guard. Nicely done.

Z working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bender doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bender manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Z looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Z is not content to let Bender control the position.

Bender is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Z looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Z gets back to full guard.
Bender preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Z had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bender defends it easily.
Bender pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Z is keeping the position for now.

Z is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Z escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bender gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Henri Bender will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Z shoots in but no luck this time.
Z gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Bender counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Bender tries to free his leg and advance position but Z is retaining full guard.
Z wants to sweep but no luck.

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

Z looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Bender works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Bender tries to pass the half guard into mount. Z knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Z is trying to get back to full guard.
Bender is keen to just control but Z is a slippery customer.
Z moves into full guard.
Z looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bender is one step ahead there.
Z manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Bender gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Z is working for a kimura but Bender is defending it quite comfortably.

Z is working for a kimura but Bender is defending it quite comfortably.
Henri Bender overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Z looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Z seems to be working for a kimura but Bender defends the submission attempt.
Z looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bender is trying to get back to full guard.
Z passes to side control.
Bender tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Z has hold of Bender's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Bender tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Z cranks the arm and Bender screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Bender, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Jay Z!
Jay Z is the new welterweight champion!