PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ben Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gleison Maldonado (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Benson
vs
Maldonado

195 cm
27
285 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

188 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Intelligent

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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ben Benson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gleison Maldonado!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Roger Salmon and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benson throws a leg kick but Maldonado sees it coming and moves out of range.
Benson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Benson tries for a takedown but Maldonado sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A lazy left from Maldonado finds it's target.
Ben Benson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Benson shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Maldonado's guard.
Maldonado controls Benson momentarily but Benson frees himself.
Benson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Maldonado wants to sweep here but Benson controlling him for the moment.
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!
Maldonado looking to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Gleison Maldonado.
Nice shot lands for Maldonado.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson moves in looking to clinch but Maldonado pushes him off.
Maldonado cracks a nice hook into Benson's ribs.
Maldonado slaps away a takedown attempt from Benson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Benson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Maldonado thuds a left hand into Benson's body.
Maldonado buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A jab lands there for Maldonado.
Benson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Maldonado scores with a hook to the body. Benson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Maldonado throws a series of strikes that have Benson backpedaling.

It looks like Ben Benson has been cut.

Oooooh!!! Maldonado has knocked Benson down with a huge combo! Maldonado steps away and waves a wobbly Benson back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Benson is rocked!
Benson is breathing heavily.
A nice leg kick lands there from Maldonado.
Benson tries to clinch up.
Maldonado throws out a leg kick but Benson moves out of range and Maldonado only half commits.
Maldonado getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson wants to clinch.
Benson misses with a takedown attempt - Maldonado sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Benson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Maldonado cracks Benson with a right hand to the side of the head.
Maldonado lands a slapping body shot.
Maldonado lands a nice shot to the body.
Benson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Maldonado lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Maldonado scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Maldonado works over Benson's head and body with a nice combination.
Maldonado misses with a low kick as Benson jumps back.
Benson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Benson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Maldonado as he avoids it easily.
Maldonado lands with a right and another and another! Benson is in big trouble! Maldonado lands again and this time it's lights out for Benson! A quality knockout there for Maldonado.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Gleison Maldonado!
An out of breath Gleison Maldonado thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.