PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benedict Sixteenth (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Liu Kang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Sixteenth
vs
Kang

184 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
26
176 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Benedict Sixteenth!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Liu Kang!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Elvis Blanc and Alec Ball.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kang gets tackled into the cage by Sixteenth. Sixteenth maintains the clinch.
Sixteenth manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Kang is trying to break the clinch but Sixteenth is controlling him.
Kang is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Sixteenth displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kang up against the cage.
Kang wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sixteenth has him pressed against the cage.
Kang has had enough of the clinch but Sixteenth keeps him there for the moment.
Kang wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sixteenth pulls Kang into guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Sixteenth pulls Kang in close to prevent any damage.
Sixteenth looking for a sweep. Not yet Sixteenth, not yet.
Sixteenth is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sixteenth gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Sixteenth tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kang swivels and escapes.

Sixteenth closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sixteenth's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Sixteenth clinches with his opponent.
Sixteenth tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Sixteenth has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kang gets underhooks to prevent Sixteenth's takedown attempt.

Sixteenth has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kang uses from the top position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kang trying to control but Sixteenth is working from the bottom.
Sixteenth has Kang pulled in close to control his posture.
Kang trying to stand up but can't free himself from Sixteenth's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kang trying to control but Sixteenth is working from the bottom.

Liu Kang has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kang throws a hook but Sixteenth avoids it easily.
Sixteenth shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benedict Sixteenth. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice takedown defense from Kang. No joy for Sixteenth on that attempt.
Kang digs a good body shot into Sixteenth's ribs.
Sixteenth fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Benedict Sixteenth seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice uppercut lands for Kang. That snapped Sixteenth's head back.
Sixteenth tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kang swivels and escapes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sixteenth pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Good exchange - Sixteenth coming out on top.
Sixteenth throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kang cracks a nice hook into Sixteenth's ribs.
Kang throws a shot to the body.
Sixteenth shoots in and drives through. Kang sprawls well.
Sixteenth is breathing heavily.
Sixteenth throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A head kick from Kang lands but Sixteenth takes it in his stride.
A telegraphed right hand from Kang misses the target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benedict Sixteenth dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sixteenth fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sixteenth tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kang swivels and escapes.
Sixteenth keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Sixteenth forces Kang back against the cage and clinches.
Kang has had enough of the clinch but Sixteenth keeps him there for the moment.
Sixteenth misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kang.
Kang is trying to break the clinch but Sixteenth is controlling him.
Kang can't break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Kang's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Sixteenth manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sixteenth pulls Kang in to control the position.
Sixteenth has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Sixteenth keeping full guard, as Kang tries to pass.
Sixteenth tries to strike from the bottom.
Sixteenth lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kang!

Sixteenth looking for a guillotine from mount but Kang is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sixteenth misses with a head shot.
Sixteenth looking to control and managing it successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kang is looking to improve his position but Sixteenth isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sixteenth throwing strikes here but Kang is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Kang tries to hold on but Sixteenth pushes him away.
Sixteenth throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Kang wants to control but Sixteenth is having none of it.

Sixteenth looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kang is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Sixteenth misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Sixteenth content just to control the position here.
Kang really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sixteenth. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kang holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Sixteenth tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benedict Sixteenth 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!

Sixteenth moves out of range as Kang strikes.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Sixteenth is defended easily by Kang.

Sixteenth clinches.
Sixteenth has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Sixteenth jumps into guard, dragging Kang to the mat.
Kang wants to control from the top but Sixteenth keeps moving.
Sixteenth looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sixteenth is controlling Kang's posture.

Sixteenth escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kang gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kang wants to control from the top but Sixteenth keeps moving.
Sixteenth wants to sweep but no luck.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Sixteenth looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kang wants to stand but Sixteenth has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sixteenth throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Sixteenth pulls Kang in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kang throws a leg kick but Sixteenth checks it.
Sixteenth shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kang sprawls well. Kang wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Sixteenth gets slowly back to his feet.
Kang misses with a wild body shot.
Sixteenth shoots in for a takedown but Kang shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benedict Sixteenth. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kang looks to land a left hand but Sixteenth moved out of range nicely.
Sixteenth has a takedown stuffed.
Sixteenth looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kang scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sixteenth shoots in and drives through. Kang sprawls well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sixteenth shoots in for a takedown but Kang shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kang avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Liu Kang is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kang throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sixteenth sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sixteenth shoots in looking for a takedown but Kang manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sixteenth's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sixteenth shoots in but Kang avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kang, right into the meat.
A jab lands there for Kang.
Sixteenth has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Kang finds it's way round the side to connect with Sixteenth's head.
Liu Kang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sixteenth stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kang.
Sixteenth moves out of range of the strikes.
Benedict Sixteenth is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sixteenth misses with a double jab
and Kang counters with a lovely straight right hand!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Benedict Sixteenth.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sixteenth, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benedict Sixteenth!