PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Bennet (ranked 416 p4p, 63 weight class) and Léonard Lucy (ranked 589 p4p, 80 weight class). Léonard Lucy has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Bennet
vs
Lucy

190 cm
31
209 lbs
18 - 8 - 0

190 cm
29
208 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
KOMBAT KLOTHING

KAISER
Voodoo Nutrition

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 18 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Bennet!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Léonard Lucy!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Glass and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bennet throws a body kick that misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Lucy misses.
Lucy's coach down at DRAGON MMA - 13 Elite & 2 Double Elite Coaches was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Lucy's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Bennet throws a leg kick but Lucy sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Lucy takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Lucy finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Lucy checks a leg kick.
Bennet moves into range and connects with a jab.

Bennet moves into the clinch.

Lucy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bennet scoring well with a low kick there.
Nice defenses there by Lucy.
A nice side step and Lucy releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Bennet misses with a wild body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lucy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lucy has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Lucy there as he acknowledges the shot.
Lucy getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

It looks like Michael Bennet has been cut.
Bennet jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bennet fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennet ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bennet misses with a hook to the body
and Lucy counters with a solid body kick.
Lucy darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Bennet misses the shot to the body.
Lucy misses with a low kick as Bennet jumps back.
Bennet uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lucy.
Bennet swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A swing and a miss from Lucy.
Lucy takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Bennet scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Bennet moves away from the strike by Lucy.
Lucy tries to move into range but Bennet moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Lucy throws a hook but Bennet blocks it.
Bennet takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters circle momentarily. Bennet darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Bennet works the jab nicely.
It looks like Bennet has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Bennet stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Lucy throws a low kick but Bennet moves out of range easily.
Bennet keeps Lucy at a distance using the push kick.
Lucy jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Lucy ducks right into an uppercut from Bennet.
Lucy takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Lucy thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lucy connects with the punch.
Bennet keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lucy.
Bennet tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lucy was well out of range. Poor timing from Bennet.
Bennet jabs Lucy to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Lucy throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucy tries to land a leg kick but Bennet saw it coming and moves away.
Bennet misses with a body kick.
Bennet is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Bennet takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Bennet clobbers Lucy with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Lucy misses with a lunging right hand
and Bennet connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Lucy will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Lucy looks to land a left hand but Bennet moved out of range nicely.
Bennet lands with a good body shot.
Bennet slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Lucy lands a jab to the nose.

Michael Bennet's cut is getting worse.
Lucy takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Bennet scores with a nice body kick.
Lucy avoids the body shot from Bennet.
Bennet tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lucy waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bennet.
Bennet ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lucy moves away.
Bennet throws a sloppy head kick
and Bennet takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bennet misses with a body shot.
Bennet scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Lucy uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bennet.

Bennet gets a clinch.

Lucy manages to break the clinch.
Bennet lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Bennet works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bennet keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lucy.
Bennet tried to counter with a leg kick but Lucy avoided it.
Bennet slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Lucy connects with a nice looking jab.
Bennet lands with a kick to the ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Bennet dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Michael Bennet's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bennet lets loose with a powerful body kick. Lucy will feel that in the morning.
Lucy on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Bennet cracks Lucy with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Lucy takes one to the chin there.
Nice defenses there by Bennet.
Bennet looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Bennet throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Lucy on the side of the head.
Bennet scores with a head kick. Lucy tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
A jab lands there for Bennet.
Bennet is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lucy can do to turn this around?
Lucy misses with a double jab.
Jab from Bennet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bennet's corner calls for a 1-2. Bennet obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Lucy takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Lucy fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bennet manages to avoid it.
Michael Bennet seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennet ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lucy moves away.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Bennet.
Lucy moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Bennet slips under a jab.
As Lucy backs away, Bennet returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Lucy lands with a nice body kick.
Bennet takes a swing at Lucy's ribcage but misses.
Bennet fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Lucy looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lucy has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Bennet throws a hook but Lucy blocks it.
Bennet misses with a body shot.
Bennet looks to land a right hand but Lucy moved out of range.
Bennet misses with an uppercut. Lucy saw that one coming.
Nice cross by Bennet.
Lucy takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Bennet uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lucy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Bennet misses its intended target.
Bennet uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lucy.
Lucy swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
It looked like Bennet was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Lucy.
Michael Bennet is winning the standup battle so far.
Lucy throws a body punch but Bennet moves out of range.
Bennet keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lucy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bennet throws a big shot that misses.
Lucy misses with a looping left.
Bennet tries to clinch but fails miserably
letting Lucy counter with a right hand.
Jab from Lucy.
Bennet misses with a hook
and Lucy counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Bennet thinking.
Bennet tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Bennet.
Lucy has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Bennet.
A clash of legs there as Bennet blocks the low kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennet connects with a leg kick. Lucy looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Bennet uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lucy.
Good standup being displayed there by Bennet as he connects with a hook.
Lucy bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Bennet's head backwards.

Michael Bennet's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Bennet lands a slapping body shot.
Lucy throws a big shot that misses.
Nice body kick there by Bennet.
Bennet misses with a body shot.
Bennet scores with a sloppy right hand. Lucy should have avoided that one.
Bennet just misses with a punch to the body.
Bennet fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Bennet throws a jab when Lucy was well out of range.
Bennet throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennet avoids a kick to the body.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Bennet.
Lucy tries to land a front kick but Bennet steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bennet throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lucy sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Lucy on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Bennet throws a looping overhand right but Lucy ducks down to avoid it.
A countering left hand to the body from Lucy misses.
Bennet scores with a nice right hand.
Bennet throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Lucy counters with a stiff right hand.
Bennet takes a swing at Lucy's ribcage but misses.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Bennet. Lucy shrugs it off though.
Bennet looks for the body kick but Lucy saw that one coming.
It seemed like Lucy was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Lucy misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bennet uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lucy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Bennet dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Michael Bennet's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bennet showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lucy.
Lucy drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Bennet misses the jab.
Lucy looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Bennet tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lucy was well out of range. Poor timing from Bennet.
Lucy throws out a counter right but Bennet avoids it with no problem.
Bennet steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lucy.
Bennet lands a slapping body shot.
Bennet works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Bennet thuds his shin into the meat of Lucy's side.
Bennet tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lucy lands a jab to the nose.
Bennet moves in looking to clinch but Lucy pushes him off.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Lucy! But no joy.
Lucy avoids the body shot from Bennet.
A countering left hand to the body from Lucy misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lucy takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Bennet lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Lucy steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Bennet. That one must have hurt.
Bennet rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Lucy counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Lucy shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Lucy moves out of range as Bennet throws a body kick.
Bennet lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Bennet swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lucy feints a counter leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bennet darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Bennet tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lucy was well out of range. Poor timing from Bennet.
Lucy thuds a left hand into Bennet's body.
Bennet slips under a jab.
Bennet appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Bennet lands a nice shot that snaps Lucy's head back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lucy gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Bennet lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Lucy at a distance.
Bennet throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Bennet moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Léonard Lucy has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bennet misses with a kick to the body.
Lucy shapes to counter with a head kick.
Lucy walks into a jab.
Bennet bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Lucy's head backwards.
Bennet throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And Lucy responds with a good body kick, but Bennet manages to step out the way in time.
Bennet ducks under a wild hook from Lucy.
Bennet misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lucy.
Lucy connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Bennet's hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lucy takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Lucy misses with an uppercut. Bennet saw that one coming.
Bennet misses with a body kick.
Bennet tries a head kick but it misses.
Nice shot lands for Bennet.
Bennet throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bennet dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bennet getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Lucy finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Bennet clinches with his opponent.
Bennet tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Lucy blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bennet can't break the clinch.
Lucy blocks a body shot from Bennet.
Lucy throws a punch but it's blocked by Bennet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennet misses with a punch to the body.
Bennet goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lucy has a couple of punches blocked by Bennet.
Bennet can't find room to land a body shot as Lucy controls the action.
Lucy goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A short right from Lucy.

Jeez, Michael Bennet's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lucy working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A right hook to the body lands for Bennet.
Lucy throws a punch but it's blocked by Bennet.
Lucy throws a punch but it's blocked by Bennet.
Lucy misses with a punch on the inside.
Bennet lands a body shot in the clinch.
Lucy takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Bennet breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bennet connects with a single shot there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bennet. Lucy does a little dance to reset his feet.
Lucy swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Bennet smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Bennet smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Bennet showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bennet has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Bennet!
After the fight, Michael Bennet was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.