PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Craig Owens (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Chris Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Owens's entrance music is The Undertaker's Thirst For Revenge Is Unquenchable. A fine choice. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Owens
vs
Benoit

196 cm
21
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
20
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Craig Owens!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chris Benoit!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Benoit looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Owens is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Benoit scores with a couple of nice shots.

Benoit stands up and beckons Owens to join him on the feet.
Some wild striking there from Owens.
Owens dodges the punch combination from Benoit.
Benoit moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.

It looks like Chris Benoit has been cut.

Benoit closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Benoit content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

Benoit thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit working away.
Benoit wants to control but Owens is keeping him busy.
Owens is trying to control Benoit's posture but Benoit avoids it.
Benoit tries to advance to mount but Owens denies him.

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.
Benoit trying to control the position but Owens is working away.

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

and Benoit counters with a nice double leg into side control. Owens won't be happy with that.
Owens is trying to get back to half guard.
Owens avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Benoit.
Benoit wants to control but Owens is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Owens's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Benoit has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Benoit looks gassed!
Owens tries a head kick but it misses.
Owens throws a right and a left that Benoit avoids nicely.
Owens misses with a wild combination.

Owens shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit wants to sweep but no luck.
Benoit is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Benoit striking off his back but it's not causing Owens any problems.
Benoit working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Owens.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Benoit can do anything to dispel that myth.
Owens trying to control the position from guard on top but Benoit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Owens is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Owens has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Benoit is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Benoit dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chris Benoit's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Benoit gets a takedown into half guard.
Benoit is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Owens kicks off Benoit and gets to his feet.
Owens misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Owens moves forwards but Benoit connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Benoit shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Owens as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Owens misses with a few strikes there.
Benoit moves out of range of the strikes.
Owens really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Owens pivots, looking for a leg kick but Benoit is out of range and Owens settles back down.
Owens swats away the attempt to clinch by Benoit.
Benoit throws a body punch but Owens moves out of range.
Owens misses with a leg kick.

Owens drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Benoit is trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit keeping his opponent close.
Owens laying and praying for a moment but Benoit takes advantage and regains half guard.
Benoit is looking to control Owens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Benoit avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Benoit trying to control but Owens postures up.
Benoit looks like he's trying to stand up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Owens scoring well with a low kick there.

That's four 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.
Owens throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Owens changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Benoit looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Benoit is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Benoit gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Chris Benoit has got the better of the ground game so far.
Benoit is looking for a sweep. Owens is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Benoit gets full guard.
Benoit thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Craig Owens dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Chris Benoit's cut.
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. This is the final round!

Benoit moves into range and clinches up with Owens.
Benoit fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Benoit drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Benoit has Owens pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Owens manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Craig Owens has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chris Benoit.

Benoit manages to break the clinch.
Benoit takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Benoit misses with a low kick.
Benoit misses with a series of wild punches.
Owens throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Benoit feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit wants to control from the top but Owens keeps moving.
Owens wants to stand but Benoit is controlling the position.
Benoit looking to sit in guard and control but Owens gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Benoit is looking to sweep but instead, Owens has passed into half guard.
Benoit is looking for a sweep. Owens is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Benoit is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ground and pound from Owens.
Benoit misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Owens throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Owens sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Benoit defending well though.
Benoit is looking to control Owens's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Benoit avoid being mounted?

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Owens scores a takedown into full mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Owens cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Owens looking for a guillotine from mount but Benoit is having none of it.
Owens tries to push Benoit's head away but Benoit is holding on tight.
Owens with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Owens scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Benoit?
Benoit is trying desperately to improve position.
Owens content just to control the position here.
Owens landing strikes, looking to finish!

Benoit is rocked!
A nice elbow there by Owens.
Owens tries to control but Benoit wriggling away.
BOOM! Owens connects with a massive shot to the dome!

And that's the end of the fight!
Craig Owens showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Owens 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Craig Owens!