PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Chuck Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jayson Ward (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bennett
vs
Ward

165 cm
23
142 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
135 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

White Gorilla Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Chuck Bennett!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jayson Ward!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Frank Dennis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bennett throws a looping overhand right but Ward ducks down to avoid it.
Ward misses with the combination.
Bennett avoids a kick to the body.
Bennett misses with a body shot.
Bennett tries to clinch but Ward moves out of range.
Bennett misses with a combination

and Ward counters with a nice double leg into side control. Bennett won't be happy with that.

Ward tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ward has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Bennett is pushing Ward's head away, looking to escape. Ward manages to hold on to the position though.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ward decides to stand back up. Ward steps back and let's Bennett get back to his feet.
Ward tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bennett showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ward.
Ward throws a right and a left that Bennett avoids nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ward.
Bennett ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ward moves away.
Bennett swings for the body but Ward moves out of range.
Bennett lands a jab-cross combination.
Bennett bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ward's head backwards.
Bennett falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ward counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ward.

Ward gets to his feet - Bennett follows without any prompting.
Ward fails with a takedown attempt.
Bennett misses the shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett tries to clinch but Ward moves out of range.
Bennett misses with a body shot

and Ward counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ward wants to pass the guard but Bennett is keeping the position.

Ward stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ward paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bennett tries to clinch
and Ward counters with a left and a right that stings Bennett.
Bennett tries to clinch but Ward moves out of range.
Bennett keeps the fight on the outside.
Bennett stuffs the takedown attempt from Ward. Ward gets slowly back to his feet.
Ward avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ward closes the distance and clinches up with Bennett, looking for a takedown. Ward pushes Bennett against the cage but Bennett circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Chuck Bennett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jayson Ward.
Bennett tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Ward counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bennett avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jayson Ward dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bennett misses with a hook to the body

and Ward holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Bennett breaks the clinch.

Ward clinches with his opponent.

Ward breaks from the clinch.
Ward throws a sloppy head kick and Bennett moves out of range easily.
Bennett pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ward tries a head kick but it misses.
Bennett misses with a body shot
and Ward counters with a left and a right that stings Bennett.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fighters circle momentarily. Bennett darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Bennett jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Bennett swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ward shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ward doesn't seem bothered though.
Ward looks for a takedown but Bennett sprawls well.
Bennett tries to close the distance and clinch but Ward swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Bennett looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ward shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bennett but Bennett pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Chuck Bennett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jayson Ward.
Bennett throws a combination that misses

and Ward counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bennett!

Ward goes for an armbar but Bennett turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Bennett.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Ward looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Bennett passes into side control.
Ward is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bennett stands up and beckons Ward to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett stuffs the takedown attempt from Ward. Ward gets slowly back to his feet.
Bennett falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ward counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bennett!
Bennett holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Ward tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

Ward goes for an armbar but Bennett turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Bennett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ward pushes Bennett off and gets back to his feet.
Ward keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jayson Ward showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Bennett's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ward keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bennett avoids a kick to the body.
Bennett tries to clinch but Ward is having none of it.
Ward's corner calls for a 1-2. Ward obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Bennett misses with a jab to the body
and Ward finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Bennett circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ward takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Bennett avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ward.
Bennett throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ward.
Nice uppercut there from Bennett.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ward works Bennett's body with a nice hook.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Bennett breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ward showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bennett.
Chuck Bennett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bennett misses with a hook. Ward ducked under it nicely.
Bennett works Ward's body with a nice hook.
Bennett tries to bum rush Ward with a series of wild strikes but Ward uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Chuck Bennett is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ward throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ward falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bennett counters with a left and a right that stings Ward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ward circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ward counters by moving into the clinch.
Bennett lands a body punch.
Bennett can't break the clinch.

Bennett escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bennett lands a jab to the nose.
Bennett misses with a combination

and Ward decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Bennett's guard.

Bennett scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett misses the shot to the body.
Ward on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Bennett is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bennett throws a looping overhand right but Ward ducks down to avoid it.
Bennett throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ward.
Bennett misses with a double jab
and Ward counters with a good, hard body kick but Bennett shrugs it off.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Bennett breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bennett swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Ward counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ward tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bennett swivels and escapes.
Bennett falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ward counters with a good, hard body kick but Bennett shrugs it off.
Bennett falls off balance throwing a combination

and Ward counters with a single leg into guard. Bennett didn't expect that.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ward gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Danga de danga de dang - Bennett scores with a four punch combination!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Jayson Ward just about did enough to take it.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Bennett misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bennett tries to clinch
and Ward counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Bennett misses with a combination
and Ward counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Bennett scores with a nice head shot.
Bennett tries to clinch
and Ward counters with a body kick that stops Bennett in his tracks momentarily.
A good leg kick by Ward.
Bennett tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ward counters with a left and a right that stings Bennett.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ward looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
A slow jab from Bennett misses its intended target.

Bennett moves into range and clinches up with Ward.
Ward prevents Bennett from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Bennett has had enough of the clinch but Ward keeps him there for the moment.

Bennett breaks from the clinch.
Both fighters circling a little - Ward finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Ward doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bennett counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bennett looks to clinch
and Ward counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bennett misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ward lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Bennett backs up against the cage.
Bennett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ward.
Ward fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A left and a right from Ward both land. Nice combination.
Bennett misses with a double jab
and Ward counters with a one-two to the body.
Bennett swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ward counters with a single leg into guard. Bennett didn't expect that.
Bennett working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ward.
Bennett preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bennett is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward throws and elbow that misses. Bennett uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ward's guard. Nice move by Bennett!

Ward pushes Bennett off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

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 misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bennett scores with a nice right hand.
Ward avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Chuck Bennett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bennett swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ward counters with a three punch combo that has Bennett backing up. Bennett nods at Ward to acknowledge the strikes.
Bennett will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Bennett closes the distance looking to clinch
and Ward counters with a body kick that stops Bennett in his tracks momentarily.
Bennett wants to clinch

and Ward counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ward trying to stand up but can't free himself from Bennett's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jayson Ward dominated that fourth round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Bennett throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ward counters with a left and a right that stings Bennett.
Bennett throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ward counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Ward circles away from the clinch attempt
and Ward counters with a head kick.
Bennett wants to clinch but Ward slips to the side
and Ward counters with a nice kick to the body.
Bennett misses with a few strikes there.
Bennett scores with the left hand. Ward knows he should have avoided that one.
Chuck Bennett is winning the standup battle so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennett tries to clinch there but Ward circles away.
Bennett lands with a hook. Ward tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Bennett throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ward counters with a nice low kick that buckles Bennett's knee momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett looks to clinch
and Ward counters with a big head kick but Bennett shrugs it off.
Ward has a takedown stuffed.
Bennett tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ward paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bennett throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ward counters with a two punch combo.
Ward avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A shot to the body from Bennett misses
and Ward counters with a left and a right that stings Bennett.
Bennett blocks the body kick.
Bennett swinging wilding here.
Ward lands a two punch combo.
Bennett is looking to wear down Ward with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.

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.
Bennett throws a hook to the side of Ward's head but Ward sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ward. That's going to slow Bennett down.
Bennett misses with a shot to the body
and Ward counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Bennett throws a combination that misses
and Ward counters with a good low kick that Bennett was not able to check.
Ward shoots in and drives through. Bennett sprawls well.
Bennett throws out a loose jab but Ward uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bennett swings for the body but Ward moves out of range.
Bennett misses the body punch
and Ward makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Bennett misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Ward makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Ward throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Bennett counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Bennett throws a left and a right that both miss
and Ward counters with a three punch combo that has Bennett backing up. Bennett nods at Ward to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ward looks to land a combination. Bennett sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Bennett falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ward finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Ward fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Chuck Bennett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jayson Ward.
Ward shoots for a double leg takedown but Bennett sprawls well. He's pushed Ward's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bennett swings away with a body shot that misses

and Ward counters by moving into the clinch.
Bennett wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ward wants to get back to striking at distance but Bennett won't allow it.
Ward can't break the clinch.
Ward wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Bennett has him pressed against the cage.

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.
Ward wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Bennett wants to get back to striking at distance but Ward won't allow it.

Ward breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Danga de danga de dang - Bennett scores with a four punch combination!
Ward tries a head kick but it misses.
Ward ducks under a wild hook from Bennett.
Bennett throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Ward counters by clinching up.
Bennett is trying to break free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bennett wants to break the clinch but can't.
Chuck Bennett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ward blocking some punches.
Bennett lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ward backwards.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jayson Ward comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ward winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 45:50
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 45:50
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jayson Ward!
Jayson Ward is the new bantamweight champion!