PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matthieu Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Berger (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Benoit
vs
Berger

185 cm
18
193 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
20
187 lbs
1 - 2 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Matthieu Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Steve Berger!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Berger blocks a head kick by Benoit.
Benoit throws a series of punches but Berger moves out of range.
Benoit circles away from the clinch attempt.
Berger pivots, looking for a leg kick but Benoit is out of range and Berger settles back down.
Benoit will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Berger connects with a nice looking jab.
Berger throws a good cross that connects.
Steve Berger seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Berger lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Berger misses the jab.
A big left from Berger misses.
A punch combination from Berger misses.
Benoit misses with a kick to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Berger. That snapped Benoit's head back.
Berger ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Benoit moves away.

Berger gets the takedown into side control.

Berger is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Benoit has escaped the position, nice work there.
Berger wants to lay and pray for a moment but Benoit keeps working.
Benoit is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Berger's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berger wants to stand up but Benoit is controlling the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benoit trying to control but Berger postures up.
Benoit desperately trying to maintain half guard.

Berger is trying to work for a kimura but Benoit is defending well.
Benoit wants to control but Berger is keeping busy.

Berger is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Benoit has managed to free his arm - good work.
Benoit is trying to maintain the position but Berger is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Benoit dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Berger. That did some damage!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Berger will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Berger looks gassed!
Benoit works over Berger's head and body with a nice combination.

Benoit drives through and clinches with Berger against the cage.

Benoit jumps guard and drags Berger to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Benoit throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Berger must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Benoit has Berger pulled in close to control his posture.
Benoit looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Berger throwing strikes but missing.
Benoit bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Berger's guard.

Berger working for a triangle but Benoit defends it easily.
Benoit works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Benoit works his way into full mount!
Berger really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Berger regains half guard.

Berger looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Berger actively working from the bottom here.
Berger tries to roll over but Benoit keeps him under control.
Berger moves into full guard.

Berger is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Benoit works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Benoit trying to control the action but Berger is working from the bottom.
Benoit scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Berger is not content to let Benoit control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Berger kicks Benoit off and gets back to his feet.
Berger tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Berger will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice body kick there by Benoit.
Berger closes this distance looking for a takedown but Benoit circles away.
Matthieu Benoit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steve Berger.
Benoit works over Berger's head and body with a nice combination.
Benoit with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Berger to score with a decent uppercut.
Benoit takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Berger fails with a takedown attempt.
Berger connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Benoit momentarily.
Berger wants to clinch but Benoit slips to the side
and Benoit connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Benoit takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Berger shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Berger is looking to stand up but Benoit won't let him.
Berger passes Benoit's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Berger is working for a kimura but Benoit is defending it quite comfortably.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Benoit throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Matthieu Benoit will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Berger doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Benoit counters with a single leg into guard. Berger didn't expect that.
Benoit controls from within his opponent's guard.
Benoit passes Berger's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Benoit tries to pass to full mount but Berger defends it.
Berger tries to roll over but Benoit keeps him under control.
Benoit tries to pass to full mount but Berger defends it.

Berger looking for submissions off his back.
Berger is looking to improve his position.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Benoit connects with a nice short shot to Berger's temple.
Benoit lands with a punch from half guard.
Matthieu Benoit overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Benoit is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Benoit putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Berger is in all sorts of trouble here.
A nice elbow there by Benoit.
Benoit prevents Berger from getting the reversal.
Berger regains half guard.

Berger looking for submissions off his back.

Berger looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Berger looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Benoit thows a huge punch but Berger dodges it nicely.
Berger is staying active underneath Benoit, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Berger is looking to escape.
Berger is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Benoit moves nicely into side control.
Benoit is chipping away with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Berger tries to buck Benoit off but Benoit is having none of it.
Benoit trying to control the position but Berger is working away.
Benoit working the head with strikes.
Benoit is chipping away with strikes.
Berger is looking for a sweep.
Berger is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Berger is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Berger manages to get to full guard.
Benoit trying to control but Berger is working from the bottom.

Berger throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Berger looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Berger looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Berger swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Berger escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Benoit gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Berger keeping moving, preventing Benoit from controlling successfully.
Benoit is working Berger over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Berger looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Benoit advances to half guard.

Berger looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Berger is trying to stand up here but Benoit is controlling him well.
Berger is pressing down on Benoit's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Berger escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Benoit gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Benoit is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Berger has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Benoit is looking to defend but Berger has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Benoit! Berger pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Benoit taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Steve Berger!