PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dan Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brian Serrano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benson comes to the cage accompanied by Mobb Deep - Shook Ones. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Benson
vs
Serrano

180 cm
29
200 lbs
14 - 8 - 0

190 cm
35
198 lbs
12 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

Powerful takedowns
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed

Sparta Fightware

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dan Benson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 15 - 0, fighting out of New York, Brian Serrano!
The judges for this bout are Eddie Farnsworth, Joseph Jones and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Serrano displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Benson.
Serrano fails in his attempt to clinch.
Serrano fails in his attempt to clinch.

Benson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Serrano!
Serrano is trying to control Benson's posture but Benson avoids it.
Benson remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Serrano pushes Benson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Benson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson taking a breather here.
Serrano is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Benson has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Serrano bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Benson scores with a crisp jab that stopped Serrano in his tracks.
Serrano fails in his attempt to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Serrano.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benson feints and as Serrano raises his hands in defense, Benson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Serrano is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Serrano trying to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Serrano wants to get back to his feet but Benson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Serrano controls Benson momentarily but Benson frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Brian Serrano hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Serrano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Nice takedown defense from Serrano. No joy for Benson on that attempt.

Serrano rushes Benson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Benson wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Benson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Serrano manages to break the clinch.

Serrano pushes Benson up against the cage in a clinch.
Serrano lands a damaging elbow.
Serrano lands a nice knee to the body.
Serrano lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Serrano lands an elbow inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Serrano pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Benson tries for a takedown but Serrano sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Benson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Serrano is fending him off so far but Benson persists. Nope, Serrano circles away and we're back to standing.
Serrano wants to clinch up but Benson keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Serrano but Serrano pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Benson is breathing heavily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Serrano looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Serrano has managed to clinch.
Serrano using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Benson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Benson blocks an elbow strike from Serrano.
A knee to the head by Serrano.
Benson can't get the takedown.
Serrano tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Serrano comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Serrano missing with knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Benson wants a takedown but no success here.
Serrano with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Serrano dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Serrano thumps Benson with a low kick.

Benson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Serrano looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Benson preventing the sweep.
Serrano is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Serrano tries to stand and escape but Benson is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson is trying to stand.
Serrano working the head and body with strikes.

Serrano is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Serrano thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Serrano wants to stand but Benson has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Serrano looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Benson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Serrano is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Benson wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Serrano is working for a kimura but Benson is defending it quite comfortably.
Serrano tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Benson.
Serrano stops Benson from getting back to his feet.
Serrano wants to stand but Benson has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Serrano is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Serrano is trying to work for a kimura but Benson is defending well.
Serrano missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Serrano is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Benson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Serrano tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Benson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benson is defending against the submission attempts here by Serrano.
Benson tries to kick Serrano off but Serrano keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Serrano throwing shots but Benson is blocking nicely.

Serrano is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Benson doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Serrano.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Serrano wants to stand up but Benson is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brian Serrano showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Benson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Serrano stalks Benson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Benson's face. Benson staggers backwards, shaken.
Serrano slaps away a takedown attempt from Benson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Benson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Benson fails with a takedown attempt.
Serrano tries a head kick but it misses.
Serrano tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice takedown defense from Serrano. No joy for Benson on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dan Benson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benson closes the distance and clinches up with Serrano, looking for a takedown. Benson pushes Serrano against the cage but Serrano circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A combination from Serrano does no damage.
Benson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Benson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Benson swinging wildly here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Serrano moves in looking to clinch but Benson pushes him off.
Benson throws a big shot that misses.
Serrano doesn't manage to clinch there - Benson circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson circles away from the clinch attempt
and Benson counters with a stiff right hand.
Serrano throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Serrano gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Serrano gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Benson.
Serrano throws a punch but it's blocked by Benson.
Benson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Serrano is defending well.

Serrano escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Serrano moves in looking to clinch but Benson pushes him off.
Serrano tries to clinch up but Benson circles away and keeps his distance.
Serrano tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Benson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
The fighters circle momentarily. Benson darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Serrano 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.
Serrano is looking to clinch but Benson is avoiding it.

Benson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Serrano was covering up waiting for the punch and Benson finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Brian Serrano has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Serrano looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Benson controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Benson throwing strikes from guard but Serrano blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dan Benson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Benson pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Serrano back to the cage. Benson follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Brian Serrano seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Benson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Serrano cracks Benson with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Benson looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Serrano finish him?
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Left hook, right uppercut from Benson.
Dan Benson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Serrano is fending him off so far but Benson persists. Nope, Serrano circles away and we're back to standing.

Serrano instigates a clinch.
Serrano scores with a knee to the head.

Benson is rocked!
Serrano lands a big knee! That's hurt Benson! Oh, he's all over the place! Serrano lands another knee that sends Benson to the floor and the referee steps in to end the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Brian Serrano!
A relieved looking Brian Serrano thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.