PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Grant Benton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Spencer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Benton
vs
Spencer

180 cm
24
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
19
171 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Granite 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 Los Angeles, Grant Benton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Joe Spencer!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benton throws a shot from downtown. Spencer moves away and avoids it.
Spencer slips under a jab.
Benton scores with a hook to the body. Spencer takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
A swing and a miss from Benton.
Spencer misses with a body kick.
Spencer thows a body shot but no joy.
Sloppy strikes from Benton. Those never looked like landing.
Benton throws a nice looking combination but Spencer bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Benton misses with a two punch combination.
No joy there for Benton, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
The fighters circling - Benton throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Benton throws a hook but Spencer blocks it.
Benton misses with a right hand
and Spencer counters with a nice kick to the body.

Spencer changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Benton looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Spencer misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Benton is trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spencer scoring with punches and elbows.
Benton is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Spencer has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Spencer landing strikes.
Spencer lands an elbow.
Spencer scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Benton to see if he's OK.
Spencer works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Spencer connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Benton some visible discomfort.
Benton is breathing heavily.
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!
An elbow from Spencer crashes against the mat.
Spencer throws a strike aimed at the side of Benton's head but Benton avoids it well.
Benton is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spencer lands a decent elbow from side control.
Spencer grinds an elbow into Benton's temple.
Spencer works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Check out the look on Spencer's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Spencer lands a nice forearm strike.
Spencer lands a nice forearm strike.
Benton regains half guard there - taking advantage of Spencer's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Spencer trying to control from Benton's half guard. Benton has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Spencer is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spencer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benton is keeping the position for now.
Spencer landing some decent shots from guard.
Spencer working some strikes from top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Spencer's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Spencer with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Spencer tries to free his leg and advance position but Benton is retaining full guard.
Spencer slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Spencer landing with the ground and pound.
Spencer landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benton wants to get back to his feet but Spencer is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Spencer postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Spencer lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Spencer is working Benton over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Spencer looking to pass the guard.
Spencer postures up in Benton's guard and throws a big left but Benton blocks it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Spencer won't allow Benton to get back to his feet.
Benton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Benton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Spencer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Spencer dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Benton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Spencer blocks a jab.
Benton misses with a looping right.
Spencer showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Benton.

Spencer moves into range and clinches up with Benton.
Spencer throws a head punch that misses.
Benton lands with a left to the head.
Benton has a couple of punches blocked by Spencer.
Benton fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Spencer gets through Benton's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Benton scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Spencer blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Benton.
Benton is trying to force a seperation but Spencer has the dominant position.
Spencer is looking to take this one to the mat.
Benton wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Spencer just leaning against Benton, taking a breather.
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!
Benton tries to break free but Spencer pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Spencer has him pressed against the cage.
Spencer is stalling here.
Spencer blocks an uppercut.
Spencer is struggling to control the position.
Benton lands an uppercut.
Spencer tries to pull guard but Benton forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Spencer is working for takedown but Benton is calmly controlling the position for now.
Grant Benton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Spencer.
Benton wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Spencer has him pressed against the cage.
Spencer keeps control of Benton as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Benton working hard to break the clinch.
Spencer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Spencer fails to pull guard.
Spencer controlling the action here for a moment.
Benton lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Spencer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton is trying to break free.
Benton throws a punch but it's blocked by Spencer.
Spencer jumps guard but Benton stands there with Spencer around his waist. Spencer gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Spencer lands a good knee to the midsection. Benton won't want to take too many of those.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Spencer keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Benton's efforts to push away.
Benton is looking to break free of the clinch but Spencer has double underhooks.

Spencer jumps guard and drags Benton to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Spencer is trying to control the position but Benton postures up.
Spencer is looking to stand up but Benton isn't so interested in that idea.
Benton wants to stand but Spencer has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spencer striking from his own guard.
Spencer not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Benton is looking to stand up but Spencer won't let him.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Spencer is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Joe Spencer hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Benton swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Grant Benton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Benton throws a hook but Spencer avoids it easily.
Benton misses with a straight right.

Spencer closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Benton to the mat! Benton manages to get full guard.
Spencer working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Spencer accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Spencer is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Benton wants to stand but Spencer is controlling the position.
Benton has momentary wrist control but Spencer slips an elbow through the middle.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benton wants to stand but Spencer is controlling the position.
Spencer wants to control from the top but Benton keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joe Spencer will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Spencer clinches with his opponent.
Spencer gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Spencer stalling in the clinch.

Benton is fighting off a takedown attempt but Spencer is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Benton to the mat. Benton regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Benton wants to get back to his feet but Spencer is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Spencer trying to control the position from guard on top but Benton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benton wants to stand up but Spencer is controlling him.
Spencer looking to sit in guard and control but Benton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Joe Spencer has got the better of the ground game so far.
Benton trying to stand up but can't free himself from Spencer's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton stopping the sweep attempt from Spencer.

Benton gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Grant Benton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Spencer darts in and clinches Benton up against the cage.
Benton pushes Spencer back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Benton is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Spencer tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Spencer has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Benton is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Grant Benton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joe Spencer.
Spencer misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Spencer has Benton pressed against the cage.
Grant Benton has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Spencer is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Benton gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Spencer stalling in the clinch but Benton improves position.
Benton stops a takedown attempt from Spencer.
Spencer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Spencer lands a knee to the body.
Spencer tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Benton just stands there and leans against the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benton wants to break the clinch but can't.
Benton lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Spencer trying to land knees to the body.
Benton is trying to break the clinch but Spencer is controlling him.
Benton tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Spencer tries a body shot but Benton blocks it.
Benton fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Benton misses with the head strike.
A short left from Benton.
Spencer slowing the pace effectively.
Spencer is trying to pull guard but Benton turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Benton fails to land.
Spencer tries to pull guard but Benton holds him up against the cage and eventually Spencer drops back down to his feet.
Spencer has Benton pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Benton manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Spencer jumps guard but Benton stands there with Spencer around his waist. Spencer gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Benton wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Spencer taking a breather.
Spencer looking to slow down the pace here.
Spencer stalling the fight.
Benton wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Spencer lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Benton is trying to stand.
Benton 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.
Spencer is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spencer throwing shots but Benton is blocking nicely.
Benton tries to kick Spencer off but Spencer keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Spencer lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Joe Spencer is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Benton tries to kick Spencer off but Spencer keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Spencer wants to take a breather but Benton is having none of it.
Grant Benton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Benton looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Spencer comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Spencer 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 27:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Spencer!
A very excited looking Joe Spencer made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.