PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joost Van Buren (ranked 1182 p4p, 178 weight class) and Michael Bennet (ranked 2323 p4p, 325 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Van Buren
vs
Bennet

188 cm
21
206 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

190 cm
22
209 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Reaper Combatwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joost Van Buren!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Bennet!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Jonathan Paton and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Van Buren lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Van Buren looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Bennet misses with a looping right.
Van Buren tries to work over Bennet's front leg with a kick but Bennet checks it.
Van Buren throws the kick towards the body but Bennet avoids it.
Bennet digs a good body shot into Van Buren's ribs.
Bennet misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bennet moves forwards but Van Buren connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Van Buren lands with a cross.
Bennet walks into a jab.
Bennet misses the jab.
Bennet misses with a kick to the body
and Van Buren counters with a three punch combo that has Bennet backing up. Bennet nods at Van Buren to acknowledge the strikes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Buren misses with a hook.
Van Buren moves out of range of the body kick from Bennet.
A slapping body kick lands there for Bennet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Bennet. Those never looked like landing.
Bennet staying out of range there.
Bennet now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Van Buren swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Bennet makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Van Buren throws a sloppy body shot
and Bennet counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A nice inside leg kick there by Van Buren. That's going to slow Bennet down.
Bennet tries to clinch up.
Van Buren jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Van Buren. Bennet shrugs it off though.
Bennet keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bennet feints a counter leg kick.
Van Buren throws a jab when Bennet was well out of range.
Bennet let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Bennet displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Van Buren throws out the jab.
Bennet throws out a counter right but Van Buren avoids it with no problem.
Van Buren chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Van Buren swings for the body but Bennet moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Buren scores with a one two! Bennet had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Van Buren tries a low kick but Bennet avoids it.
Van Buren finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Van Buren has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Van Buren misses with a wild body shot.
Van Buren scores with a crisp jab that stopped Bennet in his tracks.
Bennet missing with a left hand there. Van Buren was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Van Buren is looking for a counter combo.
Bennet blocks the body kick.
Van Buren pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A telegraphed right hand from Bennet misses the target.
Bennet uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Buren.
Bennet flicks out a counter leg kick but Van Buren steps away.
Van Buren scoring well with a low kick there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren lands a jab.
Van Buren misses with an uppercut.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Van Buren.
Van Buren throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bennet avoids the head kick by Van Buren.
Bennet keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bennet only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Bennet throws the left hand but Van Buren avoids the punch easily.
Bennet tries to clinch up but Van Buren circles away and keeps his distance.
Van Buren throws a leg kick
and Bennet finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Bennet looks to score with a jab to the body but Van Buren is just out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as Bennet blocks the leg kick.
Van Buren misses with a two punch combination.
Van Buren lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Bennet at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bennet moves away.
Bennet looks like he wants to counter punch here.
That kick from Van Buren tenderised Bennet's leg. Bennet is trying to keep his angry face on.
Van Buren takes a jab right on the kisser.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Buren lets loose with a powerful body kick. Bennet will feel that in the morning.
Nice body punch from Van Buren.
Van Buren throws a head kick that half lands.
The crowd cheers as Van Buren lands an impressive looking overhand right. Bennet doesn't seem phased though.
Van Buren looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Van Buren lands with an overhand left.
Van Buren throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Van Buren tries to land a body kick
and Bennet cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Nice shot by Bennet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joost Van Buren dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bennet closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Van Buren misses with a punch to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Bennet.
Bennet misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Van Buren blocks an uppercut.
Bennet misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Van Buren breaks the clinch.
Van Buren throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bennet sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bennet tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Van Buren throws a leg kick but Bennet checks it.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Bennet in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Van Buren lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Buren tries to score with a low kick but Bennet moves his leg out of the way.
Bennet takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Joost Van Buren is winning the standup battle so far.
Van Buren moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Good exchange - Van Buren coming out on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Buren misses with a low kick as Bennet jumps back.
Bennet ducks under a wild hook from Van Buren.
Bennet blocks a jab.
Bennet swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Van Buren ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bennet moves away.
Bennet throws out a counter right but Van Buren avoids it with no problem.
Van Buren wants to land a leg kick but Bennet is out of range.
Joost Van Buren seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Van Buren lands a slapping body shot.
Bennet on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Bennet misses with a body shot.
Van Buren is looking to counter punch.
Van Buren tries to score with a low kick but Bennet moves his leg out of the way.
Bennet now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Van Buren lands a jab to Bennet's midsection.
Van Buren slips a straight right by Bennet.
Van Buren fires out a quick counter leg kick but Bennet just manages to avoid it.
Van Buren throws a leg kick
and Bennet counters with a good, hard body kick but Van Buren shrugs it off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennet lands a front kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Van Buren fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bennet swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Bennet just misses with a punch to the body.
Van Buren throws a leg kick that is checked
and Bennet makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Van Buren really felt that one!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bennet lands a jab to the nose.
Bennet lands with a shot to the body.
Van Buren uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Bennet.
Van Buren slips a straight right by Bennet.
Van Buren connects with a single shot there.
Van Buren throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bennet counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Van Buren dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bennet. That did some damage!
Van Buren scores with a jab. Bennet acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Bennet's calf.
Bennet uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Buren.
Bennet doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Van Buren throws a leg kick that misses.
Bennet keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Van Buren.
A nice side step and Bennet releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Bennet moves into range and connects with a jab.
Van Buren looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Van Buren on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Van Buren throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bennet throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Bennet slips a jab from Van Buren.
Bennet feints a counter leg kick.
Van Buren listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Bennet looks for the body kick but Van Buren saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren tries to land a body kick
and Bennet counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Bennet crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Van Buren - the referee stops the clock and Bennet gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Van Buren. Bennet manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Bennet fakes the leg kick and cracks Van Buren in the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Good exchange - Van Buren coming out on top.
Van Buren takes a swing at Bennet's ribcage but misses.
Van Buren tried to score with a low kick but Bennet checks it.
Bennet takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Van Buren throws a leg kick but Bennet checks it.
Bennet bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Van Buren throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bennet connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bennet slips a straight right by Van Buren.
Bennet getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Joost Van Buren will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Nice body kick there by Van Buren.
Van Buren throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Bennet misses with a looping right.
Bennet ducks under a wild hook from Van Buren.
Bennet looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Van Buren throws a nice outside leg kick.
Van Buren will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Van Buren thows a left - swing and a miss!
A telegraphed right hand from Van Buren misses the target.
A countering left hand to the body from Bennet misses.
Van Buren is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bennet can do to turn this around?
Van Buren lands a leg kick that knocks Bennet off balance momentarily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Buren fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bennet manages to avoid it.
Van Buren throws a right hand that Bennet ducks under and follows up with a left that Bennet also avoids with ease.
Van Buren misses with an uppercut.
Van Buren jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Buren throws a right hand that Bennet ducks under and follows up with a left that Bennet also avoids with ease.
Bennet feints a counter leg kick.
Van Buren just misses with a punch to the body.
Van Buren scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Van Buren throws a leg kick but Bennet sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Bennet throws a jab when Van Buren was well out of range.
Van Buren throws a lazy uppercut
and Bennet counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bennet throws a body punch but Van Buren moves out of range.
Van Buren throws a predictable looking body shot
and Bennet connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bennet defending well as Van Buren loads up on a big left hand.
Bennet thinks about the counter body kick.
Van Buren misses with a leg kick.
Van Buren wants to land a leg kick but Bennet is out of range.
A combination from Van Buren does no damage.
Bennet looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennet scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
The fighters circling - Bennet throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Van Buren looks to throw the jab but Bennet is out of range.
Bennet throws a shot from downtown. Van Buren moves away and avoids it.
Van Buren fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Bennet looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bennet checks a low kick from Van Buren.
Bennet throws a lazy right hand but Van Buren sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Van Buren scores with a sloppy right hand. Bennet should have avoided that one.
Van Buren moves out of range of the body kick from Bennet.
Van Buren throwing a counter right hand but Bennet manages to avoid it.
Bennet misses with a shot to the body
and Van Buren cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bennet keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
A countering left hand to the body from Bennet misses.
Bennet lands a right hook to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren thows a leg kick but Bennet checks it
and Bennet makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Van Buren really felt that one!
Bennet takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Bennet feints a counter leg kick.
Van Buren wants to slow Bennet down by chopping away at his legs.
Van Buren lands a nice shot to the body.
Van Buren misses with a leg kick.
A nice side step and Bennet releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
A good leg kick by Van Buren.
Van Buren just misses with a punch to the body.
Bennet has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Van Buren lands a jab to Bennet's midsection.
Van Buren's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Bennet connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Van Buren scrambles back to his feet.
Bennet lands with a shot to the body.
Van Buren blocks a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren missing with a left hand there. Bennet was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bennet lands with a thumping leg kick.
Van Buren lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Buren moves out of range as Bennet strikes.
Bennet throws a push kick but Van Buren slaps the foot to one side.
Van Buren pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bennet is out of range and Van Buren settles back down.
Bennet misses the shot to the body.
Van Buren feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Bennet's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Van Buren misses with a body shot.
Bennet let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Bennet avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A cross from Van Buren lands.
Van Buren throws a hook but Bennet blocks it.
A little jabbing left from Bennet on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Joost Van Buren is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A decent looking cross lands there for Van Buren.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joost Van Buren showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Van Buren, 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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joost Van Buren!