PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mister Benzo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Wilkerson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Benzo
vs
Wilkerson

184 cm
21
188 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

195 cm
20
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mister Benzo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Thomas Wilkerson!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Viktor Lagutenko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wilkerson moves into range and clinches up with Benzo.
Benzo tries to pull guard but Wilkerson won't allow it.
Wilkerson looking for a takedown.
Benzo tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Wilkerson just stands there and leans against the cage.
Benzo jumps guard but Wilkerson stands there with Benzo around his waist. Benzo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mister Benzo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benzo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Wilkerson smiles and moves away.
Benzo lands a nice shot that snaps Wilkerson's head back.
Wilkerson fails with the takedown.
Benzo closes the distance and clinches up with Wilkerson, looking for a takedown. Benzo pushes Wilkerson against the cage but Wilkerson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Wilkerson misses with a takedown attempt - Benzo sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Benzo tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Wilkerson moves into the clinch.

Wilkerson gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Wilkerson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Wilkerson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Benzo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkerson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Benzo keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Wilkerson stops Benzo from getting back to his feet.
Benzo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Wilkerson.
Benzo tries to kick Wilkerson off but Wilkerson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Benzo looks to clinch
and Wilkerson counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Benzo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wilkerson shoots in but Benzo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Benzo misses with a takedown attempt - Wilkerson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Benzo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Horrible takedown by Wilkerson or perhaps it was just good defense by Benzo which made him look bad.
Wilkerson looks gassed!
Benzo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Wilkerson tries to avoid it but Benzo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Wilkerson to the ground. Wilkerson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Benzo shoots in and drives through. Wilkerson sprawls well.
Mister Benzo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Wilkerson moves into the clinch.

Wilkerson jumps into guard, dragging Benzo to the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Wilkerson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkerson looking to control.
Wilkerson is looking to sweep but instead, Benzo has passed into half guard.
Wilkerson is looking to control Benzo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Wilkerson avoid being mounted?
Wilkerson is looking to escape.

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.
Wilkerson wants to control but Benzo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Wilkerson desperately trying to maintain half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Benzo closes the distance and clinches up with Wilkerson, looking for a takedown. Benzo pushes Wilkerson against the cage but Wilkerson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Benzo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wilkerson takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Wilkerson dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Wilkerson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Benzo circles away.
Thomas Wilkerson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Benzo.
Benzo tries to clinch

and Wilkerson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Benzo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Wilkerson smiles and moves away.
Benzo stuffs the takedown attempt from Wilkerson. Wilkerson gets slowly back to his feet.

Wilkerson moves into the clinch.

Wilkerson breaks from the clinch.
Wilkerson dives in and grabs Benzo's left leg, looking for a takedown. Benzo pushes down on Wilkerson's head and hops out.
Mister Benzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Wilkerson.
Benzo misses with a takedown attempt - Wilkerson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Benzo darts in trying to clinch
and Wilkerson counters with a three punch combo that has Benzo backing up. Benzo nods at Wilkerson to acknowledge the strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Benzo connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Benzo dives in and grabs Wilkerson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Wilkerson pushes down on Benzo's head and hops out.

Wilkerson drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkerson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benzo is keeping the position for now.
Wilkerson prevents Benzo from getting back to his feet.

Wilkerson gets to his feet. Benzo looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Benzo tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Wilkerson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Wilkerson.
Benzo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Wilkerson smiles and moves away.
Wilkerson closes the distance and clinches up with Benzo, looking for a takedown. Wilkerson pushes Benzo against the cage but Benzo circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benzo fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Wilkerson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Benzo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Wilkerson somewhat.
Benzo wants to clinch but Wilkerson slips to the side

and Wilkerson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Benzo fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Wilkerson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Wilkerson creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Benzo's defenses.
Benzo jumps guard but Wilkerson stands there with Benzo around his waist. Benzo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Benzo gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Wilkerson.
Benzo tries to pull guard but Wilkerson holds him up against the cage and eventually Benzo drops back down to his feet.
Benzo tries to pull guard but Wilkerson won't allow it.
Come on Wilkerson - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Wilkerson pulls guard successfully.
Wilkerson has Benzo pulled in close to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkerson trying to control the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Wilkerson is on top in guard.

Wilkerson stands and steps away. Benzo gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Benzo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Wilkerson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Benzo's guard.
Benzo knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Wilkerson on the ground.
Wilkerson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Benzo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Benzo keeping moving, preventing Wilkerson from controlling successfully.
Wilkerson slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Wilkerson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Wilkerson rushes Benzo and presses him up against the cage.

Wilkerson manages to break the clinch.

Wilkerson moves into range and clinches up with Benzo.
Wilkerson looking for a takedown.
Benzo jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Wilkerson walks away with a smile on his face. Benzo gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice body punch from Wilkerson.
Benzo checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Wilkerson throws a sloppy head kick and Benzo moves out of range easily.
Wilkerson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Benzo looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Wilkerson!
Wilkerson tries to hold on but Benzo postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wilkerson is working to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilkerson wants to control but Benzo is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Benzo is looking to stand but Benzo has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Benzo prevents Wilkerson from getting the reversal.
Wilkerson tries to hold on but Benzo postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilkerson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Wilkerson wants to control but Benzo is keeping busy.
Wilkerson is looking to escape.

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.
Benzo tries to stand and escape but Wilkerson is controlling the position.

Wilkerson pushes Benzo off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wilkerson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Benzo's waist but Benzo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Wilkerson off to one side.
Wilkerson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Benzo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Wilkerson somewhat.
Mister Benzo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Thomas Wilkerson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mister Benzo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Thomas Wilkerson.
Wilkerson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Thomas Wilkerson.
Well Wilkerson has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Thomas Wilkerson!