PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Bendigo Ketchal (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ketchal comes to the cage accompanied by Happy Birthday. Bennett has chosen Enter Sandman by Metallica as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Ketchal
vs
Bennett

180 cm
18
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

174 cm
18
132 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bendigo Ketchal!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Richard Bennett!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Tiny Johnson and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ketchal closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bennett wants to get back to his feet but Ketchal is dominant here and he's now got Bennett's back!

Ketchal working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Ketchal tries to keep control of the position but Bennett is staying busy.
Bennett tries to escape but Ketchal has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Bennett is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ketchal is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Bennett trying to control the position but Ketchal manages to sink in the hooks.
Bennett is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Ketchal not allowing Bennett to control his hands.
Ketchal wants to control but Bennett is keeping busy.
Bennett just trying to survive but Ketchal is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Bennett is defending well here and trying to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett staying busy and making it hard for Ketchal to control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ketchal keeps control of the position easily here as Bennett tries to buck him off.
Bennett rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Ketchal is breathing heavily.

Bennett actively working from the bottom here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ketchal checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Richard Bennett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bennett tries for a takedown but Ketchal circles away easily

and Ketchal counters with a takedown into side control.
Bennett being controlled for a moment.
Bennett is trying to control Ketchal's posture but Ketchal avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ketchal controls the position.
Bennett wants to control but Ketchal postures up.
A lull in the action here as Ketchal stalls from top position.
Bennett is looking for a sweep.
Bennett struggling a bit here.
Bennett is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Ketchal is staying active.

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

and Ketchal counters with a shoot takedown. Bennett fights it but they end up in guard.
Ketchal sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bennett is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ketchal tries to free his leg and advance position but Bennett is retaining full guard.
Ketchal throws a big right hand that misses.
Bennett keeping full guard, as Ketchal tries to pass.
Bennett not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ketchal really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bennett is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ketchal is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bennett throws a leg kick that is checked

and Ketchal counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ketchal.

Bennett working for a triangle but Ketchal defends it easily.
Bennett not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Ketchal controls the pace.
Bennett tries to strike from the bottom.
Bennett will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Bennett working for a triangle but Ketchal defends it easily.
Bennett being controlled here, momentarily.
Ketchal scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ketchal trying to control the position from guard on top but Bennett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bendigo Ketchal dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bennett with a poor takedown

and Ketchal counters with a shoot takedown. Bennett fights it but they end up in guard.
Bennett is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ketchal trying to control the position from guard on top but Bennett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bennett striking off his back but it's not causing Ketchal any problems.
Ketchal trying to control the position from guard on top but Bennett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bennett trying to control the position.

Bennett is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Ketchal is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bennett looking for a sweep. Not yet Bennett, not yet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Bennett shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Ketchal counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bennett!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ketchal content just to control the position here.
Bennett looks out of his depth in this position - he's holding on tight.
Ketchal sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bennett is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Bennett wants to hold on but Ketchal pushes him away.
Bennett is working to get back to half guard.
Ketchal controlling from the full mount.

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.
Ketchal has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Bennett keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ketchal controlling his opponent.
Bennett is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Ketchal can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bennett is looking to escape.
Bennett wants to hold on but Ketchal pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ketchal controlling from the full mount.
Bennett keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bennett tries to hold on but Ketchal pushes him away.
Ketchal controlling the pace for now.
Ketchal punishing his opponent with strikes.
Bennett is squirming around, avoiding Ketchal's attempts to control the action.
Bennett reaches up and holds on to Ketchal to control the position.

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.
Bennett tries to hold on but Ketchal pushes him away.
Bennett is trying to escape the mount.
Ketchal tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ketchal seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bennett for as long as he can get away with.
Ketchal looking to control but Bennett is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Bendigo Ketchal just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Bennett shoots and misses
and Ketchal counters with a left and a right that stings Bennett.
Bendigo Ketchal has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Richard Bennett.
Bennett misses with a takedown

and Ketchal counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bennett won't be happy with that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bennett misses with a low kick.
Bennett swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

so Ketchal counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ketchal trying to control but Bennett is working from the bottom.
Bendigo Ketchal overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bennett is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Bennett looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ketchal being controlled here momentarily.
Ketchal is stalling in the full guard.
Ketchal wants to control from the top but Bennett keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ketchal drops back looking for a leg! Bennett is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Bennett manages to kick Ketchal off! Ketchal jumps back into Bennett's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bennett has Ketchal pulled in close to control his posture.
Ketchal wants to control from the top but Bennett keeps moving.
Bennett is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Bennett not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bennett pulls Ketchal in close to prevent any damage.
Ketchal wants to pass the guard but Bennett is keeping the position.

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.
Bennett pulls Ketchal in to control the position.
Ketchal has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ketchal trying to control the position from guard on top but Bennett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bennett is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ketchal trying to control but Bennett is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bennett scores with a nice head shot.
Bennett has his takedown stuffed

and Ketchal counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Ketchal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ketchal drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bennett pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bennett closes the distance but Ketchal moves to the side

and Ketchal counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bennett won't be happy with that.
Ketchal creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Bennett sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Bennett can't do much from the bottom here.

Ketchal tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
A lull in the action here.
Bennett manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ketchal's best efforts.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ketchal is keen to just control but Bennett is a slippery customer.

Ketchal wants to work for an arm triangle but Bennett is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bennett manages to get to full guard.
Bennett is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Richard Bennett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bendigo Ketchal is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ketchal wants to control from the top but Bennett keeps moving.
Bennett trying to keep a closed guard but Ketchal is proving a slippery customer.
Bennett is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bendigo Ketchal showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ketchal, 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bendigo Ketchal!