PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fahad Al Qarni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grant Benton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Al Qarni comes to the cage accompanied by Hells Bells. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Al Qarni
vs
Benton

180 cm
26
187 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

180 cm
34
185 lbs
15 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Four Aces Nutrition
Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Fahad Al Qarni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grant Benton!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benton tries to close the distance and clinch but Al Qarni swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Al Qarni throws a right hand that Benton ducks under and follows up with a left that Benton also avoids with ease.
Al Qarni misses with a straight right.
As Al Qarni backs off Benton throws a huge counter combo but Al Qarni manages to avoid it all.
Al Qarni misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Al Qarni misses with a two punch combination.
Benton clobbers Al Qarni with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Benton moves into the clinch.
Al Qarni keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Benton's efforts to push away.

Benton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Benton takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.

Benton clinches.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Benton has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Benton lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Al Qarni or not.
Al Qarni is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Benton misses with a body punch.
Al Qarni throws a head punch that misses.
Benton blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Al Qarni's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A nice combination there by Benton.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Qarni lands a jab.
Al Qarni throws a hook to the side of Benton's head but Benton sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Al Qarni misses with a series of wild punches.
A little jabbing left from Benton on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Benton shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Al Qarni eats them both and turns towards Benton to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Benton waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Al Qarni.
Al Qarni throws out a powerful jab.
Benton scores with a jab. Al Qarni acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
A combination from Al Qarni does no damage.
A little jabbing left from Benton on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Benton displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Al Qarni throws out the jab.
Al Qarni takes a swing at Benton's ribcage but misses.
Benton swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Benton lands with a straight right. Al Qarni didn't see that one coming.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Al Qarni looks to land a right hand but Benton moved out of range.
Al Qarni throws a one two combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton throws a shot from downtown. Al Qarni moves away and avoids it.
Benton tries to move into range but Al Qarni moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Al Qarni rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Benton counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Benton has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Al Qarni finds it's way round the side to connect with Benton's head.
Grant Benton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Al Qarni uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Benton.
Al Qarni is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Benton.
Al Qarni scores with a crisp jab that stopped Benton in his tracks.
Benton tries to clinch up.

Benton fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Al Qarni, pushing him back against the cage.
Benton tries to work over Al Qarni's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Benton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Al Qarni keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Al Qarni throws a jab when Benton was well out of range.
Benton looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Benton walks into a left hand.
Al Qarni works the jab nicely.
Fahad Al Qarni seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benton stuffs the takedown attempt from Al Qarni. Al Qarni gets slowly back to his feet.
Benton unleashes a big counter combination but Al Qarni bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Al Qarni paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Al Qarni takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Benton moves in looking to clinch but Al Qarni pushes him off.
Benton takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Al Qarni misses with an uppercut
and Benton counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Al Qarni is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Al Qarni dives in and grabs Benton's left leg, looking for a takedown. Benton pushes down on Al Qarni's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fahad Al Qarni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benton lands a body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Al Qarni. Those never looked like landing.
Benton tries to clinch but Al Qarni moves out of range.
Al Qarni thows a left - swing and a miss!
Al Qarni throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Benton showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Al Qarni.
Al Qarni is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Benton fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Benton.
Al Qarni ducks under a wild hook from Benton.
Benton throws the left hand but Al Qarni avoids the punch easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The fight stays on the outside here - Benton looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Al Qarni missing with a left hand there. Benton was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Benton appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Al Qarni throws a right and a left that Benton avoids nicely.
Benton misses with a wild combination.
A slow jab from Al Qarni misses its intended target.

Benton has Al Qarni up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Al Qarni swings wildly with an uppercut but Benton uses good head movement to avoid it.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Benton.
Al Qarni blocking some punches.
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 Fahad Al Qarni will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Benton showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Al Qarni.
Benton throws a series of punches but Al Qarni moves out of range.
Al Qarni swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Al Qarni getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Al Qarni catches Benton with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Al Qarni keeps the fight on the outside.
Al Qarni scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Benton wants to clinch up but Al Qarni keeps it at a distance.
Al Qarni lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
A telegraphed right hand from Al Qarni misses the target.
A countering left hand to the body from Benton misses.
Al Qarni misses the jab.
Al Qarni misses with a takedown
and Al Qarni takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A combination from Benton does no damage.
Benton misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al Qarni moves into range and connects with a jab.
Al Qarni throws a looping overhand right but Benton ducks down to avoid it.
Benton looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Benton pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Al Qarni uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Benton has time to react.
Al Qarni is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Al Qarni missing with a left hand there. Benton was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Benton now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
A combination from Al Qarni does no damage.
Benton waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Al Qarni.
Al Qarni throwing a counter right hand but Benton manages to avoid it.
Benton scores with a punch to the head.
Benton tries to bum rush Al Qarni with a series of wild strikes but Al Qarni uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Al Qarni ducks right into an uppercut from Benton.
Benton keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Al Qarni.
A punch lands to the side of Benton 's head but he takes it in his stride.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benton misses with a looping left.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton misses the shot to the body.
Benton keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Al Qarni.
Benton ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Al Qarni jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Jab, jab by Al Qarni - just one landing.
Benton slips a jab and a cross from Al Qarni.
Benton looks to score with a jab to the body but Al Qarni is just out of range.
Benton uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Al Qarni has time to react.
Al Qarni scores with a jab. Benton acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Al Qarni shoots in looking for a takedown. Benton tries to sprawl out of it but Al Qarni keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Benton manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Benton is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Al Qarni with a body shot.
Benton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Al Qarni paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Benton swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al Qarni swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Benton is looking for the big counter here.
No joy there for Al Qarni, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A little jabbing left from Benton on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Benton ducks under a wild hook from Al Qarni.
Al Qarni throws an off balance right hand
and Benton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Benton moves forwards but Al Qarni connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Benton defending well as Al Qarni loads up on a big left hand.
Al Qarni throws a jab but it's blocked by Benton.
Al Qarni tries to bum rush Benton with a series of wild strikes but Benton uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Al Qarni uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A punch lands to the side of Benton 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Benton loads up on a big right hand but Al Qarni slips the punch.
Benton ducks under a wild hook from Al Qarni.
Al Qarni throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Al Qarni jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Benton ducks under a wild hook from Al Qarni.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Qarni walks into a stiff left hand from Benton.
Al Qarni throws a jab but it's blocked by Benton.
Al Qarni avoids a punch combination nicely.
Al Qarni misses with a lunging right hand
and Benton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice defenses there by Benton.
A little jabbing left from Benton on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Al Qarni shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Benton as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fahad Al Qarni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al Qarni looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Benton avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Benton gets a clinch.
Al Qarni misses with some punches.
Benton lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A short uppercut from Benton.
I was talking to Al Qarni's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Benton leaning against his opponent.
Benton lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fahad Al Qarni dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Al Qarni lands with a right hand.
Benton with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Al Qarni to score with a decent uppercut.
Nice shot by Al Qarni.
Al Qarni throws a big shot that misses.
Benton appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Al Qarni throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benton moves out of range of the strikes.
Al Qarni fails with a takedown attempt.
Al Qarni lands a two punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benton scores with a jab to the head.
Benton closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Al Qarni uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Benton.
It looked like Al Qarni was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
A right-left combo lands from Benton.
Al Qarni shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Benton pinned against the cage. Benton gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

Benton closes the distance and pushes Al Qarni back into the cage.

Al Qarni breaks the clinch.
Benton has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Al Qarni scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Al Qarni looks to land a combination. Benton sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Al Qarni throws out a powerful jab.
Al Qarni throws a left and a right that both miss
and Benton counters with a series of strikes. Al Qarni will be more careful next time no doubt.
Benton fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Al Qarni throws a jab when Benton was well out of range.
Benton takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Al Qarni shoots in and drives through. Benton sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fahad Al Qarni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Al Qarni misses with a straight right.
Al Qarni lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Benton circles away quickly and effectively.
Benton scores with a body shot.
A jab from Al Qarni misses.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Benton trying to stall but Al Qarni improves his position.
Benton lands a right hand that snaps the head of Al Qarni backwards.
Al Qarni wants to break the clinch but can't.
Benton pushes Al Qarni back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Benton lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Benton keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Al Qarni's efforts to push away.
Al Qarni misses with a short punch on the inside.
Grant Benton seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Benton working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Al Qarni on the inside.
Al Qarni has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Benton after a bit of a struggle.
Benton lands a shot to the body.

Benton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Benton throws a shot from downtown. Al Qarni moves away and avoids it.
Benton scores with a decent looking hook.
Benton moves in looking to clinch but Al Qarni pushes him off.
Al Qarni misses with a hook
enabling Benton to counter with a crisp jab.
Al Qarni shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Benton throws a body punch but Al Qarni moves out of range.
Fahad Al Qarni is winning the standup battle so far.
Benton feints a jab promting Al Qarni to slip. Benton then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Al Qarni slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

Al Qarni is rocked!
Benton slips a straight right by Al Qarni.
Benton swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Benton is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benton moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benton lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Oh Al Qarni is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A punch combination from Al Qarni misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Benton! But no joy.
Benton showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Al Qarni.
Benton swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Benton steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Al Qarni.
Al Qarni seems to have got his legs back now.
Al Qarni scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Benton scores with a jab. Al Qarni acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Fahad Al Qarni is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Al Qarni stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Benton's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Al Qarni connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Benton scrambles back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benton fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Al Qarni throws a right hand that misses

and Benton counters with a crisp one two that drops Al Qarni! Benton thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Al Qarni to his feet! Al Qarni is in big trouble!
Grant Benton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fahad Al Qarni is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Benton dodges the punch combination from Al Qarni.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grant Benton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Al Qarni has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28

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