PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between John Goldberg (ranked 2256 p4p, 266 weight class) and Mayson Benjamin (ranked 3215 p4p, 359 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Goldberg
vs
Benjamin

180 cm
21
218 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

190 cm
26
204 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very confident

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Goldberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mayson Benjamin!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, David Schapiro and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Goldberg scores with a takedown into Benjamin's guard.
Goldberg trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benjamin lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Benjamin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Benjamin trying to control but Goldberg is working from the bottom.
Benjamin stands and throws Goldberg's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Goldberg is looking to regain half guard here but Benjamin keeps moving and retains side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benjamin trying to control the position but Goldberg is working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benjamin passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Goldberg!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goldberg tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Goldberg slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Benjamin is trying to work for a kimura but Goldberg is defending well.
Benjamin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Goldberg is staying active underneath Benjamin, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Goldberg tries to get to full guard but Benjamin has control of the leg.
Benjamin is keen to just control but Goldberg is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Goldberg wants to sweep but no luck.
Goldberg striking from the bottom here.
Benjamin wants to pass the guard but Goldberg is keeping the position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Goldberg holds on and takes a little breather.
Benjamin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Benjamin fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Benjamin postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goldberg manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Benjamin is working for a submission of some sort.
Goldberg trying to control here.
Benjamin tries to pass the half guard into mount. Goldberg knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Benjamin throwing shots but Goldberg is blocking nicely.
Benjamin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Goldberg tries to roll over but Benjamin keeps him under control.
We've been informed that Benjamin has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Goldberg manages to get to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin stopping the sweep attempt from Goldberg.
Goldberg avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Benjamin trying to control the position from guard on top but Goldberg is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Goldberg looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Benjamin puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Goldberg wants to get back to full guard.
Goldberg wants to control but Benjamin is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Goldberg tries to get to full guard but Benjamin has control of the leg.

Benjamin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Goldberg sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Benjamin swings for the body but Goldberg moves out of range.

Goldberg drives through with a takedown into Benjamin's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Goldberg scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Goldberg trying to control the position from guard on top but Benjamin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Goldberg connects with a couple of short punches.
Goldberg postures up in Benjamin's guard and throws a big left but Benjamin blocks it.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Goldberg accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Goldberg postures up.
Benjamin being controlled here, momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Goldberg trying to control but Benjamin is working from the bottom.
Goldberg lands a couple of digs.
We've been hearing that Goldberg has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Goldberg has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goldberg scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Goldberg trying to control but Benjamin is working from the bottom.
Goldberg working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Goldberg is working Benjamin over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Goldberg loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Goldberg scoring with punches to the head and body.

Benjamin is rocked!
Benjamin looking to control.
Benjamin is still in real trouble! Can Goldberg finish him?
Goldberg postures up from his opponent's guard, before exploding into some vicious ground and pound! Benjamin covers up, he's hurt! Goldberg keeps throwing the strikes, glancing at the referee... Will he stop it?? One more big shot from Goldberg and the ref steps in to end the fight! Goldberg can't hide his delight as he celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). John Goldberg!
Our winner, John Goldberg, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.