PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between James Benoit (ranked 3749 p4p, 5824 weight class) and Lee Murray (ranked 422 p4p, 515 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Benoit
vs
Murray

186 cm
20
195
1 - 2 - 0

190 cm
19
190
0 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Champion Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Lee Murray !
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benoit misses with a right hand
and Murray connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Benoit misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
As Benoit backs off Murray throws a huge counter combo but Benoit manages to avoid it all.
Benoit showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Murray .
Benoit takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
We've been hearing reports that Benoit has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Murray moves out of range of the strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benoit fails to land the takedown.
Murray throws a hook but Benoit blocks it.
Benoit shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Murray counters with a good low kick that Benoit was not able to check.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Benoit. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murray scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Murray thuds his shin into the meat of Benoit's side.
Murray throws a head kick that misses

and Benoit counters with a nice double leg into side control. Murray won't be happy with that.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Murray can do anything to dispel that myth.
Benoit trying to control the position but Murray is working away.
Murray can't do much from the bottom here.
Benoit controls the position.
Benoit connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Murray some visible discomfort.
Murray dodges the ground and pound from Benoit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murray stops Benoit from passing to mount.
Benoit cracks Murray with a big elbow.
Benoit wants to lay and pray for a moment but Murray keeps working.
Murray defending against the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benoit working the ground and pound from side control.
Benoit throws a strike aimed at the side of Murray 's head but Murray avoids it well.

Benoit looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Benoit tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Murray really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Benoit. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit controlling the position from side mount.
Benoit trying to control the action but Murray is working from the bottom.
An elbow from Benoit crashes against the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Benoit tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Benoit has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Benoit wants to lay and pray for a moment but Murray keeps working.
Murray regains half guard, as Benoit was trying to land strikes.
Murray is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Benoit throwing shots but Murray is blocking nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Murray wants to control but Benoit is keeping busy.

Benoit is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Murray sees it coming and defends easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

James Benoit dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Benoit manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Murray on his heels. He'll look to pass Murray 's guard now, I'm sure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benoit postures up and lands a big shot to Murray 's brow.
Benoit trying to control the position from guard on top but Murray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benoit throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Benoit trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Murray controls Benoit momentarily but Benoit frees himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benoit throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benoit pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Murray is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Benoit accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit scoring with some ground and pound.
Murray preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Benoit is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Benoit trying to control but Murray is working from the bottom.
Benoit stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murray swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Benoit trying to control the position from guard on top but Murray is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benoit throwing strikes but missing.

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.
Benoit pushing down on Murray 's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Benoit throws a strike but Murray avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Murray keeping full guard, as Benoit tries to pass.
Murray utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Benoit working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Benoit with a nice head shot there.
Benoit wants to control from the top but Murray keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Benoit accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Benoit working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Benoit is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Benoit working some strikes from top position.
Benoit seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Benoit throws an elbow that misses. Murray uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Benoit's guard. Nice move by Murray !

Benoit working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit 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.

Benoit working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Murray doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Benoit is tightening it up a little... Murray has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Murray reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Murray taps out! Nice BJJ there by Benoit!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). James Benoit!