PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Finn Baller (ranked 4310 p4p, 6113 weight class) and Reuben Benington (ranked 524 p4p, 635 weight class). The key to victory for Finn Baller has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Baller
vs
Benington

177 cm
25
170
1 - 0 - 0

181 cm
24
176
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 Las Vegas, Finn Baller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Reuben Benington !
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, David Schapiro and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Baller gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Benington wants to take the fight to the mat but Baller manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Benington wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Baller has him pressed against the cage.
Benington tries for a takedown. No joy.
Benington wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Benington changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Baller fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Finn Baller has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Reuben Benington .
Baller misses with a wild body shot.
Baller connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Benington 's hands.
Benington avoids the head kick by Baller.
Baller has his takedown stuffed
and Benington counters with a stiff right hand.
Benington will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Baller looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baller misses with a two punch combination.
Benington is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Baller misses with a two punch combination.

Baller closes the distance and pushes Benington back into the cage.
Benington is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Baller pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baller is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Benington is defending well.
Baller can't get the takedown.
Benington is looking for a takedown.
Baller has Benington pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Benington manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Baller displaying some good clinch control by pressing Benington up against the cage.
Baller prevents a takedown attempt there.

Benington has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Baller regains guard immediately.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Benington is pushing down on Baller's leg trying to pass to half guard. Baller is fighting to maintain full guard but Benington has managed to sneak the leg through.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benington tries to pass to full mount but Baller defends it.
Baller is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baller wants to get back to full guard but Benington has passed into side control.
Baller manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Baller is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Benington manages to get to full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Baller accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baller controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Baller postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Baller looking to pass the guard.
Baller is stalling in the full guard.
Baller pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benington is keeping the position for now.
Baller is looking to stand up but Benington won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Baller trying to control but Benington is working from the bottom.
Baller has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Baller looking to sit in guard and control but Benington gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Baller is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Baller isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Benington stacks Baller on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Benington !
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benington taking a breather here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Finn Baller will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Baller breaks the clinch.
Benington keeps the fight on the outside.
Benington pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Baller dives in and grabs Benington 's left leg, looking for a takedown. Benington pushes down on Baller's head and hops out.
Benington looks to land a combination. Baller sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Benington misses with an uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benington misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Benington swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Benington blocks a head kick by Baller.

Baller has managed to clinch.
Benington tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Baller smiles and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baller shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Benington tries a head kick but it misses.
Baller throws a lazy body kick

and Benington decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Baller's guard.
Benington wants to control from the top but Baller keeps moving.
Baller tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Baller trying to keep a closed guard but Benington is proving a slippery customer.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Benington accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Benington stopping the sweep attempt from Baller.

Baller throws his legs up looking for a submission but Benington uses it to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baller can't do much from the bottom here.
Baller is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Benington 's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Baller on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Baller tries to get out of the position.
Baller is trying to get back to full guard.
Baller is trying to maintain the position but Benington is very close to passing his half guard.
Baller is trying to stand up here but Benington is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benington slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Benington leaves Baller with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Benington feints the counter takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Finn Baller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benington uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Baller has time to react.
Baller misses with a low kick.
Baller throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Benington looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Benington shoots in but no luck this time.
Baller darts in looking for a takedown but Benington gets double underhooks and turns Baller into the cage.
Benington drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Baller gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Benington has Baller pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Baller manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benington looking for a takedown.
Benington is breathing heavily.

Baller gets control of Benington 's arms and successfully pulls guard. Baller will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Baller wants to sweep here but Benington controlling him for the moment.
Baller is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baller looking for a sweep. Not yet Baller, not yet.
Benington sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Reuben Benington showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Benington shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Baller wants to sweep but Benington has passed to side control!
Benington trying to control the action but Baller is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Baller is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reuben Benington has got the better of the ground game so far.
Baller struggling a bit here.
Benington wants to lay and pray for a moment but Baller keeps working.
Benington controls the position.

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.
Baller is looking to reverse the position.
Baller is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Reuben Benington seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Baller wants to clinch up but Benington keeps it at a distance.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Baller is defended easily by Benington .
Baller doesn't manage to clinch there - Benington circles away.
Baller closes the distance and clinches up with Benington , looking for a takedown. Baller pushes Benington against the cage but Benington circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Baller throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Baller lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Benington at a distance.
Benington has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baller shoots in looking for a takedown but Benington manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Baller's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Finn Baller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Baller moves into the clinch successfully.
Baller prevents a takedown attempt there.
Baller prevents the takedown attempt.
Benington can't get the takedown.
Baller tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Baller misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Benington .
Baller tries to pull guard but Benington won't allow it.
Baller lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Benington .
Benington wants a takedown.
Baller dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Baller slowing the pace effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benington has had enough of the clinch but Baller keeps him there for the moment.
Benington wants to take the fight to the mat but Baller manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Benington fails to pull guard.
Benington drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Baller gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Baller has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Benington after a bit of a struggle.
Benington is trying to break free.
Benington tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Baller smiles and moves away.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Baller pressing his opponent against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Finn Baller.
I think Baller has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Finn Baller!