PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kunta Kinte (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kinte's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, NATIONAL ANTHEM OF GAMBIA . Benson has chosen Mobb Deep - Shook Ones as his entrance music. Dan Benson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kinte
vs
Benson

187 cm
28
190 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

180 cm
29
200 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Sparta Fightware

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Kunta Kinte!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dan Benson!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Eddie Farnsworth and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kinte takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Kinte throws a good cross that connects.
Dan Benson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
That kick from Kinte tenderised Benson's leg. Benson is trying to keep his angry face on.
Benson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kinte stuffs the takedown.
Kinte throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Benson.
Benson connects with a body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A nice combination there by Benson.

It looks like Kunta Kinte has been cut.
Kinte scores with a crisp jab that stopped Benson in his tracks.
Benson keeps the fight on the outside.
Kinte avoids the head kick by Benson.
Nice takedown defense from Kinte. No joy for Benson on that attempt.

Benson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kinte trying to keep a closed guard but Benson is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Benson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Kinte to the ground. Benson is now in Kinte's guard.
Kinte being controlled here, momentarily.
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.
Kinte trying to keep a closed guard but Benson is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Benson shoots for a takedown but Kinte saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kunta Kinte has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Benson.
Kinte moves in looking to clinch but Benson pushes him off.
A big right from Benson misses.
Benson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kinte.
Kinte checks the leg kick.
Kinte wants to clinch but Benson slips to the side

and Benson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benson is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kinte tries to roll over but Benson keeps him under control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kinte trying to control here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Benson shoots in but Kinte avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Benson misses with a few strikes there.
Benson shoots in but Kinte avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kinte!

Benson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Benson lands in his opponent's guard.
Kinte is controlling Benson's posture.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kinte working a defensive guard but Benson passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Benson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kunta Kinte's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Benson just misses with a punch to the body.
Kinte uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Benson.
Kinte listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

Benson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kinte's half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kinte manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Benson tries to free his leg and advance position but Kinte is retaining full guard.

Kinte working for a triangle but Benson defends it easily.
Kinte can't keep his opponent in guard - Benson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson wants to control but Kinte is keeping him busy.
Kinte is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Benson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Benson's back!

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.
Kinte missing with strikes.
Benson covers up after that shot from Kinte.

Benson defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benson is trying to remain composed but Kinte is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.
Benson holding both Kinte 's hands and preventing any damage.
Kinte tries to get the hooks in deep but Benson pushed the leg off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson covering up well under a series of strikes from Kinte.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Kinte's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Dan Benson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kinte looking to hold on to the position here but Benson rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Kinte tries to free his leg and advance position but Benson is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kinte postures up and lands a big shot to Benson's brow.
Benson is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kinte loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Benson keeping moving, preventing Kinte from controlling successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kinte slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kunta Kinte dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kunta Kinte's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kinte is looking to clinch.
Kinte doesn't manage to clinch there - Benson circles away.
Benson dips to his left and cracks Kinte with an uppercut!
Benson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Benson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kunta Kinte is winning the standup battle so far.

Kinte drives through and clinches with Benson against the cage.
Kinte dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Kinte tries to work over Benson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kinte tries a body shot but Benson blocks it.
Kinte swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Benson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Kinte gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kinte misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kinte dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Kinte.
Kinte lands with a light punch inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benson.

Benson manages to break the clinch.
Benson tries for a takedown but Kinte sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kinte scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kinte is looking to clinch.
Benson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kinte moves out of range of the leg kick from Benson.

Benson feints and as Kinte raises his hands in defense, Benson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kinte wants to sweep but no luck.
Benson looking to pass the guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benson slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dan Benson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Benson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kinte pinned against the cage. Kinte gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kunta Kinte has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Benson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kinte closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Benson counter with a right hand.
Kinte tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kinte looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Benson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Benson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kinte circles away.
Kinte scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kinte closes the distance but Benson moves to the side

and Benson counters with a single leg into guard. Kinte didn't expect that.
Benson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kinte controlling Benson's posture.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kunta Kinte wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kinte uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Benson.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kinte moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Benson misses with an uppercut. Kinte saw that one coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Dan Benson just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Kunta Kinte's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Benson shoots in and bounces Kinte off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kinte pulls Benson in close to his closed guard and prevents Benson from doing any damage or advancing position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kinte is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Benson keeping moving, preventing Kinte from controlling successfully.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kinte is really struggling to control Benson but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Kunta Kinte has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kinte tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Benson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kinte scores with a sloppy right hand. Benson should have avoided that one.
Kinte moves away from the strike by Benson.

Kinte takes the fight into the clinch.
Benson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kinte tries to stall but Benson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kinte doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Benson blocking some punches.
Kinte lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kinte is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Kinte lands a left hand that snaps the head of Benson backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kinte is pushing Benson up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Kinte prevents Benson from breaking the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Kinte presses Benson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kinte lands a right hand.
Kinte prevents a takedown attempt there.
Benson is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Benson has had enough of the clinch but Kinte keeps him there for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kinte scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Benson blocks an uppercut.
Kinte leaning against his opponent.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Kinte for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Kinte scores with a shot to the side of Benson's head.
Benson is trying to break the clinch but Kinte is controlling him.
Kinte looking to slow down the pace here.
Kinte seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Benson is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Kunta Kinte.
Kinte stuffs the takedown attempt from Benson. Benson gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kunta Kinte had his way with Dan Benson in that round.
The cut man is working on Kunta Kinte's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kinte showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Benson.
Benson shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kinte misses with the combination.
Horrible takedown by Benson or perhaps it was just good defense by Kinte which made him look bad.
Benson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kinte fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kinte tries to close the distance and clinch but Benson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kinte misses with a head kick.
Kinte lands a nice leg kick that just misses Benson's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson blocks a head kick by Kinte.
Benson missing with a left hand there. Kinte was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kinte.
Benson is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
A combination from Kinte does no damage.

Benson shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Kinte is trying to defend but Benson finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kinte keeping control of the position.
Kinte slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kinte lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Benson!
Kinte sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kinte trying to control but Benson is having none of it.
Benson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kinte trying to control but Benson is having none of it.
Kinte thowing shots but they're missing.
Kinte wants to control the pace but Benson is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kunta Kinte showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kinte 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 48:47
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 48:47
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 48:47

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kunta Kinte!
Kunta Kinte retains his middleweight title!
Kunta Kinte decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.