PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alistair Walker (ranked 4495 p4p, 3063 weight class) and Nickolas Benjamin (ranked 0 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.

Walker
vs
Benjamin

193 cm
17
205
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
26
205
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

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 Montreal, Alistair Walker!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nickolas Benjamin!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Walker paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benjamin. Walker does a little dance to reset his feet.
Benjamin has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Benjamin there as he acknowledges the shot.

Benjamin closes the distance and pushes Walker back into the cage.

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

Benjamin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Walker knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Benjamin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Walker is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benjamin is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
An elbow from Benjamin crashes against the mat.
Benjamin tries to score with some ground and pound. Walker controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Benjamin is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Walker will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Walker is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Benjamin asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Walker defending against the ground and pound.

That's two 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.
An elbow from Benjamin crashes against the mat.
Sloppy strikes there by Benjamin.
Walker is being controlled here.
Benjamin is looking to take a break and control but Walker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Benjamin sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Walker is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Benjamin throws a strike aimed at the side of Walker's head but Walker avoids it well.

Benjamin looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Walker wants to get back to his feet but Benjamin drags him back down.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walker throws a right and a left that both miss.

Benjamin closes the distance and clinches.
Walker tries to break free but Benjamin pushes him back against the cage.

Benjamin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Benjamin throws a head kick but Walker moves out of range.
Walker lands a really nice looking cross but Benjamin seems unphased.
Walker lands a head shot.
Walker tests Benjamin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Walker cracks Benjamin with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Benjamin clinches up with Walker and pushes him back against the cage.
Walker looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benjamin has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Walker regains guard immediately.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benjamin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Benjamin passes Walker's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Well, if Benjamin is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Walker tries to kick Benjamin off but Benjamin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benjamin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nickolas Benjamin dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Benjamin fails with the takedown.

Benjamin moves into range and clinches up with Walker.
Walker wants to break free but Benjamin has control.

Benjamin has picked Walker up - he's going for a ride! Benjamin dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Nickolas Benjamin has got the better of the ground game so far.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Benjamin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Benjamin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Walker keeps working.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Benjamin in particular looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walker blocking the ground and pound attempt from Benjamin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Benjamin seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Benjamin passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Walker!
Walker avoids a series of strikes thrown by Benjamin.
Benjamin controlling the pace for now.
Let's hope that Benjamin has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walker is trying to stand.
Benjamin thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Benjamin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Benjamin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Benjamin punishing his opponent with strikes.
Walker wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin controlling the position easily from mount.
Benjamin looking to control but Walker is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Benjamin goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Walker turns into him and now he's in Benjamin's guard.
Benjamin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin managing to control the position.
Benjamin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Benjamin throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Walker throws an elbow that misses. Benjamin uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Walker's guard. Nice move by Benjamin!

Walker keeping moving, preventing Benjamin from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Benjamin wants to pass the guard but Walker is keeping the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nickolas Benjamin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Benjamin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Benjamin walks into a jab.
Walker tries to move into range but Benjamin moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Walker throws a good cross that connects.
Benjamin scores with a leg kick.
Walker scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Benjamin doesn't seem bothered though.
Benjamin slips under a jab from Walker.
Walker misses with a wild body shot.
Benjamin darts in looking for a takedown but Walker gets double underhooks and turns Benjamin into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Walker jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Benjamin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Walker is fending him off so far but Benjamin persists. Nope, Walker circles away and we're back to standing.
Walker connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Walker is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Walker ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Benjamin moves away.
Horrible takedown attempt by Benjamin or perhaps it was just good defense by Walker, which made it look bad.
Alistair Walker has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nickolas Benjamin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin looks for a takedown but Walker sprawls well.
Benjamin throws a sloppy head kick and Walker moves out of range easily.
Walker connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Walker cracks Benjamin with an open hand slap.

Benjamin drives through and clinches with Walker against the cage.

Benjamin wants the takedown. Walker is fighting it off but Benjamin persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Walker's guard against the cage.
Walker is looking to stand back up but Benjamin counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Walker.

Benjamin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Walker defends it well.
Alistair Walker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benjamin trying to control the action but Walker is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Walker is trying to stand.
Benjamin is controlling the pace.
Benjamin is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Walker is trying to escape back to his feet but Benjamin uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Benjamin tries to stand but Walker is controlling his head.
Benjamin tries to advance to mount but can't.
Benjamin content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Benjamin throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Walker is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Benjamin has just dragged him back down to the mat.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Walker misses with an uppercut
and Benjamin counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Benjamin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Benjamin lands in his opponent's guard.
Benjamin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Benjamin looking to pass the guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Alistair Walker.
I think Benjamin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nickolas Benjamin!