PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Frank Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andi Lee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Benoit
vs
Lee

170 cm
27
152 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

167 cm
20
155 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Meet the Future
Elite Canadian Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Frank Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Andi Lee!
The judges for this bout are Hirohito Nitta, Kenichi Hosakawa and Shirou Masuda.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lee throws a front kick aimed at Benoit's knee but Benoit avoids it well.
A head kick misses from Lee.
Lee throws a nice outside leg kick.
Lee throws a front kick aimed at Benoit's knee but Benoit avoids it well.
Benoit gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lee.

Benoit drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Benoit in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lee lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Benoit!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lee lands a nice shot to the head.
Lee lands a big elbow.
Benoit is desperately trying to improve his position but Lee has a good base and remains in mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lee thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Benoit 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.
Lee sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Lee thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Benoit sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Lee.
Benoit is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Lee's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Lee's back!
Oooh a big shot gets through from Benoit. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Benoit wants to control but Lee is keeping busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benoit is trying to stick to Lee's back but Lee is turning into Benoit. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Benoit's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Lee.

Benoit kicks Lee off and gets to his feet.
Benoit looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lee is fending him off so far but Benoit persists. Nope, Lee circles away and we're back to standing.
Lee thumps Benoit with a low kick.
Benoit takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Benoit shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Lee's guard.
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!
Benoit trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benoit working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lee pulls Benoit in to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit throwing strikes but missing.
Benoit trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benoit stands and throws Lee's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Benoit misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Benoit trying to control the position but Lee is working away.
Benoit working away.
Lee is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee seems a little lost for a moment, as Benoit dominates the positioning.
Benoit trying to control the position but Lee is working away.
Benoit content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Benoit is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lee is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Benoit tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit working the ground and pound but Lee is defending the strikes.

Benoit wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lee, who protects the arm well.
Benoit throws an elbow but Lee slips to the side and avoids it well.
Lee is looking for a sweep.
Lee is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
You can see the frustration on Lee's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lee takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Benoit wants to control but Lee is keeping him busy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Benoit dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lee stuffs the takedown attempt from Benoit. Benoit gets slowly back to his feet.
Lee throws a head kick but Benoit moves out of range.
Lee lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Lee throws a head kick but Benoit moves out of range.
Benoit avoids the body shot from Lee.
Lee tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A punch combination from Lee misses.
A jab from Lee finds it's way through Benoit's defenses.
Benoit shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lee but Lee pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Andi Lee seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lee throws a hook but Benoit blocks it.
Lee feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Benoit's calf.
Lee throws a leg kick but Benoit moved away.
Lee lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lee is fending him off so far but Benoit persists. Nope, Lee circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Benoit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Lee. No joy for Benoit on that attempt.
Benoit misses with a takedown
letting Lee counter with a right hand.
Lee stuffs the takedown attempt from Benoit. Benoit gets slowly back to his feet.
Benoit looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Lee fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Benoit looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lee throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Lee shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Benoit eats them both and turns towards Lee to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Lee cracks a nice hook into Benoit's ribs.
Lee scores with a three punch combo!
Benoit darts in looking for a takedown but Lee gets double underhooks and turns Benoit into the cage.
Lee lands with a light punch inside.
Benoit blocks an uppercut.
Lee working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lee lands a nice knee to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Lee breaks the clinch.
Benoit takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Benoit tries to score a power double leg takedown but Lee sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Benoit somewhat.
Lee lands with an overhand left.
Lee's corner calls for a 1-2. Lee obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Lee leaves Benoit with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Lee fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Benoit slips a straight right by Lee.
Nice sprawl there from Lee as Benoit shoots in.
Lee comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Lee lands with a thumping leg kick.
Lee throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lee lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Benoit has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Lee.
Lee fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Benoit on the side of the head.
Lee throws a nice outside leg kick.
Benoit avoids the head kick by Lee.
Lee throws a nice inside leg kick.
Lee tests Benoit's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lee works the jab nicely.
Lee fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Benoit on the side of the head.
Lee throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Lee moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Lee slaps away a takedown attempt from Benoit, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lee feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Benoit's calf.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Benoit is defended easily by Lee.
Benoit takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Left hook, right uppercut from Lee.
Benoit is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Lee moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Lee throws a front kick that sends Benoit stumbling back into the cage.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Lee, right into the meat.
Benoit has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lee.
Lee is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Benoit.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lee lands a right hook to the body.
Benoit fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lee avoids it really well and circles away.
Benoit has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Lee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andi Lee showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Lee scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
A jab lands there for Lee.
Lee keeps the fight on the outside.
Lee tried to score with a low kick but Benoit checks it.

Lee gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Benoit to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Lee looking to control.
Benoit stopping the sweep attempt from Lee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit looking to sit in guard and control but Lee gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Benoit trying to keep a closed guard but Lee is proving a slippery customer.
Lee seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Benoit is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Frank Benoit overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Lee throws a big elbow that misses.
Benoit keeping moving, preventing Lee from controlling successfully.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Lee prevents Benoit from getting back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Benoit has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Lee finds it's way round the side to connect with Benoit's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lee throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Benoit has his takedown stuffed
and Lee counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lee throws a series of punches but Benoit moves out of range.
Benoit closes the distance and clinches up with Lee, looking for a takedown. Benoit pushes Lee against the cage but Lee circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Benoit takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Benoit closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lee circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Benoit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice body kick there by Lee.

Benoit gets a double leg takedown into Lee's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lee has control of Benoit's left arm, preventing Benoit from doing any damage.
Lee is trying to keep Benoit in close.
Benoit throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit wants to pass the guard but Lee is keeping the position.
Benoit is fighting to break Lee's control of his arms but Lee is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Andi Lee hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Benoit throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Lee's waist but Lee gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Benoit off to one side.
Lee throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Benoit takes one on the button.
Benoit on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Lee. Lee obviously looking to wear him down.
Benoit doesn't manage to clinch there - Lee circles away.
Benoit on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Benoit chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Lee can pounce on him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lee sprawls well. Lee wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Benoit gets slowly back to his feet.
Lee scores with a punch to the head.
Jab from Lee.
Lee rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Benoit moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Benoit has taken the fight to the clinch.
Lee has a couple of punches blocked by Benoit.

Benoit lands a takedown into guard.
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!

Benoit drops back, looking for a kneebar! Lee looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Lee looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Lee!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lee scores with punches from side control.
Benoit is trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andi Lee comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Lee has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 28:29
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 28:29
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andi Lee!