PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Primoz Benko (ranked 3953 p4p, 23599 weight class) and Pawel Nastula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pawel Nastula is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Benko
vs
Nastula

178 cm
20
158
5 - 3 - 0

185 cm
22
150
8 - 38 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Primoz Benko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 38 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pawel Nastula!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benko throws a nice looking combination but Nastula bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Nastula forces Benko back against the cage and clinches.
Nastula being controlled against the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Benko takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Benko for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Nastula.
Benko goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Nastula gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Benko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benko keeping moving, preventing Nastula from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nastula drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nastula jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Nastula drops back looking for a leg! Benko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Benko manages to kick Nastula off! Nastula jumps back into Benko's guard.
Benko on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Benko tries to get out of the position.
Benko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benko is working hard here to advance position.
Benko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nastula gets full guard.
Benko wants to control from the top but Nastula keeps moving.
Nastula is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nastula is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Benko looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Benko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benko controls Nastula momentarily but Nastula frees himself.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Nastula working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Benko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Nastula pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benko is keeping the position for now.
Benko looking for a sweep. Not yet Benko, not yet.
Benko is trying to control the position but Nastula postures up.
Benko wants to sweep but no luck.

Nastula thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Nastula has gone for a leg lock! Benko slips out almost immediately though and dives into Nastula's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benko controls from within his opponent's guard.
Benko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Benko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nastula manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Benko manages to get himself to full guard.

Benko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Benko doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Nastula drops back, looking for a kneebar! Benko looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Benko looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Benko!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Check out the look on Benko's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Benko works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Benko trying to control the position but Nastula is working away.
Nastula manages to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benko trying to control from Nastula's half guard. Nastula has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Benko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Primoz Benko will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Nastula shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Benko's guard.
Nastula trying to control the position from guard on top but Benko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Benko trying to control the position.
Benko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Nastula on the ground.
Nastula preventing the sweep.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benko is trying to keep Nastula in close.
Nastula stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Benko swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benko lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Benko wants to sweep here but Nastula controlling him for the moment.
Benko looking to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Benko stuffs the takedown attempt from Nastula. Nastula gets slowly back to his feet.
Nastula shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Benko but Benko pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Nastula drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Benko looking for a sweep. Not yet Benko, not yet.

Nastula postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Benko is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Nastula, into his guard.

Benko distracts Nastula with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nastula has momentary wrist control but Benko slips an elbow through the middle.
Benko postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Benko keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Nastula's head.
Benko trying to control but Nastula is working from the bottom.
Nastula looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Benko controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benko scoring with punches to the head and body.
Benko tries to free his leg and advance position but Nastula is retaining full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Nastula is on top in guard.

Benko looking to control.
Nastula won't allow Benko to sweep him here.

Benko wants to reverse the position here. Nastula has hold of a leg though and he's dropped back looking for a kneebar! The fighters roll across the mat but Benko is forced to tap! Benko looks devastated but at least his leg points in the right direction.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Pawel Nastula!