PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Raith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Raith
vs
Benson

188 cm
22
175 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

178 cm
20
181 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thomas Raith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jimmy Benson!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Benson has Raith up against the cage in a clinch.
Benson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Benson tries for a takedown but Raith manages to get underhooks.
Benson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Thomas Raith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Benson.
Benson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Raith pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Raith landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Benson is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Raith gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Benson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Raith wants a takedown.

Raith jumps guard and drags Benson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Raith tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Raith looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Raith works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Raith working for a triangle but Benson defends it easily.
Raith being controlled here, momentarily.
Raith keeping moving, preventing Benson from controlling successfully.
Benson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Raith. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Raith trying to control the position.

Raith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Benson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jimmy Benson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Raith shoots and misses
and Benson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

Benson instigates a clinch.
Benson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Raith fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Raith throws a chopping leg kick but Benson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Raith tries for a takedown but Benson circles away easily

and Benson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Benson controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson winds up and cracks Raith with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Benson not doing much here.
Raith trying to hold on to Benson's head to control him but Benson postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jimmy Benson will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Raith chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Benson can pounce on him.
Raith with a lazy takedown attempt

and Benson counters by moving into the clinch.

Benson works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Benson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Raith working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Benson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Benson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Raith is looking to stand back up but Benson counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Raith.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raith is staying active underneath Benson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Well, if Benson is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Benson wants to control but Raith is keeping him busy.
Nice strikes from Benson there.
Benson prevents Raith from improving his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Benson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Raith wants to control but Benson is keeping busy.
Benson trying to control from half guard but Raith is working away.
Raith is trying to stand back up but Benson is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson is trying to control. Raith wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Jimmy Benson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Raith closes the distance looking to clinch

and Benson counters with a shoot takedown. Raith fights it but they end up in guard.
Benson content to stall in guard here.

Raith isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Benson stacks Raith on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Benson!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Benson wants to control but Raith is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jimmy Benson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Raith tries to clinch up

and Benson moves into the clinch.
Raith is looking to break free of the clinch but Benson has double underhooks.
Raith with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Benson looking for a takedown.
Raith tries for a takedown. No joy.
Benson tries for a takedown but Raith manages to get underhooks.
Benson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Thomas Raith has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jimmy Benson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Raith gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Benson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Raith trying to control but Benson is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Thomas Raith wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Raith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Benson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Raith landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Benson wants a takedown.
Benson wants a takedown but no success here.

Raith ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Raith no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benson content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Raith has locked up a guillotine! Raith's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Benson is holding on here and Raith must be using up a lot of energy. Benson has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Raith gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:19 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Thomas Raith!