PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Matt Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jubal Early (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jubal Early told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Bennett
vs
Early

177 cm
25
183 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
20
178 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Matt Bennett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Jubal Early!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Daniel Bishop and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Early tries to close the distance and clinch but Bennett swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bennett tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Early uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bennett.
Bennett fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Nice uppercut lands for Bennett. That snapped Early's head back.
Early tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bennett swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bennett throws a low kick but Early avoids it.
Early walks into a straight right hand from Bennett.
Bennett throws a looping overhand right but Early ducks down to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennett throws a jab when Early was well out of range.

Bennett darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Early is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett wants to lay and pray for a moment but Early keeps working.
Early avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Bennett.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bennett trying to mount his opponent but Early defends it.

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.
Bennett looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Early is looking for a sweep. Bennett is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Early is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bennett prevents Early from standing back up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Early doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Bennett counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett is controlling the pace.
Bennett is looking to stall here but Early recovers full guard.
Bennett trying to control the position from guard on top but Early is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Early looking for a sweep. Not yet Early, not yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bennett stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Early swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Bennett dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bennett looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Early looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Early is on top in guard.

Bennett throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Bennett pushes Early off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Bennett, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Early gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bennett counters with a three punch combo that has Early backing up. Early nods at Bennett to acknowledge the strikes.
Early defending well as Bennett loads up on a big left hand.

Bennett drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Early is trying to control the position but Bennett postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bennett got a little sloppy there for a moment and Early has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bennett has managed to get both his arms back between Early's legs - danger averted.
Early keeping full guard, as Bennett tries to pass.
Bennett trying to control but Early is working from the bottom.
Bennett sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Early throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bennett won't allow Early to sweep him here.
Early is trying to control the position but Bennett postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Early looking for a sweep. Not yet Early, not yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Early working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bennett.
Bennett has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bennett sitting in guard here, content to control.
Early looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bennett is one step ahead there.
Bennett trying to control but Early is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Bennett dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Early with a lazy takedown attempt

and Bennett counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Bennett tries to free his leg and advance position but Early is retaining full guard.
Bennett looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Early keeping moving, preventing Bennett from controlling successfully.
Early looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Bennett puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The fighters are battling for position here. Early manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Bennett throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Early works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bennett trying to control but Early is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Matt Bennett.
Bennett pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Early tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Bennett counters with a takedown into side control.
Bennett happy to just control the position for now.
Early tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Early is trying to control Bennett's posture but Bennett avoids it.
Bennett throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Bennett takes a little break here. Early wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Early manages to get back to half guard.
Jubal Early has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Bennett seems to be working for a kimura but Early defends the submission attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Early looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matt Bennett showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bennett has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matt Bennett!