PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Patrick Uche (ranked 4203 p4p, 3301 weight class) and Nickolas Benjamin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Patrick Uche has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Uche
vs
Benjamin

194 cm
18
205
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
26
205
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Patrick Uche!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nickolas Benjamin!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Lou da Vinci and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benjamin goes for a double leg but Uche avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Uche continues to drive forward.

Uche drives through and clinches with Benjamin against the cage.
Uche lands a left hand.
Benjamin is trying to pull guard but Uche has him pressed against the cage.

Benjamin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Uche fails with a takedown attempt.
Uche misses with a takedown attempt

and Benjamin counters by moving into the clinch.

Benjamin jumps guard.
Uche wants to control from the top but Benjamin keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Uche is looking to stand up but Benjamin won't let him.
Benjamin has control of Uche's left arm, preventing Uche from doing any damage.
Benjamin is looking to sweep but instead, Uche has passed into half guard.
Uche will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin is trying to control but can't.
Uche is looking to take a break and control but Benjamin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Uche prevents Benjamin from standing back up.
Benjamin is trying to maintain the position but Uche is very close to passing his half guard.
Benjamin is looking to improve his position.
Benjamin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Uche. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Benjamin wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Uche throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Benjamin shoots in for a takedown but Uche shows good takedown defense.
Uche thinks about countering with a head kick.
Patrick Uche has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nickolas Benjamin.
Uche wants to clinch up but Benjamin keeps it at a distance.
Benjamin closes the distance and clinches up with Uche, looking for a takedown. Benjamin pushes Uche against the cage but Uche circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Benjamin forces Uche back against the cage and clinches.

Benjamin gets control of Uche's arms and successfully pulls guard. Benjamin will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Benjamin managing to control the position.
Uche slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Benjamin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Benjamin is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin can't keep his opponent in guard - Uche advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Benjamin is looking for a sweep. Uche is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Uche missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Uche stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Benjamin throws a low kick, looking for Uche's leg but Uche calmly moves out of range.
Uche fails with an attempt to clinch.
And Benjamin tries to counter it with a takedown but Uche pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Uche moves in looking to clinch but Benjamin pushes him off.
Benjamin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Uche.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benjamin rushes Uche and presses him up against the cage.
Benjamin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Uche pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Benjamin tries a knee to the head but Uche blocks it.

Benjamin turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Uche sneaks out the side door and pushes Benjamin away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benjamin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Benjamin blocks a head kick by Uche.
Uche doesn't manage to clinch there - Benjamin circles away.
Benjamin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Benjamin dives in for a single leg takedown but Uche sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
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 Patrick Uche will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Uche tries to clinch there but Benjamin circles away.
Benjamin shoots in and drives through. Uche sprawls well.
Benjamin shoots for a takedown but Uche saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Uche looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Uche throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Uche throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benjamin steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Uche.
Uche leaves Benjamin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Patrick Uche has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nickolas Benjamin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benjamin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Uche defends it nicely.
Uche seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Benjamin lands a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uche slaps away a takedown attempt from Benjamin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Benjamin stuffs the takedown attempt from Uche. Uche gets slowly back to his feet.
Benjamin tries to counter with a clinch but Uche shakes him off and moves away.
Uche gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Benjamin counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Benjamin throws an overhand right from the outside, which connects and sends Uche stumbling backwards into the cage! Uche bounces back off the cage towards Benjamin, who cracks him with a two punch combination that drops him to his knees! Benjamin lands two more shots before the referee has chance to intervene - what a finish! Benjamin celebrates with his corner as the crowd cheer loudly.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Nickolas Benjamin!