PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Chad Benavidez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lewis McLay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benavidez comes to the cage accompanied by Da Mystery of Chessboxin'. McLay has chosen "The Party Song" by Blink 182 as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Benavidez
vs
McLay

167 cm
26
143 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

176 cm
26
133 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

FULL METAL GEAR ($9.99 Morale Tee)
Core Tokyo

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Chad Benavidez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Lewis McLay!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, John Mangel and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McLay shoots in for a double leg but Benavidez sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
McLay closes this distance looking for a takedown but Benavidez circles away.

Benavidez moves into range and clinches up with McLay.
McLay throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Benavidez blocks it with crossed arms.
Benavidez has had enough of the clinch but McLay keeps him there for the moment.
McLay is pressed up against the cage. Benavidez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag McLay down to the mat. McLay avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Benavidez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Chad Benavidez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benavidez goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

McLay scores with a takedown into Benavidez's guard.
McLay trying to control but Benavidez is working from the bottom.
McLay must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
McLay pushing down on Benavidez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
McLay prevents Benavidez from standing back up.
Benavidez moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
McLay stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Benavidez swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLay trying to control but Benavidez is working from the bottom.
Benavidez striking off his back but it's not causing McLay any problems.
Benavidez looking to hit a scissor sweep but McLay is one step ahead there.
McLay wants to control from the top but Benavidez keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Benavidez pushes McLay off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
McLay tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Benavidez paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Benavidez drives through and clinches with McLay against the cage.
McLay tries for a takedown but Benavidez manages to get underhooks.
Chad Benavidez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lewis McLay.
Benavidez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Benavidez is trying to break the clinch but McLay has him pressed against the cage.
McLay stalling in the clinch but Benavidez improves position.
Benavidez stalling in the clinch but McLay improves position.
McLay has Benavidez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Benavidez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
McLay wants a takedown but no success here.
Benavidez is pressed up against the cage. McLay has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Benavidez down to the mat. Benavidez avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from McLay.
McLay looks gassed!

Benavidez lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends McLay sprawling to the canvas. Benavidez follows him down, looking for the kill. Can McLay hang on?

McLay is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez trying to control the pace.
McLay is still in real trouble! Can Benavidez finish him?
McLay moves into full guard.
McLay seems to have recovered his senses.

Benavidez drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Benavidez jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Benavidez trying to control but McLay is working from the bottom.
Benavidez pushes down on McLay's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Benavidez passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for McLay!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benavidez jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but McLay manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Benavidez happy to just control the position for now.
McLay tries to bench press Benavidez off him but Benavidez keeps the position.
Benavidez tries to advance to mount but McLay denies him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benavidez lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
McLay is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Benavidez dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Benavidez has his takedown stuffed

and McLay counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by McLay.
McLay throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Benavidez blocks it with crossed arms.
McLay is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Benavidez pulls him back up using the underhooks.
McLay has Benavidez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Benavidez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Benavidez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Benavidez tries a head kick but it misses.
Chad Benavidez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

McLay has Benavidez up against the cage in a clinch.

Benavidez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Benavidez misses with a looping right.
Benavidez swings away with a leg kick that misses.
McLay is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
McLay uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Benavidez.

Benavidez bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLay is trying to get back to half guard.
McLay sneaks back into half guard.
McLay wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Benavidez wants to work for an arm triangle but McLay is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

McLay actively working from the bottom here.
McLay is breathing heavily.
McLay is looking to get back to full guard here but Benavidez has managed to pass to side control instead.
Benavidez with the ground and pound from mount.
McLay tries to reverse the position but Benavidez maintains control.

Benavidez has hold of McLay's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and McLay manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLay is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Benavidez cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
McLay is trying desperately to improve position.
Benavidez controlling the pace for now.
McLay is looking to get to half guard.
Benavidez scores with a couple of good head shots there.
McLay is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez wants to control the pace but McLay is squirming around nicely.
McLay is trying desperately to improve position.

Benavidez looking for a guillotine from mount but McLay is having none of it.
McLay can't escape the position.
A nice elbow there by Benavidez.
Benavidez looking to control and managing it successfully.
Benavidez is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez trying to control but McLay is having none of it.
McLay tries to hold on but Benavidez postures up.
Benavidez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McLay is looking to escape.
McLay tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Benavidez wants to control the pace but McLay is squirming around nicely.
Benavidez prevents McLay from getting the reversal.

Benavidez looking for a guillotine from mount but McLay is having none of it.
McLay is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chad Benavidez dominated that second round.
That's time! Benavidez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

McLay shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Benavidez counters with a nice leg kick.
Benavidez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? McLay is fending him off so far but Benavidez persists. Nope, McLay circles away and we're back to standing.
Benavidez tries for a takedown but McLay circles away easily

and McLay counters with a takedown into side control.
McLay trying to control the position but Benavidez is working away.
Benavidez is looking for a sweep.
Benavidez prevents McLay from moving into mount.
Benavidez manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
McLay performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

McLay seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Benavidez has recovered full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLay forces his way into half guard.
Benavidez tries to roll over but McLay keeps him under control.
Benavidez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of McLay's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take McLay's back!
Benavidez biding his time, controlling McLay.
Benavidez lands shots from the back.
Benavidez doesn't have the hooks in and McLay manages to turn into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLay scoring with some ground and pound.
Benavidez trying to control the position.

Benavidez working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. McLay doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. McLay manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
McLay trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
McLay wanted to stand there but Benavidez had control of the position.
Benavidez wants to sweep here but McLay controlling him for the moment.
McLay trying to control the position from guard on top but Benavidez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benavidez is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez keeping moving, preventing McLay from controlling successfully.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Lewis McLay.
McLay keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Benavidez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and McLay counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chad Benavidez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McLay has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Benavidez avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
McLay drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Benavidez gets underhooks to prevent McLay's takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Benavidez wants to break the clinch but can't.

McLay jumps into guard, dragging Benavidez to the mat.
McLay not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Chad Benavidez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
McLay looking for a sweep. Not yet McLay, not yet.
Benavidez controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
McLay can't keep his opponent in guard - Benavidez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Benavidez works his way into side control.
Benavidez controlling from side mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Chad Benavidez.
Well Benavidez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Summer Carpenter scores the fight 30:27
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:28
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chad Benavidez!