PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Bernard Benton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Trager (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benton kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is N.W.A - Straight Outta Compton. Trager has chosen Run This Town as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Benton
vs
Trager

180 cm
26
158 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

170 cm
32
155 lbs
12 - 3 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

//buriedALIVE// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Bernard Benton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alex Trager!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Benton gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Trager told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Benton lands a left hand that snaps the head of Trager backwards.
Trager is looking for a takedown.
Benton looking to slow down the pace here.

Trager manages to break the clinch.
Benton misses with a hook. Trager ducked under it nicely.
Trager dives in for a single leg takedown but Benton sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Trager wants to take the fight to the mat but Benton manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Bernard Benton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Trager.
Benton makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Benton stalling in the clinch but Trager improves position.
Benton effectively controlling the action here.
Trager tries a body shot but Benton blocks it.
Trager goes for a takedown attempt but Benton pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Benton with a poor takedown
and Trager counters with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Benton gets caught napping as Trager dives in and scores a takedown. Benton manages to retain guard.
Benton has his hands on Trager's head, controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Trager working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Benton wants to stand but Trager is controlling the position.
Trager is looking to work some ground and pound but Benton has wrist control.
Benton not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Trager is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Trager is looking to advance position but Benton has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Benton prevents Trager from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton looking to finish Trager with some ground and pound. This is bad for Trager!
Benton putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Trager sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benton seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Benton is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Benton is keen to just control but Trager is a slippery customer.
Benton thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nice strikes from Benton there.
Benton not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Trager pushes Benton off looking to stand but Benton dives back in and keeps control.
Trager works his way to full guard. Good work.

Trager is looking for a triangle but Benton pushes his legs off easily.
Trager keeping moving, preventing Benton from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Trager looking for a guillotine here but Benton defends easily.
Trager working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Benton.

Trager is looking for a triangle but Benton pushes his legs off easily.

Trager is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Trager wants to hit a switch here but Benton passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Trager there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trager is working to get back to half guard.
Benton content just to control the position here.
Trager is working to get back to half guard.
Benton with a couple of short strikes.
Trager is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benton controlling the position easily from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Trager is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alex Trager will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Benton pulls out of a head kick attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Trager.
Trager ducks under a wild hook from Benton.
Benton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Trager shoots in but Benton avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Benton connects with a jab.
Benton lands a head kick!
A head kick misses from Benton.
Trager shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Benton counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Bernard Benton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Trager.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Trager.

Benton drives through with a takedown into guard.
Benton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Trager works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Benton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Trager looking to hit a scissor sweep but Benton is one step ahead there.

Trager has his foot on Benton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Benton works his way back into a safe position though.

Trager looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Benton postures up in Trager's guard and throws a big left but Trager blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trager can't keep his opponent in guard - Benton advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Benton is trying to control the action in half guard but Trager is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benton winds up and cracks Trager with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Trager actively working from the bottom here.

Trager actively working from the bottom here.
Benton is trying to control. Trager wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Benton drops an elbow to the side of Trager's head.
Trager is refusing to be controlled, as Benton sits in half guard.

Trager looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Trager is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Benton pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Trager looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Benton slows the pace down in half guard.
Alex Trager has got the better of the ground game so far.

Trager is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Benton pulls his head out easily.
Trager missing with punches from the bottom.
Benton thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Trager won't allow Benton to pass to mount.
Benton looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Trager with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Trager regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Trager looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Benton passes into half guard.
Benton thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Trager blocking the ground and pound attempt from Benton.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Benton lands a nice short elbow.
Trager wants to improve his position but Benton is controlling well.
Well, if Benton is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Trager pushes Benton off but Benton dives into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Trager is looking to get back to his feet here but Benton is keeping cool and he's managed to take Trager's back.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bernard Benton dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Trager fails with a takedown attempt.
Benton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Benton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Trager paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Alex Trager is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Benton throws the left hand but Trager avoids the punch easily.
Benton throws the kick towards the body but Trager avoids it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benton connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Benton misses with an uppercut. Trager saw that one coming.

Benton takes the fight into the clinch.
Benton swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right hand to the body from Benton.
Benton misses with a body punch.
Trager can't get the takedown.
Benton holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Benton lands with a light punch inside.
Benton scores with a hook to the body.
Benton will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Trager up against the cage.
Benton takes a shot to the head.
Trager wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Benton has him pressed against the cage.
Benton is trying to maintain a safe position but Trager gets an underhook and turns Benton into the cage.
Trager has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Benton after a bit of a struggle.
Bernard Benton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Trager.
Trager can't get the takedown.
Benton swings wildly with an uppercut but Trager uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton taking a breather.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Trager.
Benton taking a breather.
Benton is pressed up against the cage. Trager has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Benton down to the mat. Benton avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bernard Benton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Trager with a lazy takedown attempt
and Benton counters with a nice body shot.
Benton dips to his left and cracks Trager with an uppercut!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benton connects with a nice looking jab.
Benton throws a sloppy head kick and Trager moves out of range easily.
Benton wants to clinch
and Trager cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Benton moves into the clinch.
Trager tries to score a body lock takedown but Benton shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trager goes for a takedown in the clinch but Benton prevents it.

Trager manages to pull guard.
Trager looking for a sweep. Not yet Trager, not yet.

Trager looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Trager takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Benton is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Benton is in close to Trager's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Benton seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Benton throwing strikes but missing.
Benton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Trager is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trager keeping moving, preventing Benton from controlling successfully.

Benton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Trager has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Benton has managed to get both his arms back between Trager's legs - danger averted.
Benton postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Trager has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Benton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benton tries to free his leg and advance position but Trager is retaining full guard.
Trager manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benton wants to control but Trager is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bernard Benton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Benton has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 30:28
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bernard Benton!
A relieved looking Bernard Benton thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.