PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Billy Blank (ranked 1737 p4p, 2822 weight class) and Thomas Bennett (ranked 225 p4p, 351 weight class). The key to victory for Billy Blank has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Blank
vs
Bennett

225 cm
24
265
7 - 4 - 0

179 cm
32
232
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Shadow-Battle Clothing
Bear N Saints

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Billy Blank!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Thomas Bennett!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Phil Schofield and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bennett gets a clinch.

Blank breaks the clinch.

Bennett pushes Blank up against the cage in a clinch.

Blank pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

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

Blank breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bennett fails with the takedown
and Blank counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Blank lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Blank defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Bennett.

Bennett instigates a clinch.

Bennett pulls guard effortlessly.
Blank keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bennett's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Bennett had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Blank defends it easily.
Blank with a flurry of punches that miss.
Blank will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Blank's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Bennett is looking for a triangle but Blank pushes his legs off easily.
Blank lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Bennett looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Blank has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Blank postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blank avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Blank scoring with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Blank is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Blank has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Blank with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Blank trying to control but Bennett is working from the bottom.

Bennett is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Blank defends well.

Bennett working for a triangle but Blank defends it easily.
Blank trying to control the position from guard on top but Bennett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bennett working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Blank doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Blank manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Blank is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bennett working for a triangle but Blank defends it easily.

Bennett has his foot on Blank's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Blank works his way back into a safe position though.
Blank lands a couple of digs.
Blank working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Blank's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Bennett has his foot on Blank's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Blank works his way back into a safe position though.
Blank distracts Bennett with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Bennett is rocked!
Blank loads up on a big left hand. Bennett felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Blank looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Bennett can't hide his disappointment, as Blank celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:52 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Billy Blank!
During a confident post fight interview, Billy Blank thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.