PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Benji Lab (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and mister E (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Lab
vs
E

169 cm
20
159 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White 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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Benji Lab!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, mister E!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Reed Andrews and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
E tries to clinch but Lab moves out of range.
Lab ducks down and throws a hook to the body but E moves away.
E throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A swing and a miss from Lab.
Lab throws an uppercut from half a mile away. E sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lab tries for a takedown but E sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lab takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
E looks for the body kick but Lab saw that one coming.
Lab closes this distance looking for a takedown but E circles away.
E throws a combination. Lab tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
E lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
E throws a sloppy head kick and Lab moves out of range easily.
E throws a head kick but Lab moves out of range.
A telegraphed right hand from Lab misses the target.
Lab chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before E can pounce on him.
Lab blocks a head kick by E.
Lab shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benji Lab. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lab is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by E.
E thows a body kick. Lab tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Lab is breathing heavily.
Lab swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

E gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
E lands an elbow just above Lab 's eye.
Lab is trying to break the clinch but E has him pressed against the cage.
Lab is looking to break free of the clinch but E has double underhooks.
E tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lab has clasped his hands together around E's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
E is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Lab's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
E is trying to maintain the position but Lab is very close to passing his half guard.
Lab controlling the action here.
E moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Lab controls from within his opponent's guard.
Lab stopping the sweep attempt from E.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lab is stalling in the full guard.
E is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Lab controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Lab is fighting to break E's control of his arms but E is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if E can do anything to dispel that myth.
Lab stays in close to E's body and controls the position.
E not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lab showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
E not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Lab is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Lab throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as E works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lab content to stall in guard here.
E lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Lab!
E trying to control but Lab is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lab tries to hold on but E pushes him away.
Lab keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Lab might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
E can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lab is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

mister E dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

E throws a right and a left that Lab avoids nicely.
E throws a push kick but Lab slaps the foot to one side.
Lab looks for a takedown but E sprawls well.

Lab looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for E!
Lab controlling from the full mount.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Benji Lab just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
E ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
E avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
The fighters circling - Lab throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A slapping body kick lands there for E.
E lands with a slapping head kick.
E slips a jab from Lab.
E connects with a high kick.
E throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Lab takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Lab takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Lab avoids the head kick by E.
Lab misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from E.
Lab throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lab loads up on a big right hand but E slips the punch.
E throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

E moves into the clinch.
Lab goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lab has a couple of punches blocked by E.
Lab trying to control the position but instead, E has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lab into the cage.
E tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lab is looking to control E's arms but E gets an underhook and turns him. Now Lab has his back to the cage.
Lab is trying to break the clinch but E has him pressed against the cage.
Lab swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Lab is pushing E up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

E breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
E lands a nice looking kick to the body. Lab takes a step back to recover.
E lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
The fight stays on the outside here - E looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lab shoots for a double leg takedown but E sprawls well. He's pushed Lab's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Lab throws a nice looking combination but E bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
E misses with a head kick.
Lab throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
mister E is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lab showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from E.

Lab closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
E is looking to improve his position.
Lab is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
E is trying to maintain the position but Lab is very close to passing his half guard.
Lab controlling the action here.
Lab has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
E is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Lab controlling the action here.
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 Benji Lab will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

E lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Lab changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. E tries to avoid it but Lab manages to keep hold of a leg and drag E to the ground. E escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Lab misses the target.
E throws a push kick but Lab slaps the foot to one side.
E goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
A low kick from Lab misses
and E counters with a big head kick but Lab shrugs it off.
The fighters circle momentarily. E darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
E throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Lab throws a body punch but E moves out of range.
E keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lab.
E bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A solid leg kick lands there for E.
Lab takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Good standup being displayed there by Lab as he connects with a hook.
E bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lab's head backwards.
Lab misses with a body kick.
E lands with a kick to the temple. Lab shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

That's one minute gone in the round.
E avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
E swinging wilding here.
mister E seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Lab fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. E sprawls well initially but Lab persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
E is looking for a sweep. Lab is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
E keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Lab is taking a breather. E 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.
Lab prevents E from improving his position.
Lab content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lab is thwarting E's attempts to control the position.
Lab content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
E is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lab controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
E is trying to maintain the position but Lab is very close to passing his half guard.
Lab controlling the action here.
E is trying to control but can't.

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.
Lab perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Benji Lab just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Lab throws out a loose jab but E uses good head movement to avoid it.
E misses with a head kick.
E slips a jab from Lab.
A head kick misses from E.
Lab misses the shot to the body.
Lab tries to score with a low kick but E moves his leg out of the way.
Lab misses with a takedown attempt - E sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
E pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lab looks to score with a jab to the body but E is just out of range.
mister E is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lab throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lab avoids a punch combination nicely.
Benji Lab seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Lab crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from E - the referee stops the clock and Lab gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says E. Lab manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Lab swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lab wants to clinch
and E counters with a body kick that stops Lab in his tracks momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to mister E.
I think E has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 28:30
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 28:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... mister E!