PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Cyrus Benton (ranked 6708 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryne Wood (ranked 6035 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryne Wood will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Benton
vs
Wood

158 cm
24
194 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Cyrus Benton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryne Wood!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Dean Styles and Columbo Gatti.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benton displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Wood.
As Wood tries to get set, Benton tries to push him back and clinch up but Wood manages to avoid the attempt.

Wood gets tackled into the cage by Benton. Benton maintains the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Wood - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Wood misses with an elbow over the top.

Wood jumps into guard, dragging Benton to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benton won't allow Wood to sweep him here.
Wood avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Wood looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton throwing strikes but missing.
Wood wants to sweep here but Benton controlling him for the moment.
Wood working a defensive guard here.
Benton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Benton postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Benton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Benton is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Wood looking for a guillotine here but Benton defends easily.
Benton connects with a couple of short punches.
Benton lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wood looking for a guillotine here but Benton defends easily.
Benton scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Benton could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Benton in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Benton is working Wood over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Benton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wood works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Benton throws a strike but Wood rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Benton has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wood can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Benton is looking to stand up but Wood isn't so interested in that idea.
Benton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Benton is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Wood has managed to free his arm - good work.
Benton looks to land a strike but Wood avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Wood is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Benton defends well.

Wood looking for a guillotine here but Benton defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benton postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wood working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Benton.

Wood looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Wood is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Wood is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Benton is trying to stand back up but Wood is controlling him
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Wood is trying to control the action in half guard but Benton is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Wood trying to control from Benton's half guard. Benton has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Wood must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Benton has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Wood has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cyrus Benton dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Wood shoots for a double leg takedown but Benton sprawls well. He's pushed Wood's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Wood changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Benton tries to avoid it but Wood manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Benton to the ground. Benton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Wood shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Benton seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Cyrus Benton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryne Wood.

Wood has taken the fight to the clinch.
Benton is trying to pull guard but Wood turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Wood on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Benton tries to pull guard but Wood forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wood is trying to break the clinch but Benton has him pressed against the cage.

Benton pulls guard effortlessly.
Wood advances to half guard.
Benton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wood can do to turn this around?
Benton is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Wood's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Wood's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wood fending off the submission attempt from Benton.
Wood tries to escape the position.

Benton tightening his grip on Wood, looking for the choke.

Benton is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Wood has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Wood is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Benton gets his way!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Benton gets his hands free as Wood looks to control.
Wood covering up well and avoiding damage.
Wood wants to escape the position.
Good control from Benton.

Benton is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Wood has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Benton patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Benton biding his time, controlling Wood.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benton is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Wood is defending well though. Benton let's go of the attempt for now.

Benton working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Wood is trying to get back to his feet but Benton has full control of the position and if anything, Wood has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Benton struggling to land strikes to the head as Wood covers up.
Benton is hanging on to Wood's back as he tries to escape.

Wood defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wood tries to escape the position.
Wood manages to reverse the position and now he's in Benton's guard. Nice work there by Wood.
Wood looking to sit in guard and control but Benton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Benton throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benton working some strikes from top position.
Benton lands a couple of elbows.
Benton preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Benton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cyrus Benton dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Benton rushes Wood and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Benton prevents Wood from breaking the clinch.
Wood fails to pull guard.
Wood presses Benton against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Wood is trying to force a seperation but Benton has the dominant position.
Benton prevents Wood from breaking the clinch.
Wood tries to pull guard but Benton won't allow it.
Benton is working Wood over against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stalling in the clinch from Benton.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Wood is trying to break the clinch but Benton has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wood wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Wood tries for a takedown. No joy.
Cyrus Benton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryne Wood.
Wood is pressed up against the cage. Benton has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Wood down to the mat. Wood avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Wood fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Benton, pushing him back against the cage.
Wood has Benton pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Benton manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Benton wants the takedown. Wood is fighting it off but Benton persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Wood's guard against the cage.

Wood had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Benton defends it easily.
Wood takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Benton working some strikes from top position.
Wood utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Cyrus Benton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Benton working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Wood is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Benton throws a big elbow that misses.
Benton postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Benton throws a strike but Wood rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Benton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Wood is aware though and is defending well.
Wood wants to control from the top but Benton keeps moving.
Benton wants to get back to his feet but Wood is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Benton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benton has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Wood off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Nice takedown defense from Benton. No joy for Wood on that attempt.
Cyrus Benton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wood fails with the takedown

and Benton counters by clinching up.
Benton connects with a knee to the head.
Stalling in the clinch from Benton.
Wood looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Benton has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Wood avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Benton fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benton pulls Wood into guard.
Benton is looking to stand up but Wood isn't so interested in that idea.
Benton keeping moving, preventing Wood from controlling successfully.
Benton wants to stand and escape but Wood is having none of it.
Benton has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Wood stands up and waves to Benton to follow him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Wood shoots in but Benton avoids the takedown attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cyrus 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cyrus Benton!