PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Marc Santana (ranked 23928 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ben Benton (ranked 6765 p4p, 0 weight class). Ben Benton has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Santana
vs
Benton

204 cm
19
140 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

159 cm
23
145 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Marc Santana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Benton!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Stewart Dunkirk and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Benton fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Santana, pushing him back against the cage.
Santana has Benton pressed against the cage, preventing Benton from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Santana is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Benton is defending well for now.
Benton tries to land knees in the clinch but Santana avoids the damage to the body.

Benton turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Benton manages to end up in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Benton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Benton throws an elbow but Santana slips to the side and avoids it well.
Benton creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Santana sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Santana looks to move to half guard but instead Benton has passed into mount! Damn!

Benton wants to finish this one by submission but Santana is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Benton.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benton thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Benton controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Benton on the ground.
Santana wants to hold on but Benton pushes him away.
Santana is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Benton is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Benton throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Santana because Benton loaded up on that one.
Benton thowing shots but they're missing.
Benton tries to control but Santana wriggling away.
Poor strikes thrown by Benton there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Benton should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton looking to ground and pound but Santana is blocking nicely.
Benton sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Santana tries to hold on but Benton postures up.
Benton thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Benton tries to stand up but Santana had a hold of his arm and he's managed to perform a nice reversal, into half guard.
Benton keeping hold of Santana's head, controlling as best he can.
Still in half guard, Santana seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santana stops Benton from getting back to his feet.
Benton is trying to maintain the position but Santana is very close to passing his half guard.
Benton is looking to improve his position.
Santana really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Benton is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Benton trying to control from the bottom.
Santana will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four 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 tries to kick Santana off but Santana keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Benton is doing well to control the position and prevent Santana from advancing to side control.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Benton is trying to get back to full guard.
Santana perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Santana avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Santana is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Benton's half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Benton dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Benton feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Benton forces his way into half guard.
Santana is not content to let Benton control the position.
Santana is looking for a sweep. Benton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Benton is trying to control the action in half guard but Santana is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Benton in particular looking to stall.
Santana trying to hold on to Benton's head to control him but Benton postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Santana is refusing to be controlled, as Benton sits in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Benton closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Santana quickly recovers to half guard.
Benton wants to take a breather but Santana is having none of it.
Santana is pressing down on Benton's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Benton advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton trying to control the position but Santana is working away.
Ben Benton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Santana can't do much from the bottom here.
An elbow from Benton crashes against the mat.
Benton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santana keeps working.
Santana wants to control but Benton postures up.
Santana throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Benton wants to stand but Santana has his arm trapped.
Benton wants to lay and pray for a moment but Santana keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benton is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Santana is trying to escape and Benton transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Santana is forced to tap! Nice work there by Benton! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ben Benton!