PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Walter Lebowski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthieu Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Lebowski
vs
Benoit

185 cm
22
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Hell's Balls Fightwear

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Walter Lebowski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matthieu Benoit!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benoit tries a head kick but it misses.
Lebowski shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Benoit as he avoids it easily.
Lebowski closes the distance and clinches up with Benoit, looking for a takedown. Lebowski pushes Benoit against the cage but Benoit circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Lebowski moves into range and clinches up with Benoit.
Benoit taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Benoit tries to stall but Lebowski uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lebowski tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Benoit smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Walter Lebowski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Lebowski with that takedown attempt.
Lebowski is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lebowski throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Benoit's waist but Benoit gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lebowski off to one side.
Benoit throws a body kick that misses.
Benoit tries a head kick but it misses.
Lebowski tries for a takedown but Benoit sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Benoit tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lebowski swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lebowski checks a leg kick.
Lebowski looks to clinch

and Benoit counters with a shoot takedown. Lebowski fights it but they end up in guard.
Lebowski keeping moving, preventing Benoit from controlling successfully.
Benoit trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lebowski keeping full guard, as Benoit tries to pass.
Benoit is looking to stand up but Lebowski won't let him.
Lebowski looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Benoit puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Lebowski trying to hold on to Benoit's head to control him but Benoit postures up.
Benoit has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Lebowski is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Benoit scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit throwing shots but Lebowski is blocking nicely.
Lebowski wants to get back to his feet.
Lebowski wants to improve his position but Benoit is controlling well.
Benoit is trying to control the action in half guard but Lebowski is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Lebowski actively working from the bottom here.

Lebowski looking for a kimura from the bottom but Benoit passes into side control!

Benoit tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Benoit has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit trying to control the action but Lebowski is working from the bottom.
Benoit working the ground and pound.
Lebowski is trying to get back to half guard.
Lebowski trying to remain calm as Benoit controls from the top position.

That's four 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.
Lebowski manages to work his way to half guard, despite Benoit's best efforts.
Benoit is looking to take a break and control but Lebowski is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Benoit might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Lebowski kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Lebowski is looking for a sweep. Benoit is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lebowski strikes from the bottom but Benoit uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Lebowski tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Benoit presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Benoit looking to control but Lebowski is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthieu Benoit dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Lebowski has his takedown stuffed

and Benoit counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Lebowski breaks from the clinch.
Lebowski misses with a takedown
enabling Benoit to counter with a crisp jab.
Benoit lands a jab to Lebowski's midsection.
Lebowski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Benoit swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Benoit clinches up against the cage.

Benoit breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lebowski closes the distance looking to clinch
and Benoit counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Benoit drives through and clinches with Lebowski against the cage.
Benoit is trying to break free.

Benoit escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit swings for the body but Lebowski moves out of range.
Lebowski doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Benoit moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Walter Lebowski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benoit is working Lebowski over against the cage.
Lebowski is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Benoit pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Benoit has had enough of the clinch but Lebowski keeps him there for the moment.
Benoit wants to break the clinch but can't.
Lebowski jumps guard but Benoit stands there with Lebowski around his waist. Lebowski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Benoit breaks from the clinch.
Lebowski thuds a left hand into Benoit's body.
Lebowski with a poor takedown
and Benoit connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Benoit lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Lebowski tries for a takedown but Benoit circles away easily

and Benoit counters by moving into the clinch.
Lebowski pushes Benoit back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit is looking to break free of the clinch but Lebowski has double underhooks.
Lebowski tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Benoit gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Lebowski.
Lebowski tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Benoit just stands there and leans against the cage.

Benoit breaks the clinch.
Benoit throws a head kick but Lebowski moves out of range.
Lebowski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lebowski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Benoit counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Benoit.
Lebowski is working for takedown but Benoit is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lebowski is working for takedown but Benoit is calmly controlling the position for now.
Benoit wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lebowski has him pressed against the cage.
Benoit is trying to break the clinch but Lebowski has him pressed against the cage.
Benoit wants to break free but Lebowski has control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit lands with a left to the head.
Lebowski is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Benoit slows down the pace here.

Benoit breaks the clinch.
Benoit closes the distance but Lebowski moves to the side

and Lebowski counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lebowski is keen to just control but Benoit is a slippery customer.

Lebowski is looking for a kimura here.

Lebowski is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Benoit doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lebowski.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit is trying to control but can't.
Benoit slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Benoit is trying to control the position but Lebowski postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benoit is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Lebowski looking to sit in guard and control but Benoit gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthieu Benoit showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Benoit looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Benoit looks to score with a jab to the body but Lebowski is just out of range.
Lebowski tries to clinch up
and Benoit makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Benoit fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lebowski, pushing him back against the cage.

Benoit breaks the clinch.

Benoit rushes Lebowski and presses him up against the cage.
Benoit is looking to break free of the clinch but Lebowski has double underhooks.
Benoit manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Lebowski misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lebowski jumps guard but Benoit stands there with Lebowski around his waist. Lebowski gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
The referee calls for Benoit to work.
Benoit is trying to break free.
Benoit wants to break free but Lebowski has control.
Benoit lands a hook that snaps the head of Lebowski backwards.
Benoit scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Benoit is trying to break the clinch but Lebowski has him pressed against the cage.

Benoit manages to pull guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lebowski wants to control from the top but Benoit keeps moving.
Lebowski makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Benoit is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lebowski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Benoit works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lebowski wants to pass the guard but Benoit is keeping the position.

Benoit looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lebowski passes into side control.
Benoit manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Lebowski is staying active underneath Benoit, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lebowski moves into full guard.
Lebowski wants to control but Benoit passes easily into half guard.
Benoit is thwarting Lebowski's attempts to control the position.
Lebowski is looking to improve his position.
Benoit is keen to just control but Lebowski is a slippery customer.
Lebowski wants to get back to full guard.
Walter Lebowski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Lebowski looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lebowski tries to roll over but Benoit keeps him under control.
Benoit missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Benoit tries to close the distance and clinch but Lebowski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Benoit throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Lebowski counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benoit is trying to break the clinch but Lebowski has him pressed against the cage.
Lebowski fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Lebowski gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Lebowski trying to work for an americana but Benoit has managed to regain full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Matthieu Benoit comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Benoit 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 Suge Night scores the fight 27:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthieu Benoit!