PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Thomas Benjamin Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Money Montell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benjamin Jr kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Sans Pression - Numéro 1. Montell has chosen I Get Money as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Benjamin Jr
vs
Montell

180 cm
28
185 lbs
16 - 8 - 1

183 cm
34
180 lbs
24 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Demonic Clothing

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 16 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Thomas Benjamin Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Money Montell!
The judges for this bout are Summer Carpenter, Donatello Bradman and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Montell walks into a stiff left hand from Benjamin Jr.
Montell's jab looks to have found its range, popping Benjamin Jr under the eye.
Benjamin Jr is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Montell.
Benjamin Jr shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Montell as he jumps to the side.
Montell fails to land with a series of punches.
A chopping leg kick lands by Montell.
Benjamin Jr staying out of range there.
A swing and a miss from Benjamin Jr.
Benjamin Jr is looking to land body kicks.
Benjamin Jr takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

Benjamin Jr shoots in and gets a takedown into Montell's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Benjamin Jr trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Benjamin Jr trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benjamin Jr preventing the sweep.
Benjamin Jr prevents Montell from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin Jr with a flurry of punches that miss.
Benjamin Jr working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Benjamin Jr accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Montell keeping full guard, as Benjamin Jr tries to pass.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Benjamin Jr accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Montell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Benjamin Jr throwing strikes but missing.
Benjamin Jr looking to sit in guard and control but Montell gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin Jr being controlled here, momentarily.
Benjamin Jr is looking to stand up but Montell isn't so interested in that idea.
Benjamin Jr is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Benjamin Jr has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Montell wants to stand but Benjamin Jr is controlling his posture from full guard.
Montell trying to control the position from guard on top but Benjamin Jr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Montell tries to free his leg and advance position but Benjamin Jr is retaining full guard.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Money Montell wasn't active enough on the ground.
Montell pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Good shot there by Benjamin Jr.
Benjamin Jr just misses with a punch to the body.
Benjamin Jr misses with a hook
and Montell counters with a leg kick.
Montell slips under a jab from Benjamin Jr.
Montell pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
An inside leg kick lands from Benjamin Jr.
Benjamin Jr throws the left hand but Montell avoids the punch easily.
Montell tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Benjamin Jr was well out of range. Poor timing from Montell.
Montell throws a poor cross that misses
and Benjamin Jr counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice body punch from Benjamin Jr.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Montell connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A low kick from Benjamin Jr is predictable there
enabling Montell to counter with a crisp jab.
Some bone on bone action there as Montell checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Montell throws a body punch but Benjamin Jr moves out of range.

Benjamin Jr drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Montell gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Benjamin Jr working Montell over with strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benjamin Jr sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Montell defending well though.
Benjamin Jr not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Benjamin Jr is nestled in close to Montell, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Benjamin Jr dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Benjamin Jr staying out of range there.
Benjamin Jr swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Montell makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Montell rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Benjamin Jr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Montell fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Benjamin Jr.
Montell has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Benjamin Jr.
Montell throws a right and a left that Benjamin Jr avoids nicely.
Benjamin Jr looks to land a left hand but Montell moved out of range nicely.
Nice shot by Benjamin Jr.
An inside leg kick lands from Benjamin Jr.
Montell blocks a head kick by Benjamin Jr.
Benjamin Jr on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Benjamin Jr ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Montell moves away.
Benjamin Jr misses with a body shot.
Montell fakes the leg kick and cracks Benjamin Jr in the body.
Montell avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Montell moves out of range of the strikes.
Thomas Benjamin Jr is winning the standup battle so far.
Benjamin Jr closes the distance and clinches up with Montell, looking for a takedown. Benjamin Jr pushes Montell against the cage but Montell circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A shot to the body from Benjamin Jr misses
and Montell counters with a good low kick that Benjamin Jr was not able to check.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benjamin Jr. Montell does a little dance to reset his feet.
Benjamin Jr motions for Montell to come forward. Benjamin Jr throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Montell misses with a straight left.
Montell slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Montell jabs at Benjamin Jr's body.
Montell scores with a shot to the body.
Benjamin Jr jabs at Montell's body.
Benjamin Jr slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Benjamin Jr takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Benjamin Jr misses the shot to the body.
Thomas Benjamin Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Montell steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Benjamin Jr. That one must have hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Montell shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Benjamin Jr eats them both and turns towards Montell to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Montell keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benjamin Jr misses with a hook to the body
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Montell scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Benjamin Jr doesn't seem bothered though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Benjamin Jr misses with a looping right.
Montell throws out a powerful jab.
Montell jabs Benjamin Jr right on the nose. Benjamin Jr blinks but takes it well.
Benjamin Jr checks the leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Benjamin Jr checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Montell.
Montell bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Benjamin Jr misses the jab.
Montell throws a good cross that connects.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Montell.
Montell misses with a body shot.
Benjamin Jr staying out of range there.
Montell blocks the body kick.
Montell swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Benjamin Jr.
Montell moves away from the strike by Benjamin Jr.
Montell fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Benjamin Jr checks it well.
Montell misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Benjamin Jr takes a swing at Montell's ribcage but misses.
Benjamin Jr changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Benjamin Jr rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Montell counters with a nice low kick that buckles Benjamin Jr's knee momentarily.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Benjamin Jr - that will leave a mark!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Benjamin Jr checks a leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Montell. Benjamin Jr does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin Jr loads up on a big right hand but Montell slips the punch.
Benjamin Jr wants to land a leg kick but Montell is out of range.
Benjamin Jr is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Benjamin Jr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A solid body kick from Benjamin Jr.
Montell connects with a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benjamin Jr misses with an uppercut.
Sloppy strikes from Benjamin Jr. Those never looked like landing.
Benjamin Jr moves out of range as Montell strikes.
Benjamin Jr tries to land a body kick
and Montell counters with a nice uppercut.
Benjamin Jr swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Montell looks to land a left hand but Benjamin Jr moved out of range nicely.
Benjamin Jr needs to keep his hands up - Montell had a free shot at his head there.
Benjamin Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Montell.
Benjamin Jr on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Montell. Montell obviously looking to wear him down.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Money Montell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Montell uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Benjamin Jr.
Benjamin Jr throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Benjamin Jr on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Benjamin Jr takes one to the chin there.
Montell lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Montell connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Benjamin Jr keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Benjamin Jr feints and as Montell raises his hands in defense, Benjamin Jr changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Benjamin Jr advances to half guard.
Benjamin Jr missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Montell blocking the ground and pound attempt from Benjamin Jr.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benjamin Jr is just content to waste time from the top position. Montell takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Benjamin Jr slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Thomas Benjamin Jr overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin Jr postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Benjamin Jr in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Montell keeping moving, preventing Benjamin Jr from controlling successfully.
Benjamin Jr sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Montell's guard.
Montell blocking the ground and pound attempt from Benjamin Jr.
Montell is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Montell wants to improve his position but Benjamin Jr is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin Jr throws a strike but Montell avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Montell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Benjamin Jr.
Benjamin Jr landing some decent shots from guard.
Benjamin Jr distracts Montell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Benjamin Jr throwing strikes from guard but Montell blocks nicely.
Benjamin Jr postures up in Montell's guard and throws a big left but Montell blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin Jr not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Montell keeping moving, preventing Benjamin Jr from controlling successfully.
Benjamin Jr postures up.
Montell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Benjamin Jr wants to pass the guard but Montell is keeping the position.
Montell looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Montell avoids the body shot from Benjamin Jr.
Benjamin Jr dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Benjamin Jr throws a leg kick which misses Montell's front leg but catches the back leg as Montell tries to avoid it.
Benjamin Jr misses with a few strikes there.
Montell throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Montell swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Montell throws a right hand that Benjamin Jr ducks under and follows up with a left that Benjamin Jr also avoids with ease.
Benjamin Jr misses with an uppercut.
Benjamin Jr thows a body shot but no joy.
Benjamin Jr misses with a lunging right hand
and Montell counters with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benjamin Jr connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Benjamin Jr fails with a takedown attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Montell tests Benjamin Jr's chin there with a solid looking shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Thomas Benjamin Jr showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Benjamin Jr has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Benjamin Jr!
After the fight, Thomas Benjamin Jr was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.