PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Erik Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Rellik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sean Rellik is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bennett
vs
Rellik

183 cm
18
182 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Erik Bennett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sean Rellik!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Alyssa Summers and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bennett looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Rellik is fending him off so far but Bennett persists. Nope, Rellik circles away and we're back to standing.
Rellik throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bennett's waist but Bennett gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rellik off to one side.
A big left from Bennett misses.
Rellik wants to clinch up but Bennett keeps it at a distance.
Rellik throws a low kick but Bennett moves out of range easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rellik.
Bennett just misses with a punch to the body.
Rellik misses with a series of wild punches.
Rellik throws a series of punches but Bennett moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rellik looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Good exchange - Bennett coming out on top.

Rellik throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Bennett tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rellik is in Bennett's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Rellik throwing strikes from guard but Bennett blocks nicely.
Rellik prevents Bennett from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett wants to sweep but no luck.
Bennett pulls Rellik in close to his closed guard and prevents Rellik from doing any damage or advancing position.

Bennett pushes Rellik off and gets back to his feet.
Bennett circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bennett tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rellik was well out of range. Poor timing from Bennett.

Rellik closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Rellik to work.
Rellik lands with a short shot to the head.
Bennett is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rellik pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bennett tries to score a body lock takedown but Rellik shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erik Bennett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bennett can't get the takedown.
Rellik lands an elbow that stopped Bennett in his tracks for a moment.
Bennett wants a takedown but no success here.
Rellik is pushing Bennett up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Rellik misses with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rellik is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Rellik misses with a knee to the head.

Bennett pulls guard effortlessly.
Rellik stopping the sweep attempt from Bennett.
Bennett keeping moving, preventing Rellik from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bennett has his hands on Rellik's head, controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett keeping full guard, as Rellik tries to pass.
Rellik controls from within his opponent's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

We're going to have a standup here because Erik Bennett wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Bennett throws a hook but Rellik blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sean Rellik will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rellik fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bennett to the ground. Rellik is now in Bennett's guard.
Bennett has control of Rellik's left arm, preventing Rellik from doing any damage.
Rellik stopping the sweep attempt from Bennett.
Bennett is pulling down on Rellik's head. It's preventing any offense from Rellik, at least for the moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Bennett is looking to stand up but Rellik isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Erik Bennett just wasn't active enough.
Rellik is looking to clinch but Bennett is avoiding it.

Rellik moves into the clinch.
Rellik scores with a shoulder strike.

Bennett lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rellik is trying to maintain the position but Bennett is very close to passing his half guard.
Bennett not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rellik is looking to improve his position.
Bennett thows a huge punch but Rellik dodges it nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rellik is pressing down on Bennett's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Bennett scoring with some ground and pound.
Bennett throws a strike but Rellik rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rellik throws a strike but Bennett rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bennett has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Rellik is trying to keep Bennett in close.
Bennett stands up over Rellik, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rellik has control of Bennett's left arm, preventing Bennett from doing any damage.
Bennett trying to control the position from guard on top but Rellik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bennett is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rellik is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Bennett looking to sit in guard and control but Rellik gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Bennett manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rellik fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bennett ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Rellik tries to clinch but Bennett is having none of it.
Rellik moves out of range as Bennett strikes.
Bennett misses with a wild body shot.
Bennett has a takedown stuffed.
A lazy left from Bennett finds it's target.
Bennett closes the distance and clinches up with Rellik, looking for a takedown. Bennett pushes Rellik against the cage but Rellik circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rellik shoots in for a takedown but Bennett shows good takedown defense.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rellik looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Rellik scores with a one two! Bennett had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Rellik keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bennett.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Bennett dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Rellik throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rellik takes one on the button.
Rellik closes the distance and clinches up with Bennett, looking for a takedown. Rellik pushes Bennett against the cage but Bennett circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bennett tries for a takedown but Rellik sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A combination from Rellik does no damage.
Rellik tries to clinch up.
Rellik fails with an attempt to clinch.

Bennett tries to keep at a distance but Rellik has taken the fight into the clinch.

Rellik turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Rellik manages to end up in side control.
Bennett is not content to let Rellik control the position.
Bennett is trying to buck Rellik off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett regains half guard.
Bennett is looking for a sweep. Rellik is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rellik is thwarting Bennett's attempts to control the position.
Bennett is looking to improve his position.
Rellik not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Rellik manages to pass to mount!
Bennett knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rellik on the ground.
Bennett wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Rellik.
Bennett is looking to get to half guard.
Rellik throwing strikes here but Bennett is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett is desperately trying to improve his position but Rellik has a good base and remains in mount.
Rellik looking to ground and pound but Bennett is blocking nicely.
Bennett is desperately trying to improve his position but Rellik has a good base and remains in mount.
Rellik raining down shots from the mount!
Rellik tries to control but Bennett wriggling away.
Rellik looking to ground and pound but Bennett is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rellik in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rellik cracks Bennett with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Bennett working to try and regain half guard.
Erik Bennett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bennett is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sean Rellik comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rellik 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sean Rellik!