PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ralph Benjamin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Avon Barksdale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Benjamin
vs
Barksdale

154 cm
24
193 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

195 cm
25
200 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ralph Benjamin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Avon Barksdale!
The judges for this bout are Matheus Silva, Mauricio Rocha and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Barksdale displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Benjamin.
Barksdale fails with the takedown.
Barksdale tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Benjamin was well out of range. Poor timing from Barksdale.
Benjamin tries for a takedown but Barksdale sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Barksdale unleashes a big counter combination but Benjamin bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Benjamin throws a chopping leg kick but Barksdale manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Barksdale is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Barksdale looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Benjamin is fending him off so far but Barksdale persists. Nope, Benjamin circles away and we're back to standing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barksdale defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Benjamin.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ralph Benjamin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benjamin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Benjamin wants it to stay on the feet.
Benjamin could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Barksdale looks winded!

Barksdale gets a takedown into half guard.
Barksdale seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Benjamin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin is trying to get back to full guard.
Barksdale wants to take a breather but Benjamin is having none of it.

Benjamin looking for submissions off his back.
Benjamin moves into full guard.
Barksdale trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Barksdale got a little sloppy there for a moment and Benjamin has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Barksdale has managed to get both his arms back between Benjamin's legs - danger averted.
Benjamin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Barksdale showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Benjamin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Benjamin looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Barksdale passes into side control.
Barksdale remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Barksdale tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Barksdale is looking to take a break and control but Benjamin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Benjamin struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Barksdale decides to stand back up. Barksdale steps back and let's Benjamin get back to his feet.
Benjamin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Barksdale throws a right and a left that Benjamin avoids nicely.
Barksdale throws a half hearted mid kick.
Benjamin tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Barksdale manages to circle out of the way.
Benjamin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Barksdale circles away.
Benjamin throws a low kick but Barksdale avoids it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barksdale misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Benjamin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Barksdale avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Avon Barksdale dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Benjamin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Barksdale sprawls well initially but Benjamin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Barksdale makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Barksdale closes the distance and clinches.
Barksdale fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Benjamin decides to pull guard.
Benjamin trying to keep a closed guard but Barksdale is proving a slippery customer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Benjamin has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Barksdale 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 Benjamin.
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 control but Barksdale postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin gets back to half guard.
Benjamin trying to control from the bottom.
Avon Barksdale has got the better of the ground game so far.
Benjamin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Benjamin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Barksdale is working away from the top position though.
Barksdale is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Barksdale is looking to stall here but Benjamin recovers full guard.
Barksdale controlling from the top position.

Benjamin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Benjamin wants to control but Barksdale passes easily into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benjamin actively working from the bottom here.
Benjamin is trying to stand.

Barksdale seems to be looking for submissions.
Barksdale scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Benjamin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Nice strikes from Barksdale there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Barksdale decides to return to a standing position.
Barksdale lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Benjamin at a distance.
Benjamin misses with a leg kick

and Barksdale counters with a nice double leg into side control. Benjamin won't be happy with that.
Barksdale avoids the strikes from the bottom by Benjamin.
The referee asks Barksdale politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Barksdale prefers to stall for the moment though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benjamin is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Barksdale's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Barksdale seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benjamin is refusing to be controlled, as Barksdale sits in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Avon Barksdale showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Benjamin darts in and clinches Barksdale up against the cage.

Barksdale pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Benjamin misses with a kick to the body.
Benjamin with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Benjamin throws a leg kick which misses Barksdale's front leg but catches the back leg as Barksdale tries to avoid it.
Benjamin looks for a takedown but Barksdale sprawls well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Benjamin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Barksdale was covering up waiting for the punch and Benjamin finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Barksdale is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barksdale with a knee to the head.
Benjamin jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Barksdale walks away with a smile on his face. Benjamin gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Benjamin shoots in for a double leg but Barksdale sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Barksdale throws a counter combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ralph Benjamin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benjamin slaps away a takedown attempt from Barksdale, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Benjamin leaves Barksdale with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Benjamin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Barksdale fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Avon Barksdale seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benjamin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Barksdale looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Benjamin!

Benjamin throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A slapping leg kick lands for Benjamin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Barksdale as he avoids it easily.
Barksdale is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Barksdale changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Benjamin tries to avoid it but Barksdale manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Benjamin to the ground. Benjamin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Benjamin connects with a solid leg kick.
Benjamin shoots in for a double leg but Barksdale sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Barksdale has his takedown stuffed
and Benjamin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Benjamin throws a leg kick

and Barksdale counters with a takedown into side control.
Barksdale trying to control the position but Benjamin is working away.
Benjamin tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin just trying to survive but Barksdale is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Barksdale has managed to slip his arm under Benjamin's chin. This could be all over... yep, Benjamin is tapping out! Submission win for Barksdale.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:48 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Avon Barksdale!