PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Zander Murie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyson Benjamin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benjamin has chosen Pastor Troy - It's About To Go Down as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Murie
vs
Benjamin

178 cm
29
155 lbs
7 - 12 - 0

179 cm
35
156 lbs
19 - 10 - 2

Great wrestler
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Zander Murie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 10 - 2, fighting out of New York, Tyson Benjamin!
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, Bruno Lombardi and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Murie closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Murie with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Murie tries to land knees in the clinch but Benjamin avoids the damage to the body.
Benjamin is trying to maintain a safe position but Murie gets an underhook and turns Benjamin into the cage.
Benjamin scores with a shot to the side of Murie's head.
Murie landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Benjamin has had enough of the clinch but Murie keeps him there for the moment.
Benjamin wants a takedown but no success here.
Murie with a knee to the head.

It looks like Tyson Benjamin has been cut.
Murie misses with a knee to the head.
Murie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Benjamin is defending well for now.
Murie misses with a knee to the head.
Benjamin avoiding damage as Murie throws knees to the body.
Murie lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Murie lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Benjamin tries to work over Murie's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Benjamin takes a knee right on the jaw!
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!
Benjamin struggles to land a body shot inside as Murie controls his hands.

Benjamin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Benjamin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Murie throws a good cross that connects.
Benjamin displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Murie.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Murie looks for the body kick but Benjamin saw that one coming.

Murie forces Benjamin back against the cage and clinches.
Murie tries to land a knee to the head but Benjamin blocks with his arms.
Murie throws a knee to the head but misses.
Murie looking to throw knees to the head but Benjamin is blocking nicely.
Murie tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Murie lands a good knee to the midsection. Benjamin won't want to take too many of those.
Murie putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Benjamin in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Benjamin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Murie shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Benjamin is pressing down on Murie's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Benjamin pushes Murie off and scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A combination from Murie does no damage.
Murie throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Murie shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Benjamin's guard.
Benjamin looking for a sweep. Not yet Benjamin, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Murie would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Murie stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Murie lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Benjamin at a distance.
Murie thows a left - swing and a miss!
Benjamin drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Murie defends it well.
Benjamin moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Murie lands with a nice combination. Benjamin backs away looking to recover.
Murie jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A head kick misses from Benjamin.

Murie gets a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Benjamin fails to land.
Murie misses with a knee to the head.
Murie tries a knee to the head but Benjamin blocks it.
Murie prevents the takedown attempt.
Zander Murie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyson Benjamin.
Murie misses with a knee strike.

Benjamin breaks from the clinch.
Benjamin staying out of range there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murie scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Murie tries to clinch but Benjamin moves out of range.
Benjamin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Zander Murie seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Murie.
The fight stays on the outside here - Benjamin looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Murie appears to be looking for a big counter.
Murie wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Murie stuns Benjamin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Murie goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Murie fails with a takedown attempt.
Murie takes a head kick and keeps coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Murie throws an overhand right that lands on Benjamin's shoulder, as Benjamin tries to avoid the shot.
Benjamin thinks about the counter body kick.
Nice shot by Murie.

Benjamin is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Murie's half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murie tries to kick Benjamin off but Benjamin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Benjamin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Murie defending well though.
Benjamin thows a huge punch but Murie dodges it nicely.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Murie won't allow Benjamin to pass to mount.
Murie wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Murie keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Murie tries to kick Benjamin off but Benjamin keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Benjamin not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Murie looks like he's trying to stand up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zander Murie dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tyson Benjamin's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Murie looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Murie tries to stand but Benjamin is controlling from the bottom.
Benjamin looking for a sweep. Not yet Benjamin, not yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Benjamin is on top in guard.

Benjamin won't allow Murie to get back to his feet.
Benjamin throwing strikes from guard but Murie blocks nicely.
Murie wants to stand but Benjamin is controlling the position.
Murie avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benjamin connects with a couple of short punches.
Benjamin won't allow Murie to get back to his feet.
Benjamin wants to pass the guard but Murie is keeping the position.
Murie wants to get back to his feet but Benjamin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin wants to pass the guard but Murie is keeping the position.
Murie is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Benjamin is controlling him.
Benjamin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Murie is looking to stand up but Benjamin isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Benjamin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Murie was well out of range. Poor timing from Benjamin.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Murie!
Murie is looking to clinch but Benjamin is avoiding it.
Murie ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Benjamin moves away.
Murie lands a nice shot to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Benjamin as Murie shoots in.
Benjamin drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Murie defends it well.
Benjamin shoots in but no luck this time.
Murie avoids a low kick by using good footwork.

Murie drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Benjamin sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin is trying to stand back up but Murie is controlling him
Tyson Benjamin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Murie seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

Murie postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Benjamin to stand up.
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!
Murie tries to clinch there but Benjamin circles away.
Murie tries to clinch up but Benjamin circles away and keeps his distance.
Murie misses with a wild combination.
Murie missing with a left hand there. Benjamin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Benjamin fails to land the takedown.
Murie uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Murie jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Benjamin shoots in and drives through. Murie sprawls well.
Zander Murie has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyson Benjamin.
Benjamin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Murie.
Benjamin avoids a kick to the body.
As Murie backs off Benjamin throws a huge counter combo but Murie manages to avoid it all.
Benjamin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Murie defends it nicely.
Murie throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Benjamin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Zander Murie is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Murie swings for the body but Benjamin moves out of range.
Benjamin wants to clinch.
Murie misses with a shot to the body
and Benjamin counters with a two punch combo.
Zander Murie is winning the standup battle so far.
No luck for Benjamin with that takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Murie bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Benjamin's head backwards.
Murie uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Benjamin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Murie was covering up waiting for the punch and Benjamin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benjamin wants to pass the guard but Murie is keeping the position.
Murie is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Benjamin is controlling him.

Murie is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Benjamin presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Benjamin is trying to break the clinch but Murie has him pressed against the cage.
Murie with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Murie with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Benjamin struggles to land a body shot inside as Murie controls his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zander Murie dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tyson Benjamin's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Benjamin tries to sprawl but Murie drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Murie tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Benjamin.
Murie trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Benjamin kicks Murie off and gets back to his feet.
Benjamin wants to clinch up but Murie keeps it at a distance.
Murie shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Benjamin as he avoids it easily.
Murie shoots in for a double leg but Benjamin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Murie takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Murie throws an overhand right that lands on Benjamin's shoulder, as Benjamin tries to avoid the shot.
Murie throws a hook but Benjamin blocks it.
Benjamin unleashes a big counter combination but Murie bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Murie tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Benjamin scores with a takedown into Murie's guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benjamin is looking to work some ground and pound but Murie has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Murie works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Benjamin throwing strikes but missing.
Murie wants to stand but Benjamin is controlling the position.
Benjamin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Murie swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Benjamin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Murie is looking to stand up but Benjamin isn't so interested in that idea.
Benjamin is looking to work some ground and pound but Murie has wrist control.

Murie pushes Benjamin off and gets back to his feet.
Benjamin tries to clinch but Murie is having none of it.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Murie. Benjamin shrugs it off though.
Murie misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Benjamin drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Murie is looking to stand up but Benjamin isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Murie's guard.
Benjamin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Benjamin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Benjamin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Benjamin prevents Murie from standing back up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Benjamin lands a nice short elbow.
Benjamin lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
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!

Benjamin looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Murie looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Murie has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Benjamin is on him like a limpet, forcing Murie back against the cage.
Murie using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Murie misses with a knee strike.
Murie scores a nice knee to the body.
Murie is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Benjamin can do to turn this around?
Murie connects with a nasty looking knee right to Benjamin's face.
Murie misses with a knee strike.
Tyson Benjamin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Murie tries a knee to the head but Benjamin blocks it.
Murie with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Murie gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Benjamin.
Murie tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Benjamin drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Benjamin misses with an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin tries to break the clinch but Murie is controlling the position.
Benjamin working hard to break the clinch.
Murie on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Murie tries to land knees in the clinch but Benjamin avoids the damage to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Murie is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Benjamin is defending well for now.
Murie misses with a knee strike.

Benjamin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Benjamin walks into a straight right hand from Murie.

Benjamin pushes Murie up against the cage in a clinch.
Benjamin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Benjamin has Murie pushed against the cage.
Murie using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Benjamin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Benjamin lands a hook that snaps the head of Murie backwards.
Benjamin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Benjamin is looking to break free of the clinch but Murie has double underhooks.
Benjamin lands a left hand.
Murie tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Murie landing knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zander Murie showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Murie, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zander Murie!