PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hiroshi Mitzuni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and DJ Benn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). DJ Benn struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 136.1lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mitzuni
vs
Benn

170 cm
25
138 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

167 cm
25
144 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Hiroshi Mitzuni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, DJ Benn!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Daniel Bishop and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benn misses with the combination.
Mitzuni avoids a kick to the body.
Mitzuni shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Benn sprawls well. Benn wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mitzuni gets slowly back to his feet.
Mitzuni bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Mitzuni darts in looking for a takedown but Benn gets double underhooks and turns Mitzuni into the ropes.
Benn is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hiroshi Mitzuni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mitzuni is working for takedown but Benn is calmly controlling the position for now.
Benn gets underhooks to prevent Mitzuni's takedown attempt.
Benn lands a left hand.
Mitzuni changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Benn fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Benn clinches up with Mitzuni and pushes him back against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mitzuni is trying to pull guard but Benn turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
Benn wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Mitzuni has him pressed against the ropes.
Mitzuni tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Benn gets underhooks to prevent Mitzuni's takedown attempt.
Benn tries to circle away but Mitzuni has him pinned against the ropes.
Benn is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Benn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Benn connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Benn has closed the distance and engaged Mitzuni in a clinch.
Mitzuni has Benn pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Benn manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Mitzuni is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mitzuni tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Benn smiles and moves away.
Benn swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Left hook, right uppercut from Benn.

Benn moves into the clinch successfully.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mitzuni has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Benn avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Benn can't break the clinch.
Benn has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. So far he's outscoring his opponent in the clinch so it seems to have been worthwhile.
Mitzuni tries to score a body lock takedown but Benn shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Mitzuni escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Benn darts in and clinches Mitzuni up against the ropes.
Mitzuni tries to pull guard but Benn holds him up against the ropes and eventually Mitzuni drops back down to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benn is trying to break the clinch but Mitzuni has him pressed against the ropes.
Benn gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mitzuni.
Benn avoiding damage.
Mitzuni missing with knees to the body.
Benn stops a takedown attempt from Mitzuni.
Mitzuni tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mitzuni jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Benn walks away with a smile on his face. Mitzuni gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Mitzuni showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Benn.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Mitzuni.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benn has taken the fight to the clinch.
Benn wants to break free but Mitzuni has control.
Mitzuni is trying to drag Benn to the mat but Benn just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Mitzuni is trying to drag Benn to the mat but Benn just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
Benn is trying to break free.
Benn is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Benn prevents the takedown attempt.
Mitzuni is trying to pull guard but Benn turns him against the ropes and we stay in the clinch.
Benn lands a nice shot to the body.
Benn is trying to break the clinch but Mitzuni has him pressed against the ropes.
Mitzuni tries to pull guard but Benn forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.

Mitzuni's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Benn misses with a wild combination.
Mitzuni showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Benn.
Benn throws a leg kick
and Mitzuni counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Benn throws a body punch but Mitzuni moves out of range.
Benn thows a leg kick but Mitzuni checks it
and Mitzuni counters with an inside leg kick.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Benn will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Jab, jab by Benn - just one landing.
No joy there for Benn, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Mitzuni doesn't manage to clinch there - Benn circles away.
Benn throws a nice looking combination but Mitzuni bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mitzuni shoots in but Benn avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Mitzuni tries to clinch but Benn moves out of range.

Mitzuni takes the fight into the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benn tries to break free but Mitzuni pushes him back against the ropes.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Mitzuni misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Benn.

Mitzuni has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Benn uses from the top position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Mitzuni holds on and takes a little breather.
Benn postures up.
Mitzuni is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Benn trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Mitzuni manages to pass to mount!

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Mitzuni working for a submission but Benn is keeping him at bay.
Mitzuni wants to control the pace but Benn is squirming around nicely.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Mitzuni throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Benn is squirming around, avoiding Mitzuni's attempts to control the action.
Benn really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mitzuni. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Mitzuni with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benn holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Mitzuni tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but DJ Benn will probably get the nod.
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!

Benn fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Mitzuni checks it well.
Mitzuni tries to clinch up but Benn circles away and keeps his distance.

Benn has Mitzuni up against the ropes in a clinch.
Mitzuni is trying to pull guard but Benn has him pressed against the ropes.
Benn is looking to break free of the clinch but Mitzuni has double underhooks.
Mitzuni throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Benn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mitzuni changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Benn tries to avoid it but Mitzuni manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Benn to the ground. Benn escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The fighters circling - Benn throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Benn misses with a body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Benn. Those never looked like landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benn throws a series of punches but Mitzuni avoids them all with ease.
No luck for Mitzuni with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hiroshi Mitzuni. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benn fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Benn closes the distance and clinches.
Mitzuni has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Benn avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Benn avoiding damage as Mitzuni throws knees to the body.
Mitzuni tries to pull guard but Benn forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Mitzuni has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Benn after a bit of a struggle.
Benn has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Mitzuni tries to pull guard but Benn won't allow it.

Mitzuni manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mitzuni gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mitzuni is looking to take this one to the mat.
Benn wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Mitzuni drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Benn gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Benn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Benn misses with a two punch combination.
A leg kick checked by Mitzuni.
Mitzuni takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benn displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mitzuni.
Benn is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
DJ Benn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mitzuni moves out of range as Benn throws a body kick.
Benn lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Mitzuni at a distance.
Benn throws a right hand that Mitzuni ducks under and follows up with a left that Mitzuni also avoids with ease.
Hiroshi Mitzuni is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Benn is breathing heavily.
Benn misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Benn fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mitzuni shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Benn but Benn pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mitzuni tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Benn defends well and Mitzuni ends up having to push Benn into the ropes where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mitzuni fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benn breaks from the clinch.
Benn swings and misses with a hook to the body.
No joy there for Benn, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Benn lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Benn leaves Mitzuni with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Benn moves into range and clinches up with Mitzuni.
Mitzuni is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Benn gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Benn is trying to break the clinch but Mitzuni is controlling him.
Mitzuni is trying to stall.
Mitzuni tries for a takedown but Benn manages to get underhooks.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Mitzuni is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Benn is defending well.
Benn taking a breather.
Benn tries to break free but Mitzuni pushes him back against the ropes.
Mitzuni jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Benn walks away with a smile on his face. Mitzuni gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Benn throws a right and a left that both miss.
The fight stays on the outside here - Mitzuni looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Benn looks to land a combination but Mitzuni avoids it well.
Mitzuni is looking to clinch.
DJ Benn seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Benn throws a right hand that Mitzuni ducks under and follows up with a left that Mitzuni also avoids with ease.
Benn keeps the fight on the outside.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

Benn gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Mitzuni tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Benn smiles and moves away.
Mitzuni fails with a takedown attempt.

Mitzuni rushes Benn and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Mitzuni tries for a takedown but Benn manages to get underhooks.
Mitzuni prevents Benn from breaking the clinch.

Mitzuni breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Benn swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Mitzuni walks into a stiff left hand from Benn.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Benn lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Mitzuni has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mitzuni and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Good work by Mitzuni as he checks the leg kick.
Benn throws a series of punches but Mitzuni moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Benn. No joy for Mitzuni on that attempt.
Some bone on bone action there as Mitzuni checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Mitzuni keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Benn is looking to land body kicks.
Mitzuni wants to clinch.
Mitzuni shoots in for a double leg but Benn sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Mitzuni tries for a takedown but Benn sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mitzuni slips a jab and a cross from Benn.
A punch combination from Benn misses.
Benn is looking to clinch but Mitzuni is avoiding it.
Benn stuffs the takedown.
Benn leaves Mitzuni with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Benn just misses with a punch to the body.
Mitzuni is looking to slow Benn down with leg kicks.

Benn closes the distance and clinches.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Mitzuni breaks from the clinch.
Mitzuni shoots in but Benn avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Benn tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Mitzuni checks the leg kick nicely there.
DJ Benn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Benn fails to land with a series of punches.
Benn swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Benn waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Mitzuni.
Benn looking to land some kicks to the body here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mitzuni showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Benn.
Mitzuni looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Benn is fending him off so far but Mitzuni persists. Nope, Benn circles away and we're back to standing.

And that's the end of the fight!
DJ Benn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Benn has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Phil Schofield scores the fight for DJ Benn!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for DJ Benn!
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight for DJ Benn!

DJ Benn wins by unanimous decision!