PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Steel Garman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Bengino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Garman
vs
Bengino

190 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Steel Garman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Bengino!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Bruno Hogan and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garman tries to clinch there but Bengino circles away.
Garman tries to close the distance and clinch but Bengino swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Garman is looking to clinch but Bengino is avoiding it.
Bengino keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Garman connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Garman doesn't manage to clinch there - Bengino circles away.
Garman stuffs the takedown attempt from Bengino. Bengino gets slowly back to his feet.
Garman gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Bengino counters with a single leg into guard. Garman didn't expect that.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Garman will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Bengino wants to control from the top but Garman keeps moving.
Garman is trying to keep Bengino in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bengino sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Garman's guard.
Garman wants to improve his position but Bengino is controlling well.

Bengino is looking for a kimura here.
Garman blocking the ground and pound attempt from Bengino.
Bengino is thwarting Garman's attempts to control the position.
Garman is not content to let Bengino control the position.

Bengino is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Garman doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bengino.
Bengino trying to control from Garman's half guard. Garman has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bengino trying to control but Garman is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Garman closes the distance but Bengino moves to the side

and Bengino counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Garman's guard now.

Bengino drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Garman manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Bengino has Garman in his guard.
Bengino looks gassed!

Garman postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bengino is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Garman, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bengino has gone for a leg lock! Garman slips out almost immediately though and dives into Bengino's guard.
Garman really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Garman's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Garman drops back, looking for a kneebar! Bengino looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Bengino looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Bengino!
Bengino misses with the ground and pound.
Garman is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bengino looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Bengino goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Garman has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Bengino but great work by Garman.
Bengino being controlled for a moment.

Garman stands up.
Garman closes the distance but Bengino moves to the side

and Bengino counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Bengino dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Garman shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bengino sprawls well. Bengino wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Garman gets slowly back to his feet.
Bengino displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Garman.
Bengino keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Garman.

Garman gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Bengino to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Bengino wants to control from the top but Garman keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bengino lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bengino postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Garman is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Bengino, into his guard.

Garman decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Garman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bengino counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bengino.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Steel Garman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garman keeping moving, preventing Bengino from controlling successfully.
Bengino is pushing down on Garman's leg trying to pass to half guard. Garman is fighting to maintain full guard but Bengino has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garman wants to improve his position but Bengino is controlling well.
Bengino is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Bengino prevents Garman from improving his position.

Bengino is working for a kimura but Garman is defending it quite comfortably.
Bengino throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Bengino is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Garman has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bengino wants to free his trapped foot but Garman is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garman is looking to control Bengino's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Garman avoid being mounted?
Garman is looking for a sweep. Bengino is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Bengino is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Garman has managed to free his arm - good work.
Garman flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Bengino is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Garman has managed to free his arm - good work.
Garman is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Bengino is looking for a kimura but Garman is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bengino to get the leverage.
Bengino is thwarting Garman's attempts to control the position.
Garman is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Bengino is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Garman defends it well.
Bengino works his way into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garman is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Bengino showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Garman tries for a takedown but Bengino circles away easily

and Bengino counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Garman wants to improve his position but Bengino is controlling well.

Bengino is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Bengino is looking for a kimura here.
Garman is pressing down on Bengino's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bengino advances to half guard.
Garman pushes Bengino off looking to stand but Bengino dives back in and keeps control.
Garman wants to control but Bengino is keeping busy.
Bengino prevents Garman from improving his position.
Garman is staying active underneath Bengino, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Garman is looking to improve his position.
Garman is staying active underneath Bengino, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Garman with a poor takedown

and Bengino counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bengino not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Bengino is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Garman defends it well.

Bengino is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Bengino throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Bengino is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Garman defends it well.

Bengino is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Garman defends it well.
Bengino is nestled in close to Garman, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garman tries to kick Bengino off but Bengino keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Bengino scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Bengino tries to pass the half guard into mount. Garman knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Bengino is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Garman to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
Bengino wants to pass the guard but Garman is keeping the position.
Bengino throws and elbow that misses. Garman uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Bengino's guard. Nice move by Garman!

Bengino looking for subs off his back but Garman has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bengino is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Garman pulls his head out easily.
Bengino tries to get to full guard but Garman has control of the leg.

Garman decides to stand and escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Bengino comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bengino 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 27:30
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Bengino!