PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nigel Benn Jr (ranked 1188 p4p, 149 weight class) and Enzo Perez (ranked 3071 p4p, 371 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Benn Jr
vs
Perez

185 cm
35
203 lbs
24 - 17 - 0

196 cm
31
203 lbs
18 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nigel Benn Jr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Enzo Perez!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Colin Fotheringham and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Perez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Benn Jr counters with a nice uppercut.
Enzo Perez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Perez ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Perez moves to clinch but Benn Jr breaks away
and Benn Jr counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Benn Jr has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Panda Sprawl n Brawl in the buildup to the fight.
Perez closes the distance looking to clinch
and Benn Jr counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Perez clinches up against the cage.

Benn Jr's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Perez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Benn Jr.
Perez only half commits to the counter leg kick.

Perez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perez lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Benn Jr at a distance.
Benn Jr throws a right and a left that Perez avoids nicely.
Perez lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Benn Jr circles away quickly and effectively.
Perez wants to clinch.
Perez wants to clinch up but Benn Jr keeps it at a distance.
A little feinted left hand from Benn Jr on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Benn Jr paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Benn Jr throws a shot to the body.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Perez.
Perez on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Perez throws a series of punches but Benn Jr moves out of range.
Benn Jr fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Perez moves into range and clinches up with Benn Jr.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benn Jr tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Perez avoiding damage as Benn Jr throws knees to the body.
Benn Jr working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Benn Jr tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Perez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Perez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Perez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Perez throws a jab when Benn Jr was well out of range.
Benn Jr throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Perez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Benn Jr throws a big shot that misses.
Benn Jr looks to throw the jab but Perez is out of range.
As Benn Jr backs off Perez throws a huge counter combo but Benn Jr manages to avoid it all.
Benn Jr gets cracked there but stands up to it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benn Jr tries a head kick but it misses.

Perez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Benn Jr, pushing him back against the cage.

Benn Jr manages to break the clinch.
Benn Jr throws a good cross that connects.
Benn Jr just misses with a punch to the body.
Perez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Perez moves out of range of the strikes.
Benn Jr lunges at Perez with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Perez's hand.

Benn Jr tries to keep at a distance but Perez has taken the fight into the clinch.

Benn Jr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Benn Jr tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Perez was well out of range. Poor timing from Benn Jr.

Perez takes the fight into the clinch.
Perez misses with a hook to the ribs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Benn Jr manages to break the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benn Jr looks to land a left hand but Perez moved out of range nicely.
Benn Jr throws a right hand that Perez ducks under and follows up with a left that Perez also avoids with ease.
Benn Jr misses with a hook.
It seemed like Perez was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Benn Jr misses with a jab, cross combination.
Perez throws a head kick but Benn Jr moves out of range.

Perez moves into range and clinches up with Benn Jr.
Benn Jr can't break the clinch.

Perez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Perez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Benn Jr misses with a jab, cross combination.

Perez forces Benn Jr back against the cage and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nigel Benn Jr will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Benn Jr looks to land a combination but Perez avoids it well.
Benn Jr keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Perez misses with an uppercut
and Benn Jr counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

Perez moves into the clinch.
Benn Jr lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Perez lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Benn Jr.
Perez makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Perez goes for a takedown attempt but Benn Jr pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Perez tries to close the distance and clinch but Benn Jr swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
It looked like Benn Jr was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Perez.
Benn Jr misses with a left hand
and Perez counters with a left and a right that stings Benn Jr.
Perez uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Benn Jr.
Perez is looking to clinch.
Perez tries to clinch but Benn Jr moves out of range.
Benn Jr is looking for a counter combo.
Perez wants to clinch up but Benn Jr keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perez is looking to clinch but Benn Jr is avoiding it.
Benn Jr appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.

Perez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Perez tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Perez breaks from the clinch.

Perez has Benn Jr up against the cage in a clinch.
Benn Jr keeps control of Perez as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Perez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Perez takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Benn Jr looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Perez staying out of range there.
Perez tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Benn Jr makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Nigel Benn Jr is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perez wants to clinch up but Benn Jr keeps it at a distance.
Benn Jr swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
A big right from Perez misses.
Perez wants to clinch but Benn Jr slips to the side
and Benn Jr connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

It looks like Enzo Perez has been cut.
Benn Jr throws a series of punches but Perez avoids them all with ease.
Perez wants to clinch up but Benn Jr keeps it at a distance.

Perez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Benn Jr, pushing him back against the cage.
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!
Benn Jr looking to stall.
Benn Jr working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

Perez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Perez is looking to clinch but Benn Jr is avoiding it.
Perez wants to clinch up but Benn Jr keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perez is looking to clinch but Benn Jr is avoiding it.
Benn Jr lands with an uppercut that bounces Perez off the cage and back into range.
Benn Jr misses with a low kick.
Perez tries to clinch up.
Perez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Benn Jr swats away the attempt to clinch by Perez.
Benn Jr throws a right and a left that both miss.
Benn Jr looks to land a body kick but Perez moved away.
Perez slips a jab from Benn Jr.
No joy there for Benn Jr, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Perez lands a jab to the nose.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benn Jr ducks under a wild hook from Perez.
Benn Jr misses with the combination.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Perez.
That kick from Benn Jr tenderised Perez's leg. Perez is trying to keep his angry face on.
Perez takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benn Jr throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Perez moves into the clinch.
Perez is trying to force a seperation but Benn Jr has the dominant position.

Benn Jr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Perez scores with a hook.
Benn Jr lands an overhand right.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nigel Benn Jr dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Enzo Perez's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice uppercut there from Benn Jr.
Benn Jr throws a shot from downtown. Perez moves away and avoids it.
Perez misses with a head kick.
Benn Jr looks to throw the jab but Perez is out of range.
Perez looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Benn Jr misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Perez! But no joy.

Perez closes the distance and clinches.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Perez tries to work over Benn Jr's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Perez throws a punch but it's blocked by Benn Jr.

Benn Jr breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Perez slips a straight right by Benn Jr.
Benn Jr misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benn Jr takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Perez tries to close the distance and clinch up but Benn Jr swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Benn Jr looks to throw the jab but Perez is out of range.
Perez tests Benn Jr's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Benn Jr swats away the attempt to clinch by Perez.

Perez clinches.

Benn Jr manages to break the clinch.
Perez tries to clinch but Benn Jr is having none of it.
As Perez looks to move away, Benn Jr throws a big counter combo but Perez just gets out of the way.
Perez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benn Jr manages to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Perez has taken the fight to the clinch.
Perez lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Benn Jr or not.

Perez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Perez looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Benn Jr throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Benn Jr missing with a left hand there. Perez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Perez wants to clinch
and Benn Jr counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Perez clinches up with Benn Jr and pushes him back against the cage.
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!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benn Jr.
Perez doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Perez fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benn Jr blocks an uppercut.
Perez lands with a light punch inside.

Benn Jr breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Perez bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Benn Jr moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Perez darts in and clinches Benn Jr up against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Benn Jr with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Perez tries a body shot but Benn Jr blocks it.
Perez is trying to break the clinch but Benn Jr has him pressed against the cage.
Perez throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Benn Jrs head.
Benn Jr goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Perez breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perez moves out of range as Benn Jr throws a body kick.

Perez rushes Benn Jr and presses him up against the cage.
Perez has Benn Jr pressed against the cage, preventing Benn Jr from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Benn Jr breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
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!
Perez fails with an attempt to clinch.
Perez keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Benn Jr.
Perez tries to clinch up but Benn Jr circles away and keeps his distance.
Enzo Perez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Perez wants to clinch up but Benn Jr keeps it at a distance.
Perez connects with an inside leg kick.
Perez is looking to clinch but Benn Jr is avoiding it.
Perez takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Perez displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Benn Jr throws out the jab.
Perez unleashes a big counter combination but Benn Jr bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Enzo Perez.
I think Benn Jr has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 30:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nigel Benn Jr!
Nigel Benn Jr thanked the fans post fight for their support.