PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sammie Day (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gianluca Bento (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Day
vs
Bento

163 cm
18
193 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

178 cm
21
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Sammie Day!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Gianluca Bento!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, James Atkins and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bento feints and as Day raises his hands in defense, Bento changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bento with a flurry of punches that miss.
Day bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bento's guard.

Bento pulls Day in to control the position.
Day stopping the sweep attempt from Bento.
Bento is looking to sweep but instead, Day has passed into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bento can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bento is controlling Day's position as best he can from this difficult position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bento wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bento is still trying to improve position.
Day not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bento is looking for a sweep. Day is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bento is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bento holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Day stuffs the takedown.

Day shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Day showed some decent athleticism there.
Day throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Day prevents Bento from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bento keeps trying to improve his position.
Bento has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Day is working away from the top position though.
Day missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bento is trying to get back to full guard.
Bento is trying to stand up here but Day is controlling him well.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Day could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Bento.

Day gets caught napping as Bento dives in and scores a takedown. Day manages to retain guard.
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.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bento stops Day from standing up.
Bento must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Day wants to sweep here but Bento controlling him for the moment.
Day throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sammie Day will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Day fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Bento shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Day pinned against the cage. Day gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Bento shoots in for a takedown but Day shows good takedown defense.
Day appears to be looking for a big counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Day stuffs the takedown.
Sammie Day has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gianluca Bento.

Day shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Day was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
I wouldn't like to be where Bento is right now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bento tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Bento parries the strikes from Day easily there. Day is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Bento to escape.
Bento tries to buck Day off but Day is having none of it.
Day working the ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bento tries to bench press Day off him but Day keeps the position.
Bento managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Day.
Bento tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Day wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sammie Day overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bento is trying to control Day's posture but Day avoids it.
Bento trying to control but Day flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Bento can't escape the position.
Bento trying to control the action but Day just sinks the hooks in.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bento is in bad spot here.
Bento is breathing heavily.
Day avoiding Bento 's attempts to control his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Bento tries to break free.
Bento trying to control the hands but Day breaks the grip.
Bento rolls, trying to escape but Day keeps control of the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bento trying to control but not successfully.
Bento has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Day.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sammie Day dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Day changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bento looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bento manages to get back to half guard.
Bento works his way to full guard. Good work.
Bento has control of Day's left arm, preventing Day from doing any damage.
Day trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Day throws a strike but Bento rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Bento tries to free his leg and advance position but Day is retaining full guard.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Bento working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bento cracks Day with a solid left hand.

Bento drops back looking for a leg! Day is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Day manages to kick Bento off! Bento jumps back into Day's guard.
Bento takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Day lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bento is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bento looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Day puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Bento slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bento lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Day has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bento can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Day looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bento works over Day with some ground and pound from guard.
Bento is looking to pass into half guard but Day pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Day is in guard.

Day stopping the sweep attempt from Bento.
Day working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Day postures up in Bento's guard and throws a big left but Bento blocks it.
Bento wants to sweep but no luck.
Day scoring with punches to the head and body.
Day throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bento looking to hit a scissor sweep but Day is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Day missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Day preventing the sweep.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Gianluca Bento has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bento fails with the takedown.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bento throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Bento just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromDay.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sammie Day showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Day 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27
Judge William Gold scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sammie Day!
Gianluca Bento spoke after the fight, saying 'I will come back stronger and more focused, that is the way of the warrior.'.