PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between John Gotti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tyson Benjamin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gotti comes to the cage accompanied by The King of New York. Benjamin has chosen Pastor Troy - It's About To Go Down as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gotti
vs
Benjamin

175 cm
28
158 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

179 cm
36
156 lbs
19 - 11 - 2

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

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 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, John Gotti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 11 - 2, fighting out of New York, Tyson Benjamin!
The judges for this bout are Anthony Taglia, David Schapiro and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benjamin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Gotti fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Benjamin blocks a jab.
Benjamin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Benjamin throws a head kick but Gotti moves out of range.
Gotti throws the kick towards the body but Benjamin avoids it.
Benjamin sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.

Benjamin clinches up with Gotti and pushes him back against the cage.
Benjamin lands a nice shot to the body.
Benjamin goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gotti is pushing Benjamin up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Gotti avoiding damage.
Gotti being controlled against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gotti breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Benjamin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gotti fails with a takedown attempt.
Benjamin checks a leg kick nicely.
Gotti misses with a body kick.
Both fighters circling a little - Gotti finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Gotti takes a swing at Benjamin's ribcage but misses.
And Benjamin tries to counter it with a takedown but Gotti pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Benjamin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Gotti misses with a series of wild punches.
Gotti connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gotti thows a leg kick but Benjamin checks it
and Benjamin counters with a left and a right that stings Gotti.
Gotti shoots in but no luck this time.

Gotti throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Benjamin tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Gotti is in Benjamin's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gotti trying to control but Benjamin is working from the bottom.

Benjamin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gotti stops Benjamin from standing up.
Gotti tries to free his leg and advance position but Benjamin is retaining full guard.
Benjamin wants to stand and escape but Gotti is having none of it.
Gotti loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin wants to stand but Gotti is controlling the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gotti throws a hook but Benjamin blocks it.
Good exchange - Gotti coming out on top.

It looks like Tyson Benjamin has been cut.
Gotti throws a head kick that misses.

Benjamin clinches up with Gotti and pushes him back against the cage.

Gotti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Gotti on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Benjamin. Benjamin obviously looking to wear him down.

Gotti shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Benjamin's guard.
Benjamin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gotti is one step ahead there.
Benjamin wants to stand but Gotti is controlling the position.
Benjamin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gotti is one step ahead there.
Benjamin is trying to control the position but Gotti postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gotti makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Gotti postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gotti working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gotti working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gotti throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Benjamin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gotti wants to pass the guard but Benjamin is keeping the position.
Gotti connects with a couple of short punches.
Benjamin seems keen to control Gotti's posture.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gotti throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Benjamin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Gotti dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tyson Benjamin's cut.
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.

Benjamin moves out of range of the body kick.
Gotti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
As Gotti backs off Benjamin throws a huge counter combo but Gotti manages to avoid it all.
Gotti looks for a takedown but Benjamin sprawls well.
Benjamin moves in looking to clinch but Gotti pushes him off.
Gotti looks to land a body kick but Benjamin moved away.
Benjamin tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Benjamin gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Benjamin is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Benjamin tries a body shot but Gotti blocks it.

Gotti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benjamin on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Benjamin misses with a double jab.
Gotti dips to his left and cracks Benjamin with an uppercut!
Benjamin takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Gotti looks to land a right hand but Benjamin moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Benjamin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Benjamin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Benjamin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benjamin stops Gotti from standing up.
Gotti wants to sweep but no luck.
Benjamin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gotti utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Benjamin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Benjamin tries to free his leg and advance position but Gotti is retaining full guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
John Gotti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gotti misses with a body kick.
Benjamin unleashes a big counter combination but Gotti bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin moves out of range of the body kick.
Benjamin looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Benjamin is looking to clinch.

Gotti scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Benjamin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Benjamin is trying to stand back up but Gotti is controlling him
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gotti is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Benjamin wants to get back to full guard.

Benjamin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gotti trying to advance position but Benjamin counters by regaining guard.
Gotti cracks Benjamin with a solid left hand.

Benjamin scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Gotti misses with an uppercut. Benjamin saw that one coming.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gotti misses the shot to the body.
Gotti lands a head shot.

Benjamin closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gotti to the mat! Gotti manages to get full guard.
John Gotti overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gotti looking to control.
Gotti is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gotti looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Benjamin wants to get back to his feet.
Gotti not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Benjamin is trying to stand.
Benjamin tries to get to full guard but Gotti has control of the leg.
Gotti thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin wants to get back to his feet.
Gotti wants to control but Benjamin is keeping him busy.
Benjamin has hold of Gotti's hands but Gotti slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Benjamin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gotti.
Gotti with the ground and pound but Benjamin uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Benjamin wants to stand and escape but Gotti is having none of it.
Gotti landing with the ground and pound.
Gotti prevents Benjamin from getting back to his feet.

Benjamin pushes Gotti off and gets back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gotti thuds a left hand into Benjamin's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Gotti dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tyson Benjamin's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gotti displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Benjamin.
Gotti lands with a cross.
Benjamin pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Benjamin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gotti avoids it really well and circles away.
Gotti misses with a wild body shot.

Gotti feints and as Benjamin raises his hands in defense, Gotti changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gotti working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Gotti wants to control from the top but Benjamin keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Benjamin is on top in guard.

Benjamin throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin postures up in Gotti's guard and throws a big left but Gotti blocks it.
Benjamin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Gotti wants to sweep here but Benjamin controlling him for the moment.
Benjamin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gotti seems keen to control Benjamin's posture.
Gotti avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Gotti is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gotti is looking to take a break and control but Benjamin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gotti tries to pass to full mount but Benjamin defends it.
Benjamin is trying to stand.

Benjamin makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Gotti jabs at Benjamin's body.
Gotti fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Benjamin misses with a head kick.
Gotti misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gotti sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Benjamin somewhat.
John Gotti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tyson Benjamin.
Gotti tries to work over Benjamin's front leg with a kick but Benjamin checks it.
Gotti throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Benjamin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gotti as he jumps to the side.
Tyson Benjamin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gotti feints a jab promting Benjamin to slip. Gotti then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Benjamin slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Good standup being displayed there by Gotti as he connects with a hook.
Gotti misses with a looping right.
Gotti misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benjamin.
Gotti throws a lazy right hand but Benjamin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gotti dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Gotti ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Gotti scores with a nice right hand.
John Gotti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gotti changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gotti swings for the body but Benjamin moves out of range.
Gotti swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Benjamin tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gotti sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Benjamin somewhat.
As Benjamin looks to move away, Gotti throws a big counter combo bu Benjamin just gets out of the way.
Benjamin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Gotti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Benjamin.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Gotti.

And that's the end of the fight!
John Gotti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Gotti, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:27
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... John Gotti!
A very excited looking John Gotti rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.