PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Benidze (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jens Witjes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jens Witjes has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Benidze
vs
Witjes

175 cm
25
147 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aleksandr Benidze!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jens Witjes!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Daniel Blasius and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Benidze moves into the clinch.

Benidze's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Witjes tries for a takedown but Benidze circles away easily

and Benidze counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Benidze is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Witjes is defending well.
Benidze tries for a takedown. No joy.
Witjes working hard to break the clinch.
Witjes's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Witjes tries to break free but Benidze pushes him back against the cage.
Benidze looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Witjes tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Witjes has Benidze pressed against the cage, preventing Benidze from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Benidze is looking to take this one to the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksandr Benidze. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benidze prevents a takedown attempt there.
Benidze is trying to pull guard but Witjes has him pressed against the cage.
Benidze prevents a takedown attempt there.

Witjes is trying to trip Benidze. He has hold of a leg but Benidze is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Witjes persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Benidze keeping moving, preventing Witjes from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Witjes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Witjes is looking to work some ground and pound but Benidze has wrist control.
Witjes throwing strikes but missing.
Witjes trying to control the position from guard on top but Benidze is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benidze looking to hit a scissor sweep but Witjes is one step ahead there.
Benidze is working hard here to advance position.
Witjes tries to stand but Benidze is controlling from the bottom.
Witjes with a flurry of punches that miss.
Benidze knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Witjes on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Witjes trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benidze managing to control the position.
Witjes trying to control the position from guard on top but Benidze is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Witjes tries for a takedown but Benidze circles away easily

and Benidze counters by moving into the clinch.
Benidze goes for a takedown in the clinch but Witjes prevents it.
Witjes fails to pull guard.
Benidze tries to pull guard but Witjes forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Benidze gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Witjes trying to keep a closed guard but Benidze is proving a slippery customer.
Witjes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Benidze is looking to pass into half guard but Witjes pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Witjes is in guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Witjes postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Benidze is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Witjes, into his guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benidze looking to sit in guard and control but Witjes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jens Witjes will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Benidze 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.
Witjes is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Benidze avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Witjes.
Benidze trying to control but Witjes postures up.
Witjes trying to pass the guard but Benidze defending well.
Witjes not doing much here.
Benidze is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Witjes thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Benidze's head.
Witjes stalling.

Witjes in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Benidze tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Witjes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:39 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jens Witjes!