PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Judah Benjamin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adam Baum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benjamin comes to the cage accompanied by lions sleeps tonight. Baum has chosen The largest nuclear explosion as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Benjamin
vs
Baum

189 cm
33
276 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

201 cm
22
282 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Balco Boys - Hilo
BALCO UNIFORM

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 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Judah Benjamin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Adam Baum!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Benjamin. Baum does a little dance to reset his feet.
Benjamin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Baum.

Baum gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Baum has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Benjamin is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Baum.
Baum manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benjamin wants to get back to his feet.
Baum missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Benjamin is refusing to be controlled, as Baum sits in half guard.
Baum looks to land a strike but Benjamin avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baum pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benjamin is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baum is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Benjamin is looking to stand up but Baum isn't so interested in that idea.
Baum has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Benjamin pushes Baum off and gets back to his feet.
Baum dives in and grabs Benjamin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Benjamin pushes down on Baum's head and hops out.
Baum will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Benjamin misses with a wild combination.

Benjamin clinches.

Benjamin works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Benjamin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Baum on the ground.

Baum throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin wants to control from the top but Baum keeps moving.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Baum had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Benjamin defends it easily.
Baum looking for a sweep. Not yet Baum, not yet.
Benjamin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baum is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Benjamin is aware though and is defending well.

Baum is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Benjamin defends well.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Baum looking to hit a scissor sweep but Benjamin is one step ahead there.

Baum looking for subs off his back but Benjamin has passed one foot through into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baum tries to roll over but Benjamin keeps him under control.
Benjamin tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Baum is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Adam Baum will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A low kick from Benjamin misses
and Baum counters with a one-two to the body.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Benjamin.
Baum tries to bench press Benjamin off him but Benjamin keeps the position.
Baum is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Benjamin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Benjamin tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Baum is striking from the bottom but he's now found himself mounted! Oh dear - not enough focus on defense there.
Baum is trying to escape the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Adam Baum has got the better of the ground game so far.
Baum regains half guard.
Baum is pressing down on Benjamin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Baum working for a triangle but Benjamin defends it easily.
Benjamin trying to control the position from guard on top but Baum is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baum has an active guard here but Benjamin has managed to pass into half guard.
Baum is pressing down on Benjamin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Baum looking to hit a scissor sweep but Benjamin is one step ahead there.
Baum wants to stand but Benjamin is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin tries to stand but Baum is controlling from the bottom.

Baum is looking for a triangle but Benjamin pushes his legs off easily.
Baum trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Baum throws his legs up looking for a submission but Benjamin uses it to pass to side control.
Benjamin works to advance to full mount. Baum defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baum is working to get back to half guard.
Benjamin lands a heavy elbow.

It looks like Adam Baum has been cut.
Baum is in all sorts of trouble here.
Benjamin tries to control but Baum wriggling away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baum keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Adam Baum will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Adam Baum's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Benjamin lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Baum circles away quickly and effectively.
Baum misses with a takedown

and Benjamin moves into the clinch.
Baum wants a takedown but no success here.

Baum pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Baum tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Benjamin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Benjamin throws a lazy head kick

and Baum counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Benjamin wants to stand and escape but Baum is having none of it.
Benjamin keeping moving, preventing Baum from controlling successfully.
Benjamin is looking to stand up but Baum isn't so interested in that idea.
Baum wants to control from the top but Benjamin keeps moving.
Baum trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Baum drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Baum jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Baum wants to pass the guard but Benjamin is keeping the position.
Benjamin is looking to stand up but Baum isn't so interested in that idea.
Benjamin trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Baum postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Baum stops Benjamin from standing up.
Baum stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Benjamin swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Benjamin manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baum fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Judah Benjamin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adam Baum.
Nice takedown defense from Benjamin. No joy for Baum on that attempt.

Benjamin moves into the clinch.

Benjamin is trying to trip Baum. He has hold of a leg but Baum is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Benjamin persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Baum has a closed guard, preventing Benjamin from standing up.
Baum bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Benjamin's guard.
Baum looking to pass the guard.
Baum trying to control but Benjamin is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baum throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Benjamin wants to stand up but Baum is controlling him.

Baum drops back looking for a leg! Benjamin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Benjamin manages to kick Baum off! Baum jumps back into Benjamin's guard.
Baum trying to control but Benjamin is working from the bottom.
Baum prevents Benjamin from getting back to his feet.
Baum works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Baum moves into full mount! Benjamin won't be happy about that!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin is trying to stand up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baum unloads with some shots from mount but Benjamin bucks and avoids them well.
Benjamin is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

Baum has hold of Benjamin's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Benjamin manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Benjamin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Benjamin avoids a series of strikes thrown by Baum.
Judah Benjamin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Baum putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benjamin holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Baum tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Baum has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Benjamin's face.

It looks like Judah Benjamin has been cut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benjamin is in a horrible position here. Baum smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Adam Baum is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Baum postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Benjamin looks a forlorn figure.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adam Baum comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Baum winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Adam Baum!