PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jim Hellwig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dre Benjamin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Hellwig
vs
Benjamin

193 cm
19
279 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

193 cm
22
258 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Jim Hellwig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dre Benjamin!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Joseph Jones and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hellwig slips a jab from Benjamin.
Benjamin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Hellwig moves away from the strike by Benjamin.
Benjamin waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hellwig.
Hellwig ducks under a wild hook from Benjamin.
Hellwig slips a straight right by Benjamin.
Nice defenses there by Hellwig.

Hellwig fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Benjamin, pushing him back against the cage.
Benjamin wants to break the clinch but can't.
A frustrated look appears on Benjamin's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Benjamin blocks the elbow strike.
Benjamin working hard to break the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Hellwig taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hellwig goes for a takedown attempt but Benjamin pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Dre Benjamin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hellwig fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benjamin manages to avoid it.
Hellwig throws a body punch but Benjamin moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Benjamin looks to throw the jab but Hellwig is out of range.
Hellwig is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Benjamin throws out a loose jab but Hellwig uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hellwig is looking to clinch but Benjamin is avoiding it.
Hellwig misses with a series of wild punches.
Hellwig fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A telegraphed right hand from Benjamin misses the target.

Hellwig feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Hellwig trying to control but Benjamin is working from the bottom.
Hellwig with a flurry of punches that miss.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benjamin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hellwig.
Hellwig is working Benjamin over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hellwig is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Benjamin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hellwig. 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 two minutes gone in the round.
Hellwig content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Benjamin wants to get back to his feet but Hellwig is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hellwig stands up over Benjamin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Benjamin wants to get back to his feet but Hellwig is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Hellwig is in close to Benjamin's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hellwig chips away with some ground and pound.
Hellwig with a nice head shot there.
Hellwig wants to pass the guard but Benjamin is keeping the position.
Hellwig 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.
Hellwig passes Benjamin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hellwig lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hellwig takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin is in trouble now - Hellwig has advanced to mount!
Hellwig dominating with strikes here.
Hellwig trying to control but Benjamin is having none of it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Benjamin wants to get back to his feet.
Benjamin looks gassed!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Hellwig cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Benjamin in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Benjamin takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Hellwig is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Benjamin can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Hellwig is landing with some decent strikes but Benjamin is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Hellwig dominating with strikes here.
Hellwig connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hellwig dominating with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hellwig scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Hellwig working the ground and pound effectively.
A nice elbow there by Hellwig.
The referee warns Benjamin that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Hellwig looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Benjamin is squirming around, avoiding Hellwig's attempts to control the action.
Hellwig landing punches.
Hellwig trying to control but Benjamin is having none of it.

Hellwig is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Benjamin is surviving well by controlling Hellwig's body position as best he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hellwig wants to control the pace but Benjamin is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Benjamin throws an overhand right that lands on Hellwig's shoulder, as Hellwig tries to avoid the shot.

Hellwig rushes Benjamin and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Hellwig missing with knees to the body.
Hellwig goes for a takedown in the clinch but Benjamin prevents it.
Benjamin working hard to break the clinch.
Benjamin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A short right from Benjamin.
Benjamin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Benjamin tries to circle away but Hellwig has him pinned against the cage.
Hellwig controlling the action here for a moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Hellwig pushes Benjamin back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Benjamin working hard to break the clinch.
Benjamin is breathing heavily.
Hellwig goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Benjamin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Hellwig doesn't manage to clinch there - Benjamin circles away.
Nice straight punches there by Benjamin. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Benjamin.
Hellwig slips a jab from Benjamin.
Benjamin throws out a loose jab but Hellwig uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hellwig blocks a jab.

Hellwig shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Benjamin napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Jim Hellwig overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hellwig trying to control the action but Benjamin is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benjamin takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hellwig wants to control but Benjamin is keeping him busy.
Hellwig scores with a couple of short elbows.
Hellwig is chipping away with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hellwig trying to control the action but Benjamin is working from the bottom.
Benjamin takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Hellwig landing a few strikes.
Hellwig in side control lands a decent elbow.
Hellwig advances to mount.
Hellwig lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hellwig dominating with strikes here.
A nice elbow there by Hellwig.
Hellwig with the ground and pound from mount.
Hellwig landing punches.
Hellwig with the ground and pound from mount.
Hellwig postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Benjamin looks a forlorn figure.
Benjamin wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hellwig is landing with some decent strikes but Benjamin is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Benjamin is squirming around, avoiding Hellwig's attempts to control the action.
Benjamin is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Benjamin in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Hellwig looking to finish Benjamin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Benjamin!
Hellwig cracks Benjamin with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The referee warns Benjamin that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Hellwig landing punches.
Hellwig won't let Benjamin get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Hellwig is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Benjamin can do to turn this around?

Hellwig has isolated one of Benjamin's arms. Benjamin looking to fight him off but Hellwig twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Jim Hellwig!