PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Clyde Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Mason (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Bennett
vs
Mason

153 cm
18
161 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Clyde Bennett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Frank Mason!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Patrick Alders and Daniel Blasius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mason swinging wildly here.
Bennett could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Mason throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bennett's waist but Bennett gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mason off to one side.
Mason misses with a double jab.
Mason shoots in and drives through. Bennett sprawls well.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mason is defended easily by Bennett.
Clyde Bennett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Mason.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mason throws a series of punches but Bennett moves out of range.
Bennett attempts a counter takedown but Mason avoids it well and moves away.
Bennett doesn't manage to clinch there - Mason circles away.
Mason let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Mason misses with a takedown attempt - Bennett sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bennett changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Bennett tries to close the distance and clinch but Mason swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Frank Mason seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mason fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Bennett tries to counter by clinching up but Mason breaks away and moves out of range.

Mason pushes Bennett up against the cage in a clinch.
Mason misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bennett.
Bennett trying to land knees to the body.
Bennett tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason avoiding damage as Bennett throws knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Bennett obliges.
Bennett struggles to land a body shot inside as Mason controls his hands.
Mason on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bennett tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bennett tries to land knees in the clinch but Mason avoids the damage to the body.
Bennett misses with a body punch.
Bennett struggles to land a body shot inside as Mason controls his hands.
Bennett misses with a punch to the body.
Bennett leaning against his opponent.
Mason blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bennett wants to stall.
Bennett tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Mason's elbow.
Bennett taking a breather.
Mason avoiding damage as Bennett throws knees to the body.
Bennett misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Mason manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mason closes the distance and pushes Bennett back into the cage.

Mason decides to pull guard.
Mason looking for a sweep. Not yet Mason, not yet.

Mason looking for subs off his back but Bennett has passed one foot through into half guard.
Mason makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Mason.
Bennett wants to stand but Mason is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett being controlled here momentarily.

Mason is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bennett trying to stand up but can't free himself from Mason's guard.
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 Clyde Bennett will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mason moves out of range as Bennett strikes.
Mason tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bennett defends well and Mason ends up having to push Bennett into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bennett half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Mason misses with a takedown attempt

and Bennett moves into the clinch.
Bennett throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Mason blocks it with crossed arms.
Bennett leaning his opponent against the cage.
Bennett lands a body punch.
Mason tries to pull guard but Bennett holds him up against the cage and eventually Mason drops back down to his feet.
Clyde Bennett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Mason.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mason lands a body punch.

Bennett breaks the clinch.
Bennett really is built like a bowling ball. I wonder if he'd roll if you pushed him down a hill...
The fight stays on the outside here - Bennett looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mason gets a clinch.
Mason is looking to break free of the clinch but Bennett has double underhooks.
Bennett wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mason blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Bennett missing with knees to the body.
Mason changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bennett fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Bennett tries to clinch up.
Mason throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bennett's waist but Bennett gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mason off to one side.
Bennett tries to counter with a takedown but Mason is quick to defend against it.
Mason is breathing heavily.
Bennett looks to clinch
and Mason counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Clyde Bennett is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bennett defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Mason.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mason uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Mason is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mason throws a half hearted mid kick.
Bennett drops down looking for a counter takedown but Mason sprawls and moves away.
Good standup being displayed there by Mason as he connects with a hook.
Mason closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bennett circles away.
Bennett wants to clinch.
Bennett misses with a head kick.
Bennett tries to close the distance and clinch but Mason swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett leaves Mason with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mason misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bennett pushes Mason away with a front kick.
Nice sprawl there from Bennett as Mason shoots in.

Bennett clinches with his opponent.
Bennett trying to control the position but instead, Mason has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bennett into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett is pressed up against the cage. Mason has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bennett down to the mat. Bennett avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Mason tries to clinch but Bennett moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Bennett. No joy for Mason on that attempt.
Bennett tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mason fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bennett tries to close the distance and clinch up but Mason swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bennett moves out of range of the leg kick from Mason.
Bennett fails in his attempt to clinch.
Mason with a poor takedown
and Bennett counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Mason is lucky that one didn't land flush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mason avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mason tries to bum rush Bennett with a series of wild strikes but Bennett uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bennett attempts a counter takedown but Mason avoids it well and moves away.

Mason drives through and clinches with Bennett against the cage.
Mason on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Bennett tries a body shot but Mason blocks it.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Mason avoiding damage as Bennett throws knees to the body.
Bennett is looking to control Mason's arms but Mason gets an underhook and turns him. Now Bennett has his back to the cage.
Bennett misses with a hook to the ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mason slowing the pace effectively.
Bennett is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Mason pulls Bennett into guard.
Mason takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bennett has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Mason is proving hard to escape from.
Bennett might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mason working a defensive guard here.
Mason wants to control but Bennett passes easily into half guard.
Mason is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bennett's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bennett's back!
You can see the frustration on Bennett's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Mason is not going to allow Bennett to sit and survive in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mason tightening his grip on Bennett, looking for the choke.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mason not allowing Bennett to control his hands.
Bennett has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Mason.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett just trying to survive but Mason is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Mason slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
You can see the frustration on Bennett's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

Bennett defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Mason's arms.
Mason is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Mason gets his hands free as Bennett looks to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Mason trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Bennett doesn't escape.
Frank Mason has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bennett rolls, trying to escape but Mason keeps control of the position.
Bennett just trying to survive but Mason is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Mason throwing sloppy strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bennett trying to control the position but Mason manages to sink in the hooks.

Mason has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Bennett has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Frank Mason has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Clyde Bennett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mason misses with an elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Mason comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Bennett 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 Nard Betker scores the fight 29:28
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Clyde Bennett!