PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Rua (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rua
vs
Bennett

180 cm
22
174 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

183 cm
22
182 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Decent elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gabriel Rua!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Erik Bennett!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Franklyn Lucas and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bennett jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bennett misses with a hook.
Bennett throws a hook but Rua avoids it easily.
Bennett misses the jab.
Bennett misses with a body punch
and Rua counters with a body kick that stops Bennett in his tracks momentarily.
Bennett throws a looping overhand right but Rua ducks down to avoid it.
Bennett throws a chopping leg kick but Rua manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Bennett looks to score with a jab to the body but Rua is just out of range.
Rua is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bennett moves away.
An inside leg kick from Rua misses.
Bennett throws a hook but Rua blocks it.
Rua lands with a good body shot.
Rua blocks a jab.
Bennett fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A swing and a miss from Bennett.
Rua scores with a kick to the midsection.
Rua uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bennett.
Rua blocks the body kick.
Good work by Bennett as he checks the leg kick.
Bennett throws a hook to the side of Rua's head but Rua sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A slapping leg kick lands for Rua.
Bennett lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rua takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Bennett is looking to chop away at Rua's legs.
Bennett connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bennett swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bennett tries a low kick but Rua avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua defending well as Bennett loads up on a big left hand.
Bennett looks to land a body kick but Rua moved away.
Bennett scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Erik Bennett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rua checks a leg kick.
Rua throws a lazy uppercut
and Bennett counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rua swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Bennett tries to work over Rua's front leg with a kick but Rua checks it.
Bennett circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bennett lands a head shot.
Rua dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bennett. That did some damage!
Gabriel Rua is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rua fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bennett has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Bennett misses with a leg kick
and Rua counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Rua takes a swing at Bennett's ribcage but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bennett.
Bennett just misses with a punch to the body.
Rua finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Bennett slips under a jab from Rua.
Rua throws an overhand right that lands on Bennett's shoulder, as Bennett tries to avoid the shot.
Rua avoids the body shot from Bennett.

Rua rushes Bennett and presses him up against the cage.
Rua unloads a knee to the mid-section. Bennett lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Bennett wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Bennett breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bennett throws a leg kick that misses.
Rua scores with a hook to the body. Bennett takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Rua swings and misses with a hook to the body.
An inside leg kick lands from Bennett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Rua pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bennett is out of range and Rua settles back down.
Nice shot lands for Rua.
Bennett lands with a straight right. Rua didn't see that one coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bennett misses with a straight right.
Bennett is looking to score with low kicks.
Bennett tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rua was well out of range. Poor timing from Bennett.
Bennett just misses with a punch to the body.
Rua throws a quick inside leg kick.
The fighters circling - Bennett throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters circling - Bennett throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Rua moves into the clinch successfully.
Nice elbow from Rua.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rua creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Erik Bennett will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bennett steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Rua. That one must have hurt.
Bennett does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Bennett moves out of range of the strikes.
Rua checks a leg kick nicely.
Rua throws a nice head kick!
Bennett's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rua under the eye.
Rua lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rua swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rua slips under a jab from Bennett.
Bennett throws a big shot that misses.
A jab from Bennett misses.
Bennett scores with a nice strike.
A low kick from Bennett is predictable there
and Rua counters with a leg kick.
Bennett looks to score with a jab to the body but Rua is just out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett scores with a jab to the jaw.
Rua tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Bennett manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bennett throws a leg kick that misses.
Rua will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Rua throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bennett lands a jab.
Rua avoids a punch combination nicely.
A slow jab from Rua misses its intended target.
Rua scores with a jab. Bennett acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rua lands a nice looking body kick.
Bennett throws a poor cross that misses
and Rua counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett looks to land a left hand but Rua moved out of range nicely.
Bennett throws a hook but Rua avoids it easily.
Rua blocks a low kick nicely.
Bennett misses with a low kick.
Bennett throws a leg kick
and Rua counters with a right hand to the body.
Bennett throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch but Bennett swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Rua lands a leg kick that knocks Bennett off balance momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bennett tries to land a leg kick but Rua saw it coming and moves away.
Bennett misses with a low kick.
Rua tried to score with a low kick but Bennett checks it.
Rua tries to clinch up.
A punch lands to the side of Bennett 's head but he takes it in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bennett.
A lazy left from Bennett finds it's target.
Bennett lands with a nice body punch.
Bennett jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Rua instigates a clinch.
Bennett is trying to break the clinch but Rua has him pressed against the cage.
Bennett trying to stall but Rua improves his position.
Bennett wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Rua has him pressed against the cage.

Rua breaks the clinch.
Rua slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Bennett goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Rua thows a body shot but no joy.
A thudding body kick lands there by Rua!
Rua throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rua tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rua on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
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!
A low kick from Bennett misses
and Rua counters with a leg kick.
Bennett just misses with a punch to the body.
Rua tries to clinch but Bennett is having none of it.
Rua slips a straight right by Bennett.
Bennett throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Bennett misses with a looping left.
Rua scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Bennett doesn't seem bothered though.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua throws a leg kick that misses.
Bennett fails with a takedown attempt.
Bennett misses with an uppercut
and Rua counters with a nice low kick that buckles Bennett's knee momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Erik Bennett will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rua slips a straight right by Bennett.

Rua has managed to clinch.
Bennett wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bennett is trying to force a seperation but Rua has the dominant position.

Rua breaks from the clinch.
A big right from Bennett misses.
Bennett takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bennett throws a solid leg kick but Rua takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Bennett.
Bennett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rua.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bennett moves away.
Bennett misses with a left hand
and Rua counters with a straight right hand.
Rua scores with a jab to the body.
Rua attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
A jab from Bennett misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua throws a body punch but Bennett moves out of range.
Rua lands with an uppercut that bounces Bennett off the cage and back into range.
Rua is looking to slow Bennett down with leg kicks.
Bennett staying out of range there.
Bennett tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Bennett throws a leg kick but Rua moved away.
Bennett works Rua's body with a nice hook.
Bennett misses the jab.
Rua misses with a wild body shot.
Rua lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bennett's sensitive parts.
Bennett missing with a left hand there. Rua was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rua dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bennett. That did some damage!
Bennett keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rua.
Some wild striking there from Bennett.
Bennett throws a leg kick
and Rua counters with a straight right hand.
Bennett lands a body shot.
Bennett attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Bennett misses with a low kick.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bennett throws a low kick but Rua moves out of range easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bennett fails with a takedown attempt.

Rua clinches up with Bennett and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

It looks like Erik Bennett has been cut.
Rua keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bennett's efforts to push away.

Rua breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rua misses with a kick to the body.
Rua takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Bennett gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rua avoids the body shot from Bennett.
Bennett shoots in but no luck this time.
Erik Bennett seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Bennett tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rua was well out of range. Poor timing from Bennett.
Rua checks a low kick from Bennett.
Some bone on bone action there as Bennett checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Bennett lands a head shot.
Bennett's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Rua uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bennett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rua. Bennett does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bennett lands a body shot.
Rua throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bennett misses with a low kick.
Bennett throws a leg kick
and Rua counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua takes a swing at Bennett's ribcage but misses.
Bennett walks into a straight right hand from Rua.
Rua keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bennett.
Rua looks to throw the jab but Bennett is out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Rua displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bennett throws out the jab.
Rua staying out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Erik Bennett just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Erik Bennett's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rua misses with a body shot.
Bennett checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Rua ducks right into an uppercut from Bennett.
Rua takes one to the side of the head.
Rua throws a head kick that misses.
Bennett throws a low kick but Rua avoids it.
Bennett ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Rua ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A big left from Bennett misses.
Rua is looking to wear down Bennett with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Bennett ducks under a wild hook from Rua.
Rua misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bennett.
Bennett punishes Rua's body with a nice straight punch.
Bennett avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bennett.
Bennett fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rua on the side of the head.
Bennett scores with a jab. Rua acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Bennett throws a front kick aimed at Rua's knee but Rua avoids it well.
Bennett misses with a straight left.
Bennett fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rua checks it well.
Bennett throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bennett throws a leg kick but Rua moved away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bennett. Rua does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rua moves away from the strike by Bennett.
Bennett shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Rua is looking to clinch but Bennett is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua digs a good hook to Bennett's body.
Bennett lands a jab to the head.
Rua tries to clinch but Bennett is having none of it.
Bennett throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Bennett misses with a looping right.
Bennett avoids the body shot from Rua.
Bennett fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rua manages to avoid it.
Rua throws a head kick that half lands.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rua uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bennett.
Rua just misses with a punch to the body.
Bennett throws a jab when Rua was well out of range.
Rua keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bennett.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a body punch but Bennett moves out of range.
Rua bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bennett blocks a head kick by Rua.
Bennett tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rua was well out of range. Poor timing from Bennett.
The fighters circling - Bennett throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rua connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rua lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bennett at a distance.
Bennett fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rua checks it well.
Bennett tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rua sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bennett somewhat.
Rua fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Bennett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Rua.
Rua lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A slapping leg kick lands for Bennett.
Bennett avoids the body shot from Rua.
A big right from Bennett misses.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bennett moves away.
Rua tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bennett swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rua connects with a good right hand that stumbles Bennett. Bennett circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Rua uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bennett.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua throws a leg kick which misses Bennett's front leg but catches the back leg as Bennett tries to avoid it.
Rua keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bennett.
Bennett on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close fourth round but Erik Bennett will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Erik Bennett's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bennett keeps the fight on the outside.
Bennett keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

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

Bennett pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rua looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rua ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bennett misses with a jab to the body
and Rua counters with a low kick, right behind Bennett 's knee.
Rua throws a shot from downtown. Bennett moves away and avoids it.
Rua scores with a spinning back kick!
Bennett misses with a body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rua. Bennett does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bennett lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Bennett throws a jab but it's blocked by Rua.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rua scores with a decent looking hook.
Bennett throws a solid leg kick but Rua takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Bennett.
Bennett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rua.
Rua misses with an uppercut
and Bennett connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bennett throws a hook but Rua avoids it easily.
Bennett takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Rua tries to land a leg kick but Bennett saw it coming and moves away.
Rua misses with a body shot.
Rua wants to clinch.
Rua throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Bennett to counter with a crisp jab.
Rua is looking to chop away at Bennett's legs.
Bennett pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Gabriel Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua ducks under a wild hook from Bennett.
Bennett throws a looping overhand right but Rua ducks down to avoid it.
Rua throws a jab but it's blocked by Bennett.
Bennett throws a leg kick that misses.
Bennett with a nice cross.
Rua tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bennett thows a left - swing and a miss!
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!
Rua throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rua keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Rua takes a jab right on the kisser.
Bennett misses with a low kick.
Rua moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a sloppy head kick and Bennett moves out of range easily.
Bennett wants to slow Rua down by chopping away at his legs.
A leg kick checked by Rua.
Bennett tries to score with a low kick but Rua moves his leg out of the way.
Bennett swings for the body but Rua moves out of range.
Rua takes a jab right on the kisser.
A big left from Bennett misses.
Rua slips a straight right by Bennett.
Bennett thuds his right hand into Rua's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Bennett misses the shot to the body.
Rua tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bennett was well out of range. Poor timing from Rua.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Erik Bennett is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
A cross from Bennett lands.
Rua throws a body punch but Bennett moves out of range.
Bennett misses with a body kick.
Bennett misses with a series of wild punches.
Bennett blocks a leg kick.
Rua lands with a cross.
A jab from Rua misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bennett throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rua misses with a looping right.
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!
Rua keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Erik Bennett.
I've got Bennett winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 45:50
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 46:49
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 47:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erik Bennett!
Erik Bennett thanked the fans post fight for their support.