PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jacinto Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Old Dawg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Benson
vs
Dawg

153 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
18
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Jacinto Benson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Old Dawg!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Roger Salmon and Ryoma Takatsuka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dawg is looking to land body kicks.
Benson tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Dawg counters by clinching up.
Benson is trying to drag Dawg to the mat but Dawg just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Dawg stalls.
Benson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Dawg jumps guard but Benson stands there with Dawg around his waist. Dawg gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Benson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Benson tries to pull guard but Dawg forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacinto Benson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benson jumps guard but Dawg stands there with Benson around his waist. Benson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Dawg successfully pulls guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Dawg keeping moving, preventing Benson from controlling successfully.

Dawg has his foot on Benson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Benson works his way back into a safe position though.
Dawg has a closed guard, preventing Benson from standing up.
Dawg looking for a sweep. Not yet Dawg, not yet.

Dawg is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Dawg keeping moving, preventing Benson from controlling successfully.
Benson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Dawg is looking for a triangle here but Benson uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson trying to control the position but Dawg is working away.
Benson advances to mount.
Dawg tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Benson sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Dawg regains half guard.
Benson wants to stand up but Dawg has a hold of him and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson controlling the action here.
Dawg regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dawg wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benson is fighting to break Dawg's control of his arms but Dawg is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

Dawg looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Benson passes into side control.

Benson is trying to get an arm triangle but Dawg is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Dawg's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Dawg tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benson working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Old Dawg will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A head kick misses from Dawg.
Dawg misses with an attempted mid kick.
Benson tries for a takedown but Dawg sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Jacinto Benson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dawg fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Dawg shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Benson but Benson pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Dawg stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dawg wants it to stay on the feet.
A combination from Benson does no damage.
Dawg tries to clinch but Benson is having none of it.
Benson shoots in for a takedown but Dawg shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jacinto Benson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benson shoots in for a takedown but Dawg shows good takedown defense.
Benson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dawg defends it nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dawg changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Benson tries to avoid it but Dawg manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Benson to the ground. Benson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dawg fails with a takedown attempt.
Dawg tries to clinch there but Benson circles away.
Benson shoots in for a takedown but Dawg shows good takedown defense.
Dawg misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dawg misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dawg tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Benson swivels and escapes.
Benson shoots in but no luck this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson darts in looking for a takedown but Dawg gets double underhooks and turns Benson into the cage.

Dawg breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Benson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Dawg pinned against the cage. Dawg gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Benson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dawg.
Benson throws a right hand that Dawg ducks under and follows up with a left that Dawg also avoids with ease.
Benson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Dawg has a takedown stuffed.
Dawg slaps away a takedown attempt from Benson, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dawg shoots in looking for a takedown but Benson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Dawg's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nice sprawl there from Dawg as Benson shoots in.
Left hook, right uppercut from Dawg.
Dawg is looking to land body kicks.
Dawg misses with a double jab.
Benson shoots for a double leg takedown but Dawg sprawls well. He's pushed Benson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Benson takes the fight into the clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Dawg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson has Dawg pushed against the cage.
Dawg is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Benson is defending well.
The referee calls for Benson to work.
Benson missing with knees to the body.
Benson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Dawg with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dawg is trying to pull guard but Benson has him pressed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Old Dawg will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Dawg dives in and grabs Benson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Benson pushes down on Dawg's head and hops out.
Dawg shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Benson but Benson pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Dawg has closed the distance and engaged Benson in a clinch.
Benson wants to take the fight to the mat but Dawg manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Benson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Benson.
Dawg misses with a combination

and Benson holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Dawg takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Benson is pushing Dawg up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Dawg has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Benson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jacinto Benson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Old Dawg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson tries to land a knee to the head but Dawg blocks with his arms.
Benson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Dawg fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Dawg stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dawg wants it to stay on the feet.
Dawg shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Benson defends it nicely.
Benson wants to clinch.
Dawg tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Benson swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dawg stuffs the takedown.
Benson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Benson wants it to stay on the feet.
Dawg stuffs the takedown.
Dawg showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Benson.
Old Dawg seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Benson misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dawg is defended easily by Benson.
Dawg will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dawg fails with the takedown.

Benson moves into the clinch.

Benson breaks the clinch.
Dawg changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Benson tries to avoid it but Dawg manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Benson to the ground. Benson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A combination from Benson does no damage.
Nice takedown defense from Dawg. No joy for Benson on that attempt.
Dawg looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Benson tries for a takedown but Dawg sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dawg pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Benson keeps the fight on the outside.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Dawg.
Dawg goes for a double leg but Benson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Benson continues to drive forward.
Benson struggles to land a body shot inside as Dawg controls his hands.
Benson looking for a takedown.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dawg tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Benson prevents Dawg from breaking the clinch.
Jacinto Benson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Old Dawg is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Dawg blocks a body shot from Benson.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jacinto Benson.
I think Dawg has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Josh West scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Old Dawg!