PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ben Benton (ranked 6565 p4p, 444 weight class) and Santo Luvic (ranked 24667 p4p, 525 weight class). Santo Luvic will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Benton
vs
Luvic

159 cm
23
145 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
145 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ben Benton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Santo Luvic!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Luvic looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Benton punching from the bottom.
Benton slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Benton tries to strike from the bottom.

Benton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Luvic gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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.
Benton seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benton is trying to keep Luvic in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luvic controlling from the top position.
Benton trying to control the position.
Benton pulls Luvic in close to prevent any damage.
Luvic is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Luvic trying to control but Benton is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Benton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Benton throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Luvic.
Benton misses with a low kick as Luvic jumps back.
Luvic is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Benton misses with a two punch combination.
Benton closes the distance and clinches up with Luvic, looking for a takedown. Benton pushes Luvic against the cage but Luvic circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Luvic fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Benton avoids it really well and circles away.
Luvic moves away from the strike by Benton.

Benton shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton is trying to control the action in half guard but Luvic is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benton with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Benton looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Luvic wants to improve his position but Benton is controlling well.

Benton is trying to work for a kimura but Luvic is defending well.

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.
Luvic is looking to get back to is feet but Benton passes into side control.
Benton could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Benton controlling the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Luvic sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Benton dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Luvic looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Luvic throws a lazy head kick

and Benton counters with a nice double leg into side control. Luvic won't be happy with that.
Luvic is looking to get back to his feet here but Benton is keeping cool and he's managed to take Luvic's back.
Benton has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Luvic's body.
Benton throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benton is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Luvic is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton punches the canvas rather than the man.
Benton trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Luvic doesn't escape.
Benton's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Benton trying to control.
Ben Benton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Benton is hanging on to Luvic's back as he tries to escape.

Benton patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
I really don't envy Luvic right now.
Benton has good solid back control here.
A lull in the action here.

Benton looking for the choke but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benton is persistently looking for the submission but Luvic is defending it well.
Benton not allowing Luvic to control his hands.
Luvic is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Benton.

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 thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Luvic is in a world of trouble here. He's outmatched on the ground here and he'd better get Benton off his back sharpish unless he wants to be submitted.
Luvic prevents Benton from getting a body triangle.
Benton has the hooks in. Luvic is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Luvic looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Benton thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Luvic is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Benton 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Benton dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Benton misses with a head kick.
Benton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Luvic can do to turn this around?

Luvic manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Benton on his heels. He'll look to pass Benton's guard now, I'm sure.
Benton keeping moving, preventing Luvic from controlling successfully.
Benton trying to control the position here.
Luvic postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Luvic tries to free his leg and advance position but Benton is retaining full guard.
Luvic must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Benton has his hands on Luvic's head, controlling the position.
Benton tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luvic throwing strikes from guard but Benton blocks nicely.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Benton is trying to keep Luvic in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Luvic gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Benton to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Benton sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton looking to pass the guard.
Luvic keeping moving, preventing Benton from controlling successfully.
Benton is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Luvic working for a triangle but Benton defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Luvic can't keep his opponent in guard - Benton advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Benton thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Luvic's head.
Benton frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Luvic holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Benton tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Luvic is squirming around, avoiding Benton's attempts to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benton sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Luvic tries to hold on but Benton postures up.
Santo Luvic has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ben Benton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Luvic is looking to get to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ben 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27

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