PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marc Murat (ranked 4449 p4p, 6106 weight class) and Stephen Bennet (ranked 63 p4p, 0 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Murat
vs
Bennet

187 cm
22
264
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
25
272
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Marc Murat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Stephen Bennet!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Percy O'Donnell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Murat throws a left and a right that both miss

and Bennet counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Murat keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Murat missing with punches from the bottom.
Bennet trying to control the action but Murat is working from the bottom.
Bennet might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Murat haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Murat is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bennet's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bennet's back!
Murat throwing damaging strikes from the back! Bennet could be in trouble here!
Murat controlling from the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murat lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Bennet.
Bennet tries to break free.
Bennet is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Bennet trying to control but not successfully.
Murat is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Bennet covering up well and avoiding damage.
Bennet really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Murat. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murat scores with punches from the back.

It looks like Stephen Bennet has been cut.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bennet is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Murat has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Bennet defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

Murat looking for the choke from the back.
Murat is punishing Bennet with some ground and pound.
Bennet trying to control the position but Murat manages to sink in the hooks.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Murat struggling to land strikes to the head as Bennet covers up.
Bennet trying to control the hands but Murat breaks the grip.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bennet has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Bennet tries to escape but Murat has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murat looking for the RNC.

Murat is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Bennet is defending well though. Murat let's go of the attempt for now.
I would not like to be Bennet right now.
Bennet manages to scramble and ends up in full guard, under a barage of strikes . Great composure from Bennet.

Murat thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Murat's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murat sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bennet's guard.
Murat content to control rather than advance.
Murat is pressing down on Bennet's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bennet is holding on for now.
Bennet is looking to escape.
Murat tries to pass to full mount but Bennet defends it.
Murat blocks the strikes from Bennet.
Murat seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Murat looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marc Murat dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Stephen Bennet's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bennet dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Murat. That did some damage!
Murat throws a body punch but Bennet moves out of range.
Murat looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Murat looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Stephen Bennet is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Murat looks to score with a jab to the body but Bennet is just out of range.
Bennet has a takedown stuffed.

Murat decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Murat passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Bennet!
Murat is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bennet can do to turn this around?
Bennet tries to hold on but Murat postures up.
Bennet is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Murat is staying active.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murat tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Murat landing strikes from the mount.
Murat controlling his opponent.
Murat pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Murat lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Bennet hang on?
Murat takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murat seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bennet for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murat lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That has opened up Stephen Bennet's cut even more.

Murat jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Bennet manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Murat decides to stand back up. Murat steps back and let's Bennet get back to his feet.

Bennet gets a clinch.
Murat lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Bennet is trying to stall.
Bennet is pressed up against the cage. Murat has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bennet down to the mat. Bennet avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Murat looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Bennet!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Murat decides to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennet avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A little jabbing left from Bennet on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Bennet slaps away a takedown attempt from Murat, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marc Murat. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Murat shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bennet defends it nicely.
Bennet closes the distance and clinches up with Murat, looking for a takedown. Bennet pushes Murat against the cage but Murat circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
An attempted straight right counter from Murat misses the target.
Bennet throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Murat's waist but Murat gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Bennet off to one side.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Bennet.
A quick step to the side and Murat tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bennet moves out of range of the leg kick from Murat.
Murat is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bennet.
Bennet is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Murat stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Murat wants it to stay on the feet.
Murat misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennet shoots in looking for a takedown but Murat manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bennet's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Murat is looking to counter the offense by Bennet and move into the clinch.
Murat shoots for a double leg takedown but Bennet sprawls well. He's pushed Murat's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bennet shoots in but no luck this time.
Bennet lands with a nice combination. Murat backs away looking to recover.

Murat shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bennet is refusing to be controlled, as Murat sits in half guard.
Murat sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bennet defending well though.
Bennet is looking for a sweep. Murat is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Murat seems to be looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marc Murat dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Stephen Bennet's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bennet takes the fight into the clinch.
Bennet is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Bennet tries to break the clinch but Murat is controlling the position.
Bennet lands with a left to the head.
Murat is trying to pull guard but Bennet has him pressed against the cage.
Bennet wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Bennet breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennet digs a good hook to Murat's body.
Bennet fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Murat is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bennet's half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Murat seems content to control.

Murat is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Murat controlling the action here.
Murat sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bennet defending well though.
Murat throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bennet is looking to control Murat's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bennet avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Murat in particular looking to stall.
Bennet wants to improve his position but Murat is controlling well.
Bennet wants to get back to his feet.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Murat is taking a breather. Bennet 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.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Murat ducks right into an uppercut from Bennet.
Bennet throws a quick inside leg kick.
Bennet shoots for a takedown but Murat saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Bennet gets caught flat footed, as Murat shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Murat controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murat's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Murat stops Bennet from standing up.
Murat stands and throws Bennet's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Murat tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

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.
Bennet tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Murat wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Murat tries for a kimura but Bennet is defending well.

Murat is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Bennet is trying to escape and Murat transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Bennet is forced to tap! Nice work there by Murat! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Marc Murat!
Marc Murat decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.