PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dominic McNeill (ranked 4525 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lylak Benjamin (ranked 6536 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McNeill
vs
Benjamin

190 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

194 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dominic McNeill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Lylak Benjamin!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benjamin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McNeill defends well and Benjamin ends up having to push McNeill into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

McNeill tries to keep at a distance but Benjamin has taken the fight into the clinch.
McNeill fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Benjamin just leaning against McNeill, taking a breather.
McNeill is trying to pull guard but Benjamin has him pressed against the cage.
Benjamin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but McNeill gets the underhooks and prevents it.

McNeill decides to pull guard.

McNeill is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
McNeill really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

McNeill is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Benjamin defends well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benjamin pushing down on McNeill's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Benjamin throwing shots but McNeill is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McNeill pushes Benjamin off and gets back to his feet.
McNeill is looking to clinch but Benjamin is avoiding it.

Benjamin rushes McNeill and presses him up against the cage.
Benjamin content to slow the pace in the clinch.
McNeill jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Benjamin walks away with a smile on his face. McNeill gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dominic McNeill. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McNeill shoots in for a takedown but Benjamin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
McNeill tries to clinch up.
Benjamin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McNeill tries to avoid it but Benjamin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McNeill to the ground. McNeill escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Benjamin lands a straight punch to the body, keeping McNeill at a distance.
Dominic McNeill seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benjamin swats away the attempt to clinch by McNeill.
No luck with that takedown attempt from McNeill.
Benjamin steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from McNeill.
Benjamin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
McNeill doesn't manage to clinch there - Benjamin circles away.
Benjamin tries to counter by closing the distance.
Benjamin shoots for a double leg takedown but McNeill sprawls well. He's pushed Benjamin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin keeps the fight on the outside.
And Benjamin tries to counter it with a takedown but McNeill pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Benjamin moves into the clinch.

Benjamin breaks from the clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

McNeill clinches up against the cage.
McNeill fails to pull guard.

Benjamin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Benjamin stuffs the takedown attempt from McNeill. McNeill gets slowly back to his feet.
McNeill is breathing heavily.
Benjamin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McNeill pinned against the cage. McNeill gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
McNeill stuffs the takedown.
McNeill tries to close the distance and clinch but Benjamin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McNeill wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNeill closes the distance looking to clinch
and Benjamin counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Benjamin on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Benjamin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as McNeill sprawls well. McNeill wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Benjamin gets slowly back to his feet.
Benjamin closes this distance looking for a takedown but McNeill circles away.

McNeill rushes Benjamin and presses him up against the cage.
McNeill looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for McNeill.
Benjamin jumps guard but McNeill turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
McNeill scores with a shot to the side of Benjamin's head.

Benjamin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McNeill is looking to clinch.
Benjamin with the counter takedown but McNeill avoids it easily.
McNeill tries for a takedown but Benjamin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Benjamin misses with a head kick.
Benjamin throws a head kick but McNeill moves out of range.
McNeill wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Benjamin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has McNeill pinned against the cage. McNeill gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Benjamin swats away the attempt to clinch by McNeill.
McNeill takes a swing at Benjamin's ribcage but misses.
Benjamin takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab lands there for McNeill.
Benjamin takes a jab right on the kisser.

Benjamin rushes McNeill and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Benjamin stalls.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Dominic McNeill will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

No luck for McNeill with that takedown attempt.
Benjamin shoots in and drives through. McNeill sprawls well.
Benjamin fails with the takedown.
Benjamin circles away from the clinch attempt.
McNeill is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
McNeill ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
McNeill doesn't manage to clinch there - Benjamin circles away.
McNeill tries to close the distance and clinch but Benjamin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lylak Benjamin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Benjamin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but McNeill defends well and Benjamin ends up having to push McNeill into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
McNeill swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Dominic McNeill has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lylak Benjamin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McNeill throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Benjamin takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

Benjamin is rocked!
Benjamin is breathing heavily.
McNeill shoots in for a takedown but Benjamin shows good takedown defense.
Benjamin is still on wobbly legs! Can McNeill finish him?
McNeill wants to clinch up but Benjamin keeps it at a distance.
Benjamin seems to have recovered his senses.
Benjamin darts in looking for a takedown but McNeill gets double underhooks and turns Benjamin into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Benjamin tries to keep at a distance but McNeill has taken the fight into the clinch.
McNeill wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
McNeill lands a right hand.
McNeill gets underhooks to prevent Benjamin's takedown attempt.
McNeill jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Benjamin walks away with a smile on his face. McNeill gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

McNeill rushes Benjamin and presses him up against the cage.

Benjamin manages to break the clinch.

McNeill clinches.

McNeill pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Benjamin shoots in looking for a takedown but McNeill manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Benjamin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
McNeill fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Benjamin avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McNeill tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Benjamin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Benjamin appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

McNeill moves into the clinch successfully.
McNeill looking to stall.
McNeill is trying to push Benjamin away but Benjamin has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
McNeill is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Benjamin can do to turn this around?
McNeill is trying to pull guard but Benjamin turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
McNeill has a couple of punches blocked by Benjamin.
McNeill swings wildly with an uppercut but Benjamin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Benjamin is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables McNeill to keep the fight standing.
Benjamin scores with a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McNeill tries to pull guard but Benjamin forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
McNeill jumps guard but Benjamin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
McNeill swings wildly with an uppercut but Benjamin uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin goes for a takedown attempt but McNeill pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
McNeill with a poor takedown

and Benjamin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Dominic McNeill has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Benjamin jumps guard.
Benjamin managing to control the position.
Benjamin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
McNeill postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Benjamin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from McNeill.
McNeill is looking to work some ground and pound but Benjamin has wrist control.
Benjamin is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

McNeill wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Benjamin stands up from half guard.
McNeill shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Benjamin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

McNeill tries to keep at a distance but Benjamin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Benjamin is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but McNeill is defending well.
McNeill is trying to pull guard but Benjamin has him pressed against the cage.
McNeill jumps guard but Benjamin turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Benjamin controlling the action here for a moment.

Benjamin manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dominic McNeill will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

McNeill takes a swing at Benjamin's ribcage but misses.
McNeill tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Benjamin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Benjamin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around McNeill's waist but McNeill gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Benjamin off to one side.
McNeill fails with an attempt to clinch.
Benjamin looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Benjamin throws a one two combo.

It looks like Dominic McNeill has been cut.
Benjamin shoots in and drives through. McNeill sprawls well.
Benjamin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. McNeill tries to avoid it but Benjamin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag McNeill to the ground. McNeill escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dominic McNeill has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lylak Benjamin.
McNeill takes a swing at Benjamin's ribcage but misses.
McNeill shoots in looking for a takedown. Benjamin tries to sprawl out of it but McNeill keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Benjamin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Benjamin closes the distance and pushes McNeill back into the cage.
Benjamin content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by McNeill after a bit of a struggle.
McNeill is trying to pull guard but Benjamin has him pressed against the cage.
Benjamin fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Still in the clinch, McNeill scores with a nice short uppercut.
McNeill swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McNeill lands a left hand that snaps the head of Benjamin backwards.
Benjamin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.

McNeill has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Benjamin uses from the top position.
Benjamin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Benjamin postures up in McNeill's guard and throws a big left but McNeill blocks it.
McNeill wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McNeill has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Benjamin has passed into side control.
Benjamin advances to full mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benjamin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
McNeill is wriggling around trying to escape.
McNeill is working hard here to advance position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Benjamin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Benjamin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as McNeill is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McNeill is trying to escape the mount.
Benjamin throwing strikes here but McNeill is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
McNeill keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Benjamin stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
McNeill moves in looking to clinch but Benjamin pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McNeill takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Benjamin fails to land the takedown.

Benjamin has closed the distance and engaged McNeill in a clinch.

McNeill pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Benjamin closes the distance and pushes McNeill back into the cage.
McNeill is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Benjamin to keep the fight standing.

Benjamin pulls guard successfully.
McNeill being controlled here momentarily.

Benjamin has his feet on McNeill's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Lylak Benjamin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dominic McNeill is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benjamin fails with a takedown attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lylak Benjamin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McNeill 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 29:29
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!