PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matthieu Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liam Minard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Minard has chosen Walk as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Benoit
vs
Minard

185 cm
26
193 lbs
14 - 7 - 2

183 cm
26
215 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

5th Round Clothing
Milwaukee's Best 160 - Go Pack Go

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 2, fighting out of New York, Matthieu Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Liam Minard!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Jonathan Paton and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benoit lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Minard lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

It looks like Matthieu Benoit has been cut.
Minard just misses with a punch to the body.
Minard connects with a jab.
Benoit moves into range and connects with a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Minard throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big left from Minard misses.

Benoit shoots in and gets a takedown into Minard's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Benoit postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Benoit wants to control from the top but Minard keeps moving.
Minard avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Benoit wants to control from the top but Minard keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Benoit has gone for a leg lock! Minard slips out almost immediately though and dives into Benoit's guard.
Minard is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Benoit controlling the position.
Benoit has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Minard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Minard passes Benoit's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit tries to get to full guard but Minard has control of the leg.
Minard is keen to just control but Benoit is a slippery customer.
Benoit wants to control but Minard is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benoit is refusing to be controlled, as Minard sits in half guard.
Benoit tries to roll over but Minard keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benoit won't allow Minard to pass to mount.
Benoit is trying to maintain the position but Minard is very close to passing his half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Minard seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit is looking for a sweep. Minard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Benoit actively working from the bottom here.
Minard lands strikes from half guard.
Benoit is looking for a sweep. Minard is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Minard wants to pass to mount but Benoit is defending the position.
Minard trying to control the action but Benoit is working from the bottom.
Minard takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Benoit is refusing to be controlled, as Minard sits in half guard.
Benoit trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minard throwing shots but Benoit is blocking nicely.
Benoit is in trouble now - Minard has advanced to mount!
Benoit tries to lock up and control but Minard gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Benoit gets back to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benoit wants to get back to full guard.
Minard sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Benoit defending well though.
Minard thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Benoit's head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Benoit is looking to improve his position.
Benoit is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Minard's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Minard's back!
Benoit misses with punches from the back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Liam Minard will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Matthieu Benoit's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Minard moves out of range of the body kick from Benoit.
Minard goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Minard shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Benoit manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Benoit is trying to control the position but Minard postures up.
Benoit keeping moving, preventing Minard from controlling successfully.
Minard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benoit managing to control the position.
Benoit wants to sweep but no luck.
Benoit controls Minard momentarily but Minard frees himself.

Matthieu Benoit has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Minard has managed to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Benoit on the inside.
A nice left hand lands by Benoit.
Minard blocks a body shot from Benoit.
Minard lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Minard pushes Benoit back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Benoit tries to work over Minard's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Minard has hold of one of Benoit's legs. Benoit is fighting the takedown attempt but Minard gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Benoit trying to keep a closed guard but Minard is proving a slippery customer.
Benoit keeping full guard, as Minard tries to pass.
Benoit trying to control the position here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benoit trying to keep a closed guard but Minard is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Benoit looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Minard tries to free his leg and advance position but Benoit is retaining full guard.
Minard postures up.
Minard trying to control the position from guard on top but Benoit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Benoit scoring well with a low kick there.
Minard on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Benoit tries a low kick but Minard avoids it.
A leg kick checked by Benoit.
Benoit connects with a leg kick. Minard looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minard uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Benoit.
Minard scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Liam Minard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Minard throws a head kick but Benoit moves out of range.
Benoit paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Minard closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Benoit did well to prevent Minard getting side control.
Benoit is trying is best to control the position here.
Benoit has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Minard is working away from the top position though.
Minard throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Liam Minard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Benoit is refusing to be controlled, as Minard sits in half guard.
Minard slows the pace down in half guard.

Minard is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Benoit is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:04 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Liam Minard!