PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Edison Faulkner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and VJ Benn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Faulkner
vs
Benn

180 cm
24
151 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
153 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Edison Faulkner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, VJ Benn!
The judges for this bout are Micheangelo Fripello, Roger Salmon and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benn misses with a takedown attempt
and Faulkner counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Faulkner shoots for a takedown but Benn saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Benn shoots for a double leg takedown but Faulkner sprawls well. He's pushed Benn's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Faulkner shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Benn pinned against the cage. Benn gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Benn fails with a takedown attempt.
Edison Faulkner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of VJ Benn.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benn is looking to clinch.
Faulkner avoids the head kick by Benn.
Horrible takedown attempt by Faulkner or perhaps it was just good defense by Benn, which made it look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benn throws a series of punches but Faulkner moves out of range.
Benn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Benn pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Faulkner lands a high kick!

Benn drives through and clinches with Faulkner against the cage.
The referee calls for Benn to work.
Faulkner looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Faulkner wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Benn has him pressed against the cage.

Faulkner breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benn shoots for a double leg takedown but Faulkner sprawls well. He's pushed Benn's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Benn has a takedown stuffed.
Faulkner stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Faulkner wants it to stay on the feet.
Faulkner throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Benn defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Faulkner.
Benn doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Faulkner counters with a three punch combo that has Benn backing up. Benn nods at Faulkner to acknowledge the strikes.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benn shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Faulkner shoots in and bounces Benn off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Faulkner stops Benn from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Faulkner gets to his feet - Benn follows without any prompting.
VJ Benn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benn with a poor takedown

and Faulkner counters by moving into the clinch.
Benn looks winded!
Benn wants a takedown but no success here.

Faulkner breaks the clinch.
Benn shoots in for a takedown but Faulkner shows good takedown defense.

Faulkner shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Faulkner showed some decent athleticism there.
Benn blocking the ground and pound attempt from Faulkner.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benn avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Faulkner.
Faulkner is thwarting Benn's attempts to control the position.
Faulkner thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Benn's head.
Benn avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Faulkner.
Faulkner wants to get back to his feet.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edison Faulkner dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Benn shoots in looking for a takedown. Faulkner tries to sprawl out of it but Benn keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Faulkner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Faulkner shoots in for a takedown but Benn shows good takedown defense.

Faulkner closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Faulkner pulls guard effortlessly.

Benn gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Benn scores with a hook to the body. Faulkner takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benn throws a head kick that misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Benn.
Faulkner feinted with a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benn misses with a takedown attempt - Faulkner sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Edison Faulkner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of VJ Benn.

Benn gets caught flat footed, as Faulkner shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Benn working a defensive guard here.
Faulkner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Benn can do to turn this around?
Faulkner stopping the sweep attempt from Benn.
Benn controlling Faulkner's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Faulkner working some strikes from top position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Faulkner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Faulkner won't allow Benn to sweep him here.
Benn is trying to control the position but Faulkner postures up.
Benn tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Benn is pulling down on Faulkner's head to control his posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Benn is on top in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benn wants to control from the top but Faulkner keeps moving.
Edison Faulkner overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Benn stopping the sweep attempt from Faulkner.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Faulkner is trying to keep Benn in close.
Benn stopping the sweep attempt from Faulkner.
Faulkner is looking to sweep but instead, Benn has passed into half guard.
Faulkner won't allow Benn to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Faulkner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Faulkner takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Faulkner lands a head kick!
Benn misses with a jab, cross combination.

Benn gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Benn is trying to keep Faulkner in close.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Faulkner postures up in Benn's guard and throws a big left but Benn blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Edison Faulkner dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Benn fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Faulkner is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Benn.
Faulkner is trying hard to land a takedown here. Benn sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Benn moves into range and clinches up with Faulkner.
Faulkner is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Benn pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Benn tries to pull guard but Faulkner forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Faulkner is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Benn to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Edison Faulkner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benn lands with a right to the head.
Faulkner gets underhooks to prevent Benn's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Faulkner pulls Benn into guard.
Benn tries to stand but Faulkner is controlling from the bottom.

Faulkner is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Faulkner wants to stand but Benn is controlling the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Faulkner controlling Benn's posture.
Benn controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Benn's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Faulkner wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Benn trying to control the position from guard on top but Faulkner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Faulkner gets caught flat footed, as Benn shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Benn advances to half guard.
Benn working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faulkner throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Benn manages to pass to side control.
Faulkner is working to avoid the ground and pound but Benn connects with a decent elbow.
Benn is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Faulkner tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Faulkner trying to remain calm as Benn controls from the top position.

Benn looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Faulkner tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Benn wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benn lands a few punches from side control.
Benn tries to advance to mount but Faulkner denies him.

Benn decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Benn lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Faulkner backs up against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Benn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Faulkner swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Faulkner shoots in but Benn avoids the takedown attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
VJ Benn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Faulkner 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 Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Edison Faulkner!