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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Erik Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rafael Santa Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bennett comes to the cage accompanied by Illusions. Santa Cruz comes into a darkened arena with his song building. 50 cent P.I.M.P kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Rafael Santa Cruz has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?
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| 183 cm
23
182 lbs
10 - 3 - 0 |
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180 cm
23
175 lbs
6 - 2 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
10 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Erik Bennett!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rafael Santa Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Jorge Garcia and Jonathan Paton.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santa Cruz misses with a low kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Bennett checks a leg kick.
Erik Bennett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bennett looks to land a body kick but Santa Cruz moved away.
Santa Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Bennett thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bennett is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A bone on bone clash there as Santa Cruz blocks the leg kick.
Santa Cruz checks a leg kick nicely.
Bennett connects with a jab.
Santa Cruz defending well as Bennett loads up on a big left hand.
Bennett wants to slow Santa Cruz down by chopping away at his legs.
Bennett scores with a sloppy right hand. Santa Cruz should have avoided that one.
Bennett throws a head kick that misses.
Bennett blocks a leg kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
A combination from Bennett does no damage.
Santa Cruz doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Santa Cruz staying out of range there.
Bennett throws a hook but Santa Cruz blocks it.
Santa Cruz takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Santa Cruz scoring well with a low kick there.
Bennett misses with a head kick.
Santa Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bennett sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A slow jab from Bennett misses its intended target.
Bennett misses with a wild body shot.
Bennett swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Santa Cruz moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Santa Cruz throws a leg kick which misses Bennett's front leg but catches the back leg as Bennett tries to avoid it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz throws a nice inside leg kick.
Santa Cruz shoots in looking for a takedown but Bennett manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Santa Cruz's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Santa Cruz throws a combination that misses
enabling Bennett to counter with a crisp jab.
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 looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Nice cross by Bennett.
Santa Cruz throws a head kick but Bennett moves out of range.
Nice body punch from Bennett.
Santa Cruz tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Bennett is able to avoid easily.
Bennett scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Santa Cruz blocks a leg kick.
Bennett throws a jab but it's blocked by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz scores with a kick to the body.
Santa Cruz misses with a body shot.
Bennett throws a big shot that misses.
Santa Cruz feints and then cracks Bennett's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Bennett down.
Santa Cruz misses with a low kick.
Santa Cruz pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Bennett blocks a head kick by Santa Cruz.
Bennett takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Santa Cruz scores with a jab to the body.
Bennett dodges the punch combination from Santa Cruz.
Bennett throws a series of punches but Santa Cruz moves out of range.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Bennett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Santa Cruz.
Bennett lands with a slapping head kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santa Cruz misses with a hook. Bennett ducked under it nicely.
Bennett tests Santa Cruz's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Santa Cruz closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Santa Cruz just content to control the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bennett wants to get back to his feet but Santa Cruz drags him back down.
Bennett is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Erik Bennett dominated that 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.
Bennett misses with a hook.
Bennett fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Santa Cruz has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
A head kick misses from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Bennett's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Bennett duly obliges.
Santa Cruz throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Santa Cruz fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Bennett has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Bennett misses with a jab to the body
and Santa Cruz counters with a good low kick that Bennett was not able to check.
Santa Cruz connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bennett is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Bennett throws a body punch but Santa Cruz moves out of range.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett ducks under a wild hook from Santa Cruz.
A good leg kick by Santa Cruz.
A solid leg kick lands there for Bennett.
Bennett looks to score with a jab to the body but Santa Cruz is just out of range.
A combination from Santa Cruz does no damage.
Bennett just misses with a punch to the body.
Santa Cruz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Bennett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz fails to land with a series of punches.
Bennett misses with the combination.
Nice defenses there by Santa Cruz.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bennett pinned against the cage. Bennett gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A left lands for Bennett.
Santa Cruz thows a body kick. Bennett tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Santa Cruz gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Bennett counters with a three punch combo that has Santa Cruz backing up. Santa Cruz nods at Bennett to acknowledge the strikes.
Rafael Santa Cruz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bennett is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bennett pivots, looking for a leg kick but Santa Cruz is out of range and Bennett settles back down.
Bennett lands a jab to the nose.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Santa Cruz connects with a high kick.
Erik Bennett is winning the standup battle so far.
Bennett throws out a loose jab but Santa Cruz uses good head movement to avoid it.
That kick from Bennett tenderised Santa Cruz's leg. Santa Cruz is trying to keep his angry face on.
A right-left combo lands from Bennett.
Bennett throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Santa Cruz defending well as Bennett loads up on a big left hand.
Santa Cruz thows a body shot but no joy.
Santa Cruz avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bennett looks to land a right hand but Santa Cruz moved out of range.
Bennett throws a jab but it's blocked by Santa Cruz.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett avoids the head kick by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A combination from Santa Cruz does no damage.
Santa Cruz misses with a low kick.
Santa Cruz misses with a low kick.
Bennett throws a hook but Santa Cruz avoids it easily.
Santa Cruz showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bennett.
Santa Cruz moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bennett misses the jab.
Santa Cruz defending well as Bennett loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Erik Bennett dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Nice jab there from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Bennett lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Bennett throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Santa Cruz on the side of the head.
The crowd cheers as Bennett lands an impressive looking overhand right. Santa Cruz doesn't seem phased though.
Santa Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Santa Cruz tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Santa Cruz tried to score with a low kick but Bennett checks it.
Bennett tries to clinch up.
Bennett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Santa Cruz.
Bennett misses with a looping right.
Santa Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bennett sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett misses with the combination.
Bennett ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Santa Cruz moves away.
Bennett swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Santa Cruz changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Santa Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Bennett pushes him off.
Bennett misses with a hook.
Bennett throws a big shot that misses.
Santa Cruz tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Santa Cruz moves out of range as Bennett strikes.
Bennett thows a body shot but no joy.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Santa Cruz with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Santa Cruz tries to score with a low kick but Bennett moves his leg out of the way.
Santa Cruz tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bennett dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Santa Cruz. That did some damage!
Bennett takes a swing at Santa Cruz's ribcage but misses.
Santa Cruz connects with an inside leg kick.
Santa Cruz misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bennett misses with a looping right.
Bennett throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Bennett takes a swing at Santa Cruz's ribcage but misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santa Cruz lands a nice looking body shot.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett fails to land with a series of punches.
Santa Cruz misses with a double jab.
Santa Cruz misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bennett lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Santa Cruz cracks the inside of Bennett's front leg.
Bennett blocks the body kick.
Bennett misses with a few strikes there.
Bennett is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Santa Cruz.
Sloppy strikes from Bennett. Those never looked like landing.
Bennett has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz throws a head kick that misses.
Santa Cruz is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Bennett rather than just go for the knockout.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Santa Cruz fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Bennett leaves Santa Cruz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Bennett throws a hook to the side of Santa Cruz's head but Santa Cruz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Santa Cruz closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bennett's guard.
Bennett wants to sweep here but Santa Cruz controlling him for the moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Santa Cruz stops Bennett from standing up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Santa Cruz wants to pass the guard but Bennett is keeping the position.
Santa Cruz is looking to advance position but Bennett has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
That was a close round but Erik Bennett did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Back to the action!
Santa Cruz will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Santa Cruz shoots for a takedown but Bennett saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bennett scores with a leg kick.
Bennett checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Bennett pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Santa Cruz lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Santa Cruz uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bennett.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Santa Cruz checks a leg kick.
Bennett swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Bennett waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Santa Cruz.
Bennett takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bennett thows a body shot but no joy.
Bennett thows a body shot but no joy.
Santa Cruz misses with a wild body shot.
Santa Cruz tries to land a leg kick but Bennett saw it coming and moves away.
Santa Cruz fails with an attempt to clinch.
Bennett lunges at Santa Cruz with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Santa Cruz's hand.
Bennett throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Santa Cruz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Santa Cruz checks the leg kick nicely there.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz checks a leg kick.
Bennett misses the shot to the body.
Santa Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Bennett circles away.
Santa Cruz throws a sloppy head kick and Bennett moves out of range easily.
Bennett misses with a two punch combination.
Bennett throws a solid leg kick but Santa Cruz takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Bennett.
Nice uppercut lands for Bennett. That snapped Santa Cruz's head back.
Bennett tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Santa Cruz was well out of range. Poor timing from Bennett.
Santa Cruz lands a head kick. Bennett smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Santa Cruz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Bennett napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A lull in the action here as Santa Cruz stalls from top position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett is pushing Santa Cruz's head away, looking to escape. Santa Cruz manages to hold on to the position though.
Santa Cruz tries for a kimura but Bennett is defending well.
Santa Cruz tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Santa Cruz has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Santa Cruz is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
Santa Cruz goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Bennett rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Santa Cruz's guard! Nice work there by Bennett!
Santa Cruz working a defensive guard here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Santa Cruz keeping moving, preventing Bennett from controlling successfully.
Santa Cruz working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Bennett doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Bennett manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Bennett is pushing down on Santa Cruz's leg trying to pass to half guard. Santa Cruz is fighting to maintain full guard but Bennett has managed to sneak the leg through.
Santa Cruz is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Still in half guard, Bennett seems content to control.
Bennett with the ground and pound but Santa Cruz uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Santa Cruz is trying to control the position but Bennett postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close fourth round but Rafael Santa Cruz will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!
Santa Cruz gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Bennett throws a series of punches but Santa Cruz moves out of range.
Santa Cruz defending well as Bennett loads up on a big left hand.
Bennett misses with a low kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Santa Cruz checks a leg kick.
Santa Cruz avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A slow jab from Bennett misses its intended target.
Bennett scores with a decent looking hook.
Nice body punch from Bennett.
Santa Cruz throws a nice outside leg kick.
Santa Cruz thumps Bennett with a low kick.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett throws a front kick aimed at Santa Cruz's knee but Santa Cruz avoids it well.
A telegraphed right hand from Bennett misses the target.
Santa Cruz pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bennett looks to land a body kick but Santa Cruz moved away.
Santa Cruz buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Santa Cruz. No joy for Bennett on that attempt.
Santa Cruz misses with a body shot.
Bennett waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Santa Cruz.
Bennett avoids the head kick by Santa Cruz.
Bennett turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Santa Cruz connects with a leg kick. Bennett looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett lands the left hand.
Bennett keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Bennett lands a jab to the nose.
Santa Cruz throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bennett wants to slow Santa Cruz down by chopping away at his legs.
Bennett moves out of range as Santa Cruz throws a body kick.
Santa Cruz checks a leg kick nicely.
Santa Cruz throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Bennett throws a shot from downtown. Santa Cruz moves away and avoids it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
That kick from Bennett tenderised Santa Cruz's leg. Santa Cruz is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rafael Santa Cruz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Santa Cruz staying out of range there.
Bennett on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz obviously looking to wear him down.
Bennett defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz lands a high kick!
Santa Cruz shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bennett sprawls well. Bennett wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Santa Cruz gets slowly back to his feet.
Santa Cruz is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Bennett thows a leg kick but Santa Cruz checks it
and Santa Cruz counters with a thumping low kick.
Bennett looks to land a body kick but Santa Cruz moved away.
Bennett tries to work over Santa Cruz's front leg with a kick but Santa Cruz checks it.
A swing and a miss from Santa Cruz.
A slow jab from Bennett misses its intended target.
Santa Cruz attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett throws a push kick but Santa Cruz slaps the foot to one side.
Erik Bennett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Santa Cruz takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Nice defenses there by Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Bennett manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bennett throws a shot to the body.
Santa Cruz throws a leg kick but Bennett checks it.
Santa Cruz walks into a jab.
Santa Cruz takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bennett misses with a looping left.
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 fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Bennett tries to bum rush Santa Cruz with a series of wild strikes but Santa Cruz uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And that's the end of the fight!
Erik Bennett showed his dominance in that final round.
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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 50:46
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 49:47
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 50:46
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erik Bennett!
Erik Bennett retains his welterweight title!
A relieved looking Erik Bennett thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
90% |
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