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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Middleton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benoit comes to the cage accompanied by Praise. Michael Benoit has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.
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| 170 cm
38
140 lbs
31 - 12 - 1 |
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173 cm
21
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick |
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Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
31 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Josh Middleton!
The judges for this bout are Darius Henderson, Donatello Bradman and Steve Erwin.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Middleton throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Benoit scores with a crisp jab that stopped Middleton in his tracks.
Nice shot lands for Benoit.
Benoit fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Middleton manages to avoid it.
Benoit throws a head kick that misses.
Benoit looks to throw the jab but Middleton is out of range.
Middleton uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Benoit.
Benoit 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.
Benoit misses with a low kick.
Middleton stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Benoit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Middleton misses with a telegraphed body shot
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Nice uppercut there from Benoit.
Benoit connects with the punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benoit tries to clinch up.
Benoit will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Benoit.
And Middleton tries to counter it with a takedown but Benoit pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Benoit lands a jab to the head.
Benoit doesn't manage to clinch there - Middleton circles away.
Benoit thows a left - swing and a miss!
Michael Benoit seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Middleton takes one to the chin there.
Middleton throws a body shot but no joy.
Benoit fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Middleton manages to avoid it.
A big left from Middleton misses.
Benoit connects with the punch.
Benoit lands a lovely overhand right.
Middleton slips a straight right by Benoit.
Middleton with the counter takedown but Benoit avoids it easily.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit misses with a straight left.
And Middleton tries to counter it with a takedown but Benoit pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Benoit scores with a jab to the head.
Benoit throws a low kick but Middleton moves out of range easily.
Benoit is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Middleton throws the left hand but Benoit avoids the punch easily.
Middleton checks the leg kick nicely there.
Middleton slips a straight right by Benoit.
Benoit tries to clinch but Middleton moves out of range.
Middleton checks the leg kick nicely there.
Middleton with the counter takedown but Benoit avoids it easily.
A lazy left from Benoit finds it's target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Benoit looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Middleton bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Benoit waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Middleton.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Middleton blocks a jab.
Benoit throws out a loose jab but Middleton uses good head movement to avoid it.
Benoit keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A lazy left from Middleton finds it's target.
Benoit tries to clinch up but Middleton circles away and keeps his distance.
And Middleton tries to counter it with a takedown but Benoit pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Benoit is looking to clinch but Middleton is avoiding it.
Benoit misses with a hook.
Benoit steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Middleton.
Benoit throws a jab when Middleton was well out of range.
Middleton checks a leg kick.
Benoit throws the left hand but Middleton avoids the punch easily.
Middleton connects with a crisp jab.
A lazy left from Benoit finds it's target.
A big right from Benoit misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Middleton misses with a hook to the body
and Benoit connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Benoit is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Benoit scores with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benoit is looking to clinch but Middleton is avoiding it.
Middleton listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Benoit closes the distance and pushes Middleton back into the cage.
Benoit working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Benoit misses with a punch to the body.
Benoit lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Middleton trying to stall but Benoit improves his position.
Middleton blocking some punches.
Middleton tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Benoit misses with a punch on the inside.
Middleton misses with the head strike.
Benoit effectively controlling the action here.
Benoit presses Middleton against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Middleton has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Benoit is trying to keep an underhook but Middleton manages to get the takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Michael Benoit dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Benoit throws out a loose jab but Middleton uses good head movement to avoid it.
A nice leg kick lands there from Middleton.
Middleton looks to score with a jab to the body but Benoit is just out of range.
Benoit misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Middleton.
Middleton is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Middleton pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Benoit swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A jab from Benoit finds it's way through Middleton's defenses.
Michael Benoit is winning the standup battle so far.
Benoit throws a jab when Middleton was well out of range.
Benoit throws a right hand that Middleton ducks under and follows up with a left that Middleton also avoids with ease.
And Middleton tries to counter it with a takedown but Benoit pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Benoit lands with an overhand left.
Middleton swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Benoit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benoit feints a jab promting Middleton to slip. Benoit then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Middleton slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
A slow jab from Benoit misses its intended target.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benoit fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Middleton scores with a sloppy right hand. Benoit should have avoided that one.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit throws a leg kick but Middleton moved away.
Middleton feints the counter takedown.
Middleton bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Benoit gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Middleton just leaning against Benoit, taking a breather.
Middleton tries to land a knee to the head but Benoit blocks with his arms.
Benoit has a couple of punches blocked by Middleton.
Middleton blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Benoit swings wildly with an uppercut but Middleton uses good head movement to avoid it.
Middleton scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Benoit lands with a short shot to the head.
Middleton looking to slow down the pace here.
Benoit slows down the pace here.
Middleton has Benoit pressed against the cage.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit slows down the pace here.
Benoit misses with the head strike.
Middleton working aggressively here.
Benoit lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Middleton is trying to trip Benoit. He has hold of a leg but Benoit is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Middleton persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benoit tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Middleton being controlled here momentarily.
Middleton 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.
Benoit manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Middleton manages to get himself to full guard.
Benoit is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Middleton can do to turn this around?
Middleton trying to keep a closed guard but Benoit is proving a slippery customer.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit wants to pass the guard but Middleton is keeping the position.
Middleton looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Benoit puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Middleton trying to hold on to Benoit's head to control him but Benoit postures up.
Benoit is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Middleton is looking to improve his position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Benoit sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Benoit is thwarting Middleton's attempts to control the position.
Middleton wants to get back to full guard.
Benoit tries to pass to full mount but Middleton defends it.
Middleton trying to get back to full guard but Benoit takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Michael Benoit dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!
Benoit closes the distance and clinches.
A short uppercut from Benoit.
Benoit lands a shot to the body.
Middleton is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Benoit is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Middleton is keeping busy.
Middleton goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Benoit scores with a shoulder strike.
Middleton has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Middleton misses with a knee strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right from Benoit.
Benoit swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Benoit lands with a left to the head.
Benoit lands a shot to the body.
Michael Benoit has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Benoit has a couple of punches blocked by Middleton.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Middleton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Middleton throws a hook but Benoit avoids it easily.
Benoit avoids a kick to the body.
Benoit missing with a left hand there. Middleton was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Middleton misses with a looping left.
Middleton checks a leg kick nicely.
Benoit gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Middleton misses with a body punch.
Middleton blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Benoit lands a body shot in the clinch.
Middleton takes a shot to the head.
Benoit is fighting off a takedown attempt but Middleton is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Benoit to the mat. Benoit regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Middleton wants to pass the guard but Benoit is keeping the position.
Benoit has Middleton pulled in close to control his posture.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Middleton postures up in Benoit's guard and throws a big left but Benoit blocks it.
Benoit wants to stand but Middleton is controlling the position.
Middleton trying to control the position from guard on top but Benoit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benoit wants to sweep but no luck.
Benoit is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benoit takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Benoit has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Josh Middleton has got the better of the ground game so far.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit is looking to take a break and control but Middleton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Middleton wants to improve his position but Benoit is controlling well.
Benoit is trying to control. Middleton wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Benoit looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Middleton tries to get to full guard but Benoit has control of the leg.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Benoit in particular looking to stall.
Middleton tries to get to full guard but Benoit has control of the leg.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A nice leg kick lands there from Benoit.
Middleton throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Benoit counters with a stiff right hand.
Benoit looks to land a combination but Middleton avoids it well.
Benoit avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Benoit misses the target.
Benoit dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Middleton. That did some damage!
Michael Benoit is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Middleton throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Middleton lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Middleton waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Benoit.
Benoit misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Middleton.
And Middleton tries to counter it with a takedown but Benoit pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Middleton misses with a wild body shot.
An attempted straight right counter from Benoit misses the target.
Josh Middleton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benoit avoids the body shot from Middleton.
And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Benoit showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Benoit, 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 Darius Henderson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Benoit!
Our winner, Michael Benoit, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
51% |
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