PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Erik Morris (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Judah Benjamin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benjamin has chosen lions sleeps tonight as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Benjamin has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Morris
vs
Benjamin

195 cm
27
265 lbs
6 - 5 - 0

189 cm
38
276 lbs
23 - 17 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Erik Morris!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 17 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Judah Benjamin!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Morris throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Benjamin looks winded!
A big right from Morris misses.
Benjamin shoots in looking for a takedown but Morris manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Benjamin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Morris fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benjamin manages to avoid it.
Morris shoots in for a double leg but Benjamin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Morris shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Morris was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Morris tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Benjamin is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Morris throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Morris working the ground and pound but Benjamin is defending the strikes.
Morris tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Morris working the ground and pound from side control.
Morris tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morris wants to control but Benjamin is keeping him busy.
Benjamin defending against the ground and pound.
Morris tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Morris throws an elbow but Benjamin slips to the side and avoids it well.

Morris tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Benjamin is not content to let Morris control the position.
Morris working the body and head with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morris working the ground and pound but Benjamin is defending the strikes.
Morris trying to control the position but Benjamin is working away.
Morris could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Benjamin is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Morris has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Morris tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Morris postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Morris controlling the position from side mount.
Benjamin managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Morris.
Morris prevents Benjamin from escaping the position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
An elbow from Morris crashes against the mat.
Morris misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Morris's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Morris looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Benjamin is avoiding damage well.

Benjamin throws Morris to one side and escapes!
Morris lands a nice shot to the body.
A cross from Morris lands.

That has opened up Judah Benjamin's cut even more.
Morris throws a lazy right hand but Benjamin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Morris changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Morris fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Morris stuns Benjamin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Morris throws a head kick that misses.
Benjamin has a takedown stuffed.
Morris misses with an uppercut. Benjamin saw that one coming.
Morris takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Morris cracks Benjamin with a good jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Morris misses with a low kick.
Morris fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Benjamin avoids it really well and circles away.

Benjamin closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Morris did well to prevent Benjamin getting side control.
Benjamin working over Morris with some ground and pound. Morris looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Morris tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Benjamin manages to move to mount!
Morris on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Morris tries to get out of the position.
Benjamin landing strikes from the mount.
The referee warns Morris that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Morris knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Benjamin on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Morris tries to hold on but Benjamin pushes him away.
Benjamin controlling the position easily from mount.
Morris is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Morris dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Judah Benjamin's cut.
That's time! Morris's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Morris scores with a jab. Benjamin acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Benjamin takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Benjamin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Morris throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Benjamin on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Benjamin walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Morris connects with a body shot that sends Benjamin's belly button to the back.
Morris misses with a few strikes there.
Morris pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benjamin has a takedown stuffed.
Morris wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Morris just misses with a punch to the body.
Erik Morris is winning the standup battle so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A jab from Morris finds it's way through Benjamin's defenses.
Benjamin avoids the body shot from Morris.
Morris fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Morris loads up on a big right hand but Benjamin slips the punch.
Morris stuffs the takedown attempt from Benjamin. Benjamin gets slowly back to his feet.
Benjamin fails with the takedown.
Erik Morris has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Judah Benjamin.
Benjamin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Morris but Morris pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Morris closes the distance and pushes Benjamin back into the cage.
Morris has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Benjamin after a bit of a struggle.
Morris is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Benjamin to keep the fight standing.
Morris tries to score a body lock takedown but Benjamin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Benjamin turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Benjamin manages to end up in side control.
Morris looking for a sweep but Benjamin has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Benjamin controlling his opponent.
Morris trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Benjamin cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Morris wants to control but Benjamin is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Morris wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Erik Morris overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Benjamin looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Benjamin cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Benjamin wants to finish this one by submission but Morris is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Benjamin.
Morris is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin trying to control but Morris is having none of it.
Morris's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Benjamin looking to control but Morris is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Morris tries to buck Benjamin off but he can't manage it.
Morris tries to lock up and control but Benjamin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Benjamin with a couple of short strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Morris wants to control but Benjamin is having none of it.
Benjamin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Benjamin lands with some strikes.
Morris regains half guard.
Benjamin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benjamin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Benjamin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
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!
Benjamin wants to pass to mount but Morris is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Erik Morris will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Judah Benjamin's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Morris looks to score with a jab to the body but Benjamin is just out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Morris. Benjamin does a little dance to reset his feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Morris.
Benjamin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Morris defends it nicely.
Morris jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Morris fails with an attempt to clinch.
Judah Benjamin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Morris looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Benjamin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Morris defends it nicely.
Morris looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Benjamin is fending him off so far but Morris persists. Nope, Benjamin circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Morris lands with an overhand left.
Morris pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin blocks a leg kick.

Benjamin decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Benjamin is looking to advance position but Morris won't allow it.
Benjamin passes to side control.
You can see the frustration on Morris's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Benjamin controls the position from side control.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Morris is pushing Benjamin's head away, looking to escape. Benjamin manages to hold on to the position though.
Benjamin is putting a hurting on Morris here, landing some big shots from side control.
Morris is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benjamin throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

Benjamin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Morris knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin working away.
Benjamin prevents Morris from escaping the position.
Morris is looking for a sweep.
Morris is pushing Benjamin's head away, looking to escape. Benjamin manages to hold on to the position though.
Benjamin just content to control the position.
Morris is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Benjamin has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Benjamin lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Morris is pushing Benjamin's head away, looking to escape. Benjamin manages to hold on to the position though.
Benjamin advances to full mount.
Morris is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Judah Benjamin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Morris keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Benjamin lands with some strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Benjamin looking to secure an arm triangle but Morris defends it well.
Morris wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Judah Benjamin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Morris has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!