PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abdul Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jimmy Joannides (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Benson
vs
Joannides

218 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

184 cm
18
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Abdul Benson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jimmy Joannides!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Benson.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Benson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Benson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Benson gets to mount! Joannides was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Joannides is trying desperately to improve position.

Benson stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

Joannides shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Benson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Benson wants to control but Joannides postures up.
Joannides landing strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benson gets back to half guard.
Benson gets full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson wants to sweep but no luck.
Benson is working hard here to advance position.
Joannides tries to free his leg and advance position but Benson is retaining full guard.
Benson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Joannides is one step ahead there.
Benson wants to stand but Joannides is controlling the position.
Benson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Joannides controls from within his opponent's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jimmy Joannides has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Joannides changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Benson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Joannides controls the position from side control.

Joannides thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Benson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Benson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Joannides trying to control but Benson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joannides stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Benson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Joannides postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Joannides landing some decent shots from guard.
Joannides prevents Benson from getting back to his feet.
Joannides cracks Benson with a solid left hand.
Joannides wants to pass the guard but Benson is keeping the position.
Benson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Joannides is controlling him.

Benson has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Joannides has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benson works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Benson is breathing heavily.
Joannides looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Joannides looking to control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benson trying to control the position from guard on top but Joannides is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Benson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Benson is stalling in the full guard.
Joannides utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Joannides wants to stand up but Benson is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Abdul Benson will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Joannides gets caught flat footed, as Benson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Benson postures up in Joannides's guard and throws a big left but Joannides blocks it.
Joannides looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Joannides working a defensive guard here.
Benson throwing strikes but missing.
Joannides looking to control.
Benson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Joannides working a defensive guard but Benson manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Benson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Joannides knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Joannides tries to improve position but can't.
You can see the frustration on Joannides's face as Benson controls the position.
Joannides gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Benson avoids the attempt from Joannides to control.

Joannides defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Benson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson trying to control but Joannides is having none of it.
Benson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Joannides is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Joannides squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Benson thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Benson wants to control the pace but Joannides is squirming around nicely.
Benson controlling from mount.
Joannides wants to hold on but Benson pushes him away.
Joannides is in all sorts of trouble here.
Benson trying to control but Joannides is having none of it.
Benson punching from mount but Joannides doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joannides is looking to get to half guard.
Joannides tries to lock up and control but Benson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Benson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Joannides really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Benson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Joannides really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Benson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Joannides is squirming around, avoiding Benson's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abdul Benson dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Joannides closes the distance and clinches.

Benson successfully pulls guard.
Benson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Benson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Joannides throws an elbow that misses. Benson uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Joannides's guard. Nice move by Benson!
Joannides is trying to hold Benson in close to prevent damage but Benson has managed to pass into half guard.
Joannides trying to control but Benson postures up.
Joannides wants to improve his position but Benson is controlling well.
Benson trying to control from half guard but Joannides is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joannides tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Benson manages to move to mount!
Benson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Joannides tries to reverse the position but Benson maintains control.
Benson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Joannides tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Benson breaks from Joannides's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joannides is in all sorts of trouble here.

Benson with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Benson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Joannides because Benson loaded up on that one.
Joannides is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Joannides takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Benson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Joannides is looking to escape.
Joannides can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joannides wants to hold on but Benson pushes him away.
Benson unloads with some shots from mount but Joannides bucks and avoids them well.
Joannides avoids a series of strikes thrown by Benson.
Benson content just to control the position here.
Joannides is wriggling around trying to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joannides looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Benson thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Benson trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson keeps control of the position as Joannides tries to break free.
Benson trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Joannides tries to break free.
Benson struggling to keep hold of the position.
Jimmy Joannides has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joannides is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Benson.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Joannides staying busy and making it hard for Benson to control.
Abdul Benson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benson really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Joannides.

And that's the end of the fight!
Abdul Benson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Benson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Abdul Benson!