PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cross Yegar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kenny Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bennett has chosen Mac Dre-Boss Tycoon as his entrance music. Kenny Bennett has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Cross Yegar's chin.

Yegar
vs
Bennett

185 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
193 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cross Yegar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kenny Bennett!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bennett looks to land a combination but Yegar avoids it well.
Kenny Bennett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Yegar lands a two punch combo.
Yegar getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Yegar fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bennett avoids it really well and circles away.
Bennett fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bennett stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bennett wants it to stay on the feet.
Yegar tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Yegar clinches with his opponent.
Bennett stops a takedown attempt from Yegar.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cross Yegar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
With the fighters up against the cage, Bennett throws an elbow but misses.
Bennett misses with the head strike.
Bennett looking for a takedown.
Yegar fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bennett tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Yegar avoids it.

Yegar decides to pull guard.
Bennett must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Yegar looking for a sweep. Not yet Yegar, not yet.
Yegar is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett trying to control the position from guard on top but Yegar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Yegar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bennett can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Yegar wants to get back to his feet but Bennett is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bennett trying to stand up but can't free himself from Yegar's guard.

Bennett decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Yegar slaps away a takedown attempt from Bennett, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Yegar has a takedown stuffed.
Yegar shoots in but no luck this time.
Yegar misses with a wild combination.
Bennett closes the distance but Yegar moves to the side

and Yegar counters by clinching up.
Bennett dodges an elbow strike from Yegar.

Yegar decides to pull guard.
Yegar trying to control the position here.
Yegar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Yegar scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Bennett throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Yegar counters with a three punch combo that has Bennett backing up. Bennett nods at Yegar to acknowledge the strikes.
Bennett displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Yegar.
Yegar fails with a takedown attempt.

Yegar closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bennett can't get the takedown.
Yegar on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Yegar fails to pull guard.
Bennett is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Yegar pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bennett is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Yegar pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bennett looks gassed!
Yegar tries for a takedown but Bennett manages to get underhooks.
Bennett goes for a takedown attempt but Yegar pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Yegar moves into range and clinches up with Bennett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett wants to stall.

Yegar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bennett dives in and grabs Yegar's left leg, looking for a takedown. Yegar pushes down on Bennett's head and hops out.
Yegar shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Yegar displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Yegar instigates a clinch.

Yegar manages to break the clinch.
Yegar tries for a takedown but Bennett sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Yegar shoots in looking for a takedown. Bennett tries to sprawl out of it but Yegar keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bennett manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Yegar looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bennett is fending him off so far but Yegar persists. Nope, Bennett circles away and we're back to standing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cross Yegar dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bennett stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bennett wants it to stay on the feet.
Bennett tries to clinch
and Yegar counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bennett fails with a takedown attempt.
Bennett shoots and misses

and Yegar holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Yegar jumps guard and drags Bennett to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Yegar manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bennett manages to get himself to full guard.
Yegar is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Yegar landing some decent shots from guard.
Yegar is working Bennett over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bennett is breathing heavily.
Yegar stands and throws Bennett's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Bennett is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Yegar working the ground and pound but Bennett is defending the strikes.

Yegar tries for a kimura but Bennett is defending well.
Yegar scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Bennett to see if he's OK.
Bennett is letting Yegar control him for a moment.

Yegar is trying to get an arm triangle but Bennett is defending well.
Bennett is not content to let Yegar control the position.
Yegar 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bennett taking a bit of punishment here - Yegar scoring with strikes.
Yegar working the ground and pound from side control.
Yegar creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Bennett sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Yegar is looking to take a break and control but Bennett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bennett tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Yegar wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bennett throws a left and a right that both miss

and Yegar counters by moving into the clinch.
Yegar tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bennett misses with a knee to the head.
Bennett wants a takedown but no success here.
Cross Yegar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kenny Bennett.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Yegar obliges.

Yegar gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Bennett regains guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yegar with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yegar controlling from the top position.
Yegar connects with a couple of short punches.
Bennett keeping moving, preventing Yegar from controlling successfully.
Bennett trying to keep a closed guard but Yegar is proving a slippery customer.

Yegar gets to his feet - Bennett follows without any prompting.

Yegar moves into the clinch successfully.

Yegar manages to break the clinch.
Bennett stuffs the takedown attempt from Yegar. Yegar gets slowly back to his feet.
Yegar fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

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

Yegar's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice sprawl there from Yegar as Bennett shoots in.
Bennett shoots and misses

so Yegar counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Yegar thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Yegar working some strikes from top position.
Yegar stops Bennett from standing up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yegar is working Bennett over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Yegar stands up over Bennett, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Yegar content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cross Yegar dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bennett is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Yegar.
Bennett misses with a combination
and Yegar counters with a stiff right hand.
Bennett is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Yegar.

Yegar gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Yegar tries to pull guard but Bennett holds him up against the cage and eventually Yegar drops back down to his feet.
Yegar tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bennett smiles and moves away.

Yegar closes the distance and clinches.
Bennett takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bennett tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Yegar just stands there and leans against the cage.
Yegar is trying to drag Bennett to the mat but Bennett just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cross Yegar. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett throws a knee to the head but misses.
Yegar tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bennett smiles and moves away.

Yegar clinches up against the cage.
Bennett pushes off an throws an elbow but Yegar leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Bennett throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Yegar blocks it with crossed arms.
Bennett connects with a nasty looking knee right to Yegar's face.
Bennett pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Yegar manages to break the clinch.
Bennett wants to clinch

and Yegar counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Yegar.
Bennett with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bennett is trying to break the clinch but Yegar has him pressed against the cage.
Bennett tries a knee to the head but Yegar blocks it.
Yegar tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yegar tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Yegar tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bennett smiles and moves away.
Yegar fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bennett avoids it really well and circles away.

Yegar is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Bennett's half guard.
Yegar working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Yegar thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bennett is trying to stand.

Yegar decides to stand and escape the position.

Yegar clinches up with Bennett and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yegar tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Yegar has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bennett uses from the top position.
Yegar lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Bennett!
Yegar landing strikes, looking to finish!
Yegar working the ground and pound effectively.
Yegar is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Yegar landing shots from mount.
Bennett is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Bennett is in a horrible position here. Yegar smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Yegar cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yegar lands with some strikes.
Bennett is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Yegar scoring with strikes but Bennett is staying in there.

Yegar is going olschool here, as he tries to force Bennett to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Bennett shrugs it off.
Cross Yegar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Yegar with the ground and pound from mount.
Yegar working away from the top, dropping strikes.
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!
Bennett is squirming around, avoiding Yegar's attempts to control the action.
Cross Yegar is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Yegar with the ground and pound from mount.
Kenny Bennett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Yegar sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cross Yegar showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Yegar has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cross Yegar!