PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Sean Bennett (ranked 4055 p4p, 6098 weight class) and Tristan James (ranked 0 p4p, 277 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Bennett
vs
James

176 cm
24
141
3 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
130
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sean Bennett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Tristan James!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Frank Dennis and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bennett connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Bennett lands a head kick!
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Bennett throws a nice head kick!
Horrible takedown attempt by James or perhaps it was just good defense by Bennett, which made it look bad.
James tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bennett defends well and James ends up having to push Bennett into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Bennett feinted with a counter takedown.
James looks winded!
Bennett looks for a takedown but James sprawls well.
James shoots in looking for a takedown. Bennett tries to sprawl out of it but James keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bennett manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Sean Bennett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tristan James.
A slapping body kick lands there for Bennett.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennett will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Bennett lands a head kick. James smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Bennett throws a series of strikes that have James backpedaling.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bennett lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.

Bennett moves into the clinch.
James wants to break free but Bennett has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James throws a head punch that misses.

Bennett pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bennett fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bennett scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
James shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bennett tries to counter with a takedown but James is quick to defend against it.
James looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
That kick from Bennett tenderised James's leg. James is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bennett connects with a high kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Bennett. That's going to slow James down.

Bennett closes the distance and clinches.
Bennett will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning James up against the cage.
Bennett keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Bennett pulls James into guard.
Bennett seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
James preventing the sweep.

Bennett is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and James defends well.
James wants to stand and escape but instead Bennett has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bennett engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett with a flurry of punches that miss.
James really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bennett. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bennett is looking to work some ground and pound but James has wrist control.
Bennett is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Bennett is looking to work some ground and pound but James has wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Bennett engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
A good leg kick by Bennett.
Bennett scores with a three punch combo!
Bennett lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Decent striking displayed by Bennett there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Bennett scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
James is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bennett throws a one two combo.
Bennett lands a jab-cross combination.
Bennett lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
James shoots in for a takedown but Bennett shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
James shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bennett as he jumps to the side.
Sean Bennett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bennett lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Bennett scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Bennett connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Horrible takedown attempt by James or perhaps it was just good defense by Bennett, which made it look bad.
Sean Bennett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tristan James.
Bennett throws a head kick that half lands.
Bennett lands with a kick to the temple. James shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
James is breathing heavily.
Bennett shoots for a takedown but James saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bennett throws a right and a left that James avoids nicely.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! James crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Bennett - the referee stops the clock and James gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Bennett. James manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett swinging wildly here.

Bennett looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Bennett throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bennett controlling the pace.
Bennett not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bennett scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. James doesn't seem bothered though.
A nice combination there by Bennett.

James gets caught flat footed, as Bennett shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bennett in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bennett is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Bennett pushes down on James's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sean Bennett dominated that second round.
That's time! Bennett's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

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

Bennett manages to break the clinch.
James fails with a takedown attempt.
Bennett looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Bennett gets a clinch.
James is trying to push Bennett away but Bennett has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Bennett taking a breather.
Bennett keeps control of James as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennett tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. James smiles and moves away.
Bennett thumps James with a low kick.
James takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bennett lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Sean Bennett is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James closes the distance and clinches up with Bennett, looking for a takedown. James pushes Bennett against the cage but Bennett circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bennett lands a head kick!
Bennett shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as James sprawls well. James wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bennett gets slowly back to his feet.

Bennett gets a clinch.
Bennett utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Bennett lands a right hand that snaps the head of James backwards.
Bennett is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that James can do to turn this around?

Bennett breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bennett throws a one two combo.
Bennett fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sean Bennett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bennett tries to clinch but James is having none of it.

James gets tackled into the cage by Bennett. Bennett maintains the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett lands an elbow inside.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Bennett breaks the clinch.
James takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Bennett has closed the distance and engaged James in a clinch.
James misses with a punch on the inside.

Bennett breaks the clinch.

Bennett closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
James is being controlled here.

Bennett goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, James rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Bennett's guard! Nice work there by James!

James stands and steps away. Bennett gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bennett as he avoids it easily.
Bennett scores with a three punch combo!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by Bennett.
Bennett with the inside leg kick.
James fails with the takedown.
James fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
It looked like Bennett was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Bennett throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
James misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bennett lands with a slapping head kick.
Some wild striking there from Bennett.
James dodges the punch combination from Bennett.
James shoots for a double leg takedown but Bennett sprawls well. He's pushed James's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

James gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

James pushes Bennett off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bennett fails with the takedown.
James shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bennett defends it nicely.
James is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bennett sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Bennett gets a clinch.
James is trying to break free.
Bennett working James over with knees to the body.
James swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bennett landing knees to the head.
Tristan James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sean Bennett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for James.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sean Bennett showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bennett 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 Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:25
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:25
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:25

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