PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between PJ Benn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Morris McDonald (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). PJ Benn has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Benn
vs
McDonald

175 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

173 cm
18
169 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

BADGER MILK!
Butchered Fight Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, PJ Benn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Morris McDonald!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benn avoids the body shot from McDonald.

Benn shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Benn won't allow McDonald to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benn throws and elbow that misses. McDonald uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Benn's guard. Nice move by McDonald!
Benn has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
McDonald is looking to work some ground and pound but Benn has wrist control.

Benn looking for a guillotine here but McDonald defends easily.
McDonald controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
McDonald wants to control from the top but Benn keeps moving.
Benn is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benn utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McDonald wants to control from the top but Benn keeps moving.

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

Benn shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Benn showed some decent athleticism there.
McDonald is trying to get back to full guard.
Benn wants to control but McDonald is keeping him busy.
McDonald is looking to improve his position.

Benn is looking for a kimura but McDonald is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Benn to get the leverage.
Benn works his way into full mount!
McDonald is looking to improve his position but Benn isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benn wants to control the pace but McDonald is squirming around nicely.
McDonald is desperately trying to improve his position but Benn has a good base and remains in mount.
Benn throwing strikes here but McDonald is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
McDonald tries to lock up and control but Benn gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
McDonald sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
McDonald tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Benn tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Benn looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benn uses his free foot to push down on McDonald's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for McDonald.
McDonald wants to control but Benn is having none of it.
McDonald is squirming around, avoiding Benn's attempts to control the action.
McDonald tries to hold on but Benn pushes him away.
Benn prevents McDonald from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Benn can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McDonald is looking to escape.
Benn is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because McDonald is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
McDonald is wriggling around trying to escape.
McDonald tries to hold on but Benn pushes him away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McDonald is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
McDonald regains half guard.
Benn trying to control the action but McDonald is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

PJ Benn dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McDonald scoring well with a low kick there.
Benn shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with McDonald but McDonald pushes him off and we're back to square one.
McDonald looks to land a body kick but Benn moved away.
Benn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Benn tries to clinch up but McDonald circles away and keeps his distance.

Benn gets caught flat footed, as McDonald shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
McDonald trying to control but Benn is working from the bottom.
McDonald passes easily into side control. Nice work.
McDonald trying to control the action but Benn is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDonald tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Benn avoids any damage from the ground and pound of McDonald.
Benn struggling a bit here.
Benn is looking to reverse the position.
Benn is pushing McDonald's head away, looking to escape. McDonald manages to hold on to the position though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Benn gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and McDonald counters with a single leg into guard. Benn didn't expect that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDonald throwing strikes but missing.
Benn has his hands on McDonald's head, controlling the position.
McDonald is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
McDonald wants to control from the top but Benn keeps moving.
Benn wants to sweep here but McDonald controlling him for the moment.
Benn is trying to control the position but McDonald postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald trying to control but Benn is working from the bottom.

Benn has his foot on McDonald's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. McDonald works his way back into a safe position though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
McDonald fails to land the takedown.
McDonald keeps the fight on the outside.
Benn tries to clinch

and McDonald counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
McDonald lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Benn wants to control but McDonald is keeping busy and won't allow it.
McDonald content to control rather than advance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McDonald thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
McDonald is figuring out what he wants to do next.
McDonald stops Benn from getting back to his feet.
Benn gets full guard.

McDonald postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Benn is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of McDonald, into his guard.
Benn controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Morris McDonald showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Benn connects with a high kick.
PJ Benn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McDonald misses with a body shot.
Benn with a poor takedown

and McDonald counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Benn!
McDonald controlling from mount.

McDonald has hold of Benn's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Benn manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Benn tries to get back to half guard but can't.
McDonald takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
McDonald lands a nice shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benn taking shots to the head.
Benn is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
McDonald trying to control but Benn is having none of it.
McDonald lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Benn hang on?
McDonald lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, McDonald cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Benn manages to regain half guard. Good work.
McDonald thows a huge punch but Benn dodges it nicely.
McDonald not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Benn slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Benn 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.
McDonald throws and elbow that misses. Benn uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in McDonald's guard. Nice move by Benn!
McDonald is trying to hold Benn in close to prevent damage but Benn has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McDonald is looking to improve his position.
Benn uses his free foot to push down on McDonald's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for McDonald.
McDonald tries to reverse the position but Benn maintains control.
McDonald throwing hammer fists to the chest of Benn. What's that going to do exactly?
McDonald is trying desperately to improve position.
Benn throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for McDonald because Benn loaded up on that one.
McDonald wants to control but Benn is having none of it.
Benn wants to control the pace but McDonald is squirming around nicely.

That's four 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.

Benn get's back to his feet.
McDonald throws a sloppy head kick

and Benn counters by clinching up.

Benn is fighting off a takedown attempt but McDonald is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Benn to the mat. Benn regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Benn looking to hit a scissor sweep but McDonald is one step ahead there.
Benn keeping full guard, as McDonald tries to pass.
Benn looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Morris McDonald comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McDonald 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 28:29
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Morris McDonald!