PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Damien Alexander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aris BenJudah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Alexander
vs
BenJudah

180 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Likes ground

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Damien Alexander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aris BenJudah!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
BenJudah throws out a powerful jab.

Alexander gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Alexander has picked BenJudah up - he's going for a ride! Alexander dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Alexander is keen to just control but BenJudah is a slippery customer.
Alexander is figuring out what he wants to do next.
BenJudah regains full guard. Nicely done.
BenJudah controls Alexander momentarily but Alexander frees himself.
BenJudah lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Alexander!
Alexander tries to get back to half guard but can't.
BenJudah looking to finish Alexander with some ground and pound. This is bad for Alexander!

That's one minute gone in the round.
BenJudah punching from mount but Alexander doing a good job of avoiding damage.
BenJudah unloads with some shots from mount but Alexander bucks and avoids them well.
Alexander tries to lock up and control but BenJudah gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
BenJudah trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Alexander working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
BenJudah trying to control but Alexander is having none of it.
Alexander can't escape the position.

That's two 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.

BenJudah has hold of Alexander's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Alexander manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

BenJudah is standing up, even though he is in mount.

BenJudah drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Alexander really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
BenJudah looks gassed!
Alexander sneaks back into half guard.
Alexander trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexander is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
BenJudah trying to control the action but Alexander is working from the bottom.
BenJudah seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Alexander is trying to stand.
Alexander tries to roll over but BenJudah keeps him under control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Alexander misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
BenJudah wants to clinch
and Alexander counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
BenJudah throws a wild body kick that Alexander sees coming a mile off.
Alexander has his takedown stuffed

and BenJudah decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Alexander's guard.
BenJudah stops Alexander from standing up.
Alexander looking to control but BenJudah passes into half guard.
Alexander is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute BenJudah jumps into side control!
BenJudah trying to control the position but Alexander is working away.
BenJudah advances nicely into full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aris BenJudah dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from BenJudah.

Alexander gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Alexander has his feet on BenJudah's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
BenJudah tries to clinch but Alexander is having none of it.
Damien Alexander is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Alexander forces BenJudah back against the cage and clinches.

Alexander breaks the clinch.
Alexander stuffs the takedown attempt from BenJudah. BenJudah gets slowly back to his feet.
BenJudah throws a head kick that misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Alexander shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and BenJudah counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander wants to control but BenJudah is keeping busy.
Alexander is staying active underneath BenJudah, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Alexander is trying to control but can't.

BenJudah is working for a submission of some sort.
BenJudah is keen to just control but Alexander is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Alexander wants to improve his position but BenJudah is controlling well.
BenJudah working the head and body with strikes.
Alexander is not content to let BenJudah control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
BenJudah with a poor takedown

and Alexander counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Alexander.
Damien Alexander has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aris BenJudah.

Alexander drags the fight down to the ground.
BenJudah wants to stand but Alexander is controlling his posture from full guard.
Alexander avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BenJudah missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
BenJudah trying to control the position from guard on top but Alexander is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
BenJudah looking to sit in guard and control but Alexander gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Alexander trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alexander has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Alexander looking to sit in guard and control but BenJudah gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
BenJudah is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Alexander is trying to control the position from the bottom.
BenJudah postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Alexander keeping moving, preventing BenJudah from controlling successfully.
BenJudah looking to sit in guard and control but Alexander 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.

Aris BenJudah showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Alexander bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Alexander trying to control the position but BenJudah is working away.

Alexander looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
BenJudah manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
BenJudah throwing shots but Alexander is blocking nicely.
BenJudah trying to control the action but Alexander is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexander is doing well to control the position and prevent BenJudah from advancing to side control.
Alexander is trying to control but can't.
BenJudah seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Alexander does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

BenJudah postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Alexander to stand up.
BenJudah misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Alexander fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
BenJudah fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
BenJudah closes the distance looking to clinch

and Alexander counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Alexander.
BenJudah wants to get back to striking at distance but Alexander won't allow it.

Alexander manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
BenJudah trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Alexander throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
BenJudah wants to control from the top but Alexander keeps moving.
BenJudah might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Alexander kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BenJudah is pushing down on Alexander's leg trying to pass to half guard. Alexander is fighting to maintain full guard but BenJudah has managed to sneak the leg through.
Alexander is holding on to half guard well.
Alexander wants to get back to full guard.
Alexander is trying to maintain the position but BenJudah is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
BenJudah works his foot free and advances to mount.
Alexander is wriggling around trying to escape.
BenJudah landing strikes from the mount and Alexander is in trouble!
BenJudah trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Alexander tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Damien Alexander.
I think BenJudah 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aris BenJudah!