PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Elliot Benks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zin Berkantov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Berkantov has chosen Zaidi as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Benks
vs
Berkantov

182 cm
22
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
160 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Elliot Benks!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zin Berkantov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Sergei Dronov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berkantov shoots in for a double leg but Benks sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Nice sprawl there from Benks as Berkantov shoots in.
Benks tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Benks misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Berkantov tries a quick counter leg kick but Benks is wise to it.

Benks moves into the clinch successfully.

Benks breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Berkantov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Benks to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Benks wanted to stand there but Berkantov had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benks content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benks's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Benks wants to stand but Berkantov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Benks preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Berkantov has a closed guard, preventing Benks from standing up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Benks showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Berkantov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Elliot Benks has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Zin Berkantov.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Berkantov is defended easily by Benks.

Benks rushes Berkantov and presses him up against the cage.

Benks manages to break the clinch.

Benks instigates a clinch.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benks looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Benks is on top in guard.

Berkantov working a defensive guard here.
Benks wanted to stand there but Berkantov had control of the position.
Benks sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Berkantov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Benks is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Benks with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Benks sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Berkantov's guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Benks is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Benks tries to pass to full mount but Berkantov defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elliot Benks dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Benks throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Berkantov tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Benks is in Berkantov's guard.
Benks sitting in guard here, content to control.
Benks has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Berkantov trying to control the position.
Berkantov being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Berkantov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Benks can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benks not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benks seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Berkantov for as long as he can get away with.

Benks decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Berkantov, up you get!

Benks shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Berkantov is trying to defend but Benks finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Benks is taking a breather. Berkantov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benks continues to stall.
Further stalling from Benks.

Benks is working for a kimura but Berkantov is defending it quite comfortably.
Berkantov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benks looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Berkantov fails with the takedown

and Benks holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

Benks pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

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.

Benks rushes Berkantov and presses him up against the cage.
Berkantov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Benks walks away with a smile on his face. Berkantov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Benks instigates a clinch.

Benks has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Berkantov uses from the top position.
Benks is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elliot Benks dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Berkantov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Benks dives in and scores a takedown into Berkantov's guard.
Elliot Benks overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Benks postures up in Berkantov's guard and throws a big left but Berkantov blocks it.
Berkantov being controlled here, momentarily.
Berkantov has a closed guard, preventing Benks from standing up.
Benks landing some decent shots from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benks controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Benks is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Berkantov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Berkantov has escaped and now he's on top!

Benks is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Berkantov is aware though and is defending well.
Benks on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Benks tries to get out of the position.
Benks has Berkantov pulled in close to control his posture.
Berkantov stopping the sweep attempt from Benks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Benks has his foot on Berkantov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Berkantov works his way back into a safe position though.

Benks is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Berkantov frees his head nicely. Oh but Benks has switched to an armbar! Berkantov is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Elliot Benks!
In defeat, Zin Berkantov stepped up to the mic, saying 'Pfff... I shoudn't have underestimated my opponent...'.