PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Bennet (ranked 426 p4p, 65 weight class) and Joost Van Buren (ranked 424 p4p, 64 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bennet
vs
Van Buren

190 cm
26
209 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

188 cm
25
206 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

KOMBAT KLOTHING

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 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Bennet!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Joost Van Buren!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fighters circling - Van Buren throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bennet misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Van Buren.
Van Buren cracks Bennet with a good jab.
Bennet looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Van Buren lands a leg kick that knocks Bennet off balance momentarily.
A combination from Van Buren does no damage.
Van Buren throws a jab but it's blocked by Bennet.
Bennet blocks a leg kick.
Bennet misses the shot to the body.
Van Buren looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Bennet takes a swing at Van Buren's ribcage but misses.

Bennet forces Van Buren back against the cage and clinches.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Bennet can't find room to land a body shot as Van Buren controls the action.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bennet.
Bennet tries a body shot but Van Buren blocks it.
A hook to the body from Bennet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Van Buren's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bennet throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Michael Bennet seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Buren throws an off balance right hand
and Bennet counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bennet tries to land a front kick but Van Buren steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Van Buren lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Van Buren checks a leg kick.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Van Buren slips under a jab from Bennet.
Van Buren looks to throw the jab but Bennet is out of range.
Van Buren throws a low kick but Bennet moves out of range easily.
Van Buren tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Bennet counters with a nice uppercut.
Bennet takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Van Buren cracks the inside of Bennet's front leg.
Bennet scores with a crisp jab that stopped Van Buren in his tracks.
An inside leg kick lands from Van Buren.

Van Buren pushes Bennet up against the cage in a clinch.
Bennet misses with a punch to the body.
Bennet misses with the head strike.
Van Buren blocks a body shot from Bennet.
Bennet misses with a punch to the body.
Bennet pushes Van Buren back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Van Buren makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bennet blocking some punches.
Van Buren swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Bennet breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bennet looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Bennet throws a low kick, looking for Van Buren's leg but Van Buren calmly moves out of range.
Bennet walks into a jab.
Bennet takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Van Buren connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Van Buren pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Van Buren throws a nice looking combination but Bennet bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
The fighters circling - Van Buren throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Van Buren moves into range and clinches up with Bennet.
Bennet doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bennet goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A nice right hand lands inside from Bennet.
Van Buren tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Bennet throws a head punch that misses.
Van Buren misses with a hook to the ribs.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Bennet lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Van Buren.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bennet breaks from the clinch.
Van Buren takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Bennet moves out of range as Van Buren throws a body kick.
A quick step to the side and Bennet tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bennet listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Bennet scores with a one two! Van Buren had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Bennet throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Van Buren only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Van Buren displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bennet throws out the jab.
Van Buren let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Bennet slips under a jab from Van Buren.
Van Buren ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bennet moves away.
Bennet scores with a jab to the head.
Van Buren lands a nice leg kick that just misses Bennet's sensitive parts.
The crowd cheers as Bennet lands an impressive looking overhand right. Van Buren doesn't seem phased though.
Bennet misses with a head kick.
Van Buren goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Buren throws a front kick aimed at Bennet's knee but Bennet avoids it well.
Bennet looks to land a right hand but Van Buren moved out of range.
Bennet looks to score with a jab to the body but Van Buren is just out of range.
Bennet throws a shot from downtown. Van Buren moves away and avoids it.
Bennet throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennet tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Van Buren paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Bennet looks to score with a jab to the body but Van Buren is just out of range.
Van Buren now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Van Buren tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Bennet is able to avoid easily.
Bennet takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Bennet moves in looking to clinch but Van Buren pushes him off.
Van Buren swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Bennet misses with a body shot.
Bennet is looking to land body kicks.
Van Buren rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Bennet counters with a body kick that stops Van Buren in his tracks momentarily.
Van Buren thows a left - swing and a miss!
A chopping leg kick lands by Van Buren.
Van Buren tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Van Buren takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Van Buren uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bennet.
The fighters circling - Van Buren throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Buren on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Bennet is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Bennet misses the shot to the body.
Bennet throws a big shot that misses.
It seemed like Van Buren was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Van Buren loads up on a big right hand but Bennet slips the punch.
Bennet tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Van Buren was well out of range. Poor timing from Bennet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Michael Bennet will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A jab from Bennet finds it's way through Van Buren's defenses.
Good leg kick by Van Buren there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Van Buren tries to clinch up.
Bennet avoids the body shot from Van Buren.
It looked like Bennet wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Van Buren moves away from the strike by Bennet.
Van Buren scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Michael Bennet is winning the standup battle so far.
Bennet looks for the body kick but Van Buren saw that one coming.
Van Buren lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Bennet on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Van Buren. Van Buren obviously looking to wear him down.
Bennet throws a body punch but Van Buren moves out of range.
Van Buren throws out a counter right but Bennet avoids it with no problem.
Bennet slips under a jab from Van Buren.
Bennet avoids the body shot from Van Buren.

Van Buren clinches with his opponent.
Bennet misses with a punch to the body.
Van Buren working aggressively here.
Bennet lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Van Buren.
Bennet can't find room to land a body shot as Van Buren controls the action.
Bennet is trying to push Van Buren away but Van Buren has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Bennet blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bennet struggles to land a body shot inside as Van Buren controls his hands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Buren controlling the action here for a moment.
Bennet throws a head punch that misses.
Van Buren blocks an uppercut.
Bennet tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Van Buren tries to work over Bennet's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Van Buren tries a body shot but Bennet blocks it.
Bennet blocks a body shot from Van Buren.
Van Buren presses Bennet against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Van Buren lands a right hand that snaps the head of Bennet backwards.
Bennet is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bennet.
Van Buren prevents a body shot from Bennet.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Van Buren.

Bennet breaks from the clinch.
Good exchange - Van Buren coming out on top.
Bennet keeps the fight on the outside.
Bennet throws a leg kick but Van Buren sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Bennet takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Buren wants to land a leg kick but Bennet is out of range.
Bennet lands a jab to the head.
Van Buren tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Bennet tried to counter with a leg kick but Van Buren avoided it.
A lazy left from Van Buren finds it's target.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bennet fakes the leg kick and cracks Van Buren in the body.
Bennet scores with the left hand. Van Buren knows he should have avoided that one.
Van Buren is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Van Buren waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bennet.
Bennet swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Van Buren let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Bennet lands a head kick!
Van Buren sizes up Bennet with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Van Buren throws a low kick but Bennet avoids it.
Bennet lands with an overhand left.

Bennet clinches.
Bennet lands with a right to the head.
Bennet lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Van Buren's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Bennet throws a body kick that misses.
Van Buren moves out of range as Bennet throws a body kick.
Van Buren takes a swing at Bennet's ribcage but misses.
Van Buren misses with a kick to the body.
Nice jab there from Bennet.
Van Buren lands a front kick.
Van Buren throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Van Buren keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bennet goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bennet swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Bennet tries to land a front kick but Van Buren steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Van Buren fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Van Buren darts in and clinches Bennet up against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bennet.
Bennet misses with a punch to the body.
Bennet scores with a shoulder strike.
Bennet misses with a punch to the body.
Van Buren displaying some good clinch control by pressing Bennet up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennet is trying to break the clinch but Van Buren has him pressed against the cage.
Michael Bennet has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Van Buren looking to slow down the pace here.
Van Buren lands a shot to the body.

Van Buren escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Van Buren looks to land a body kick but Bennet moved away.
Van Buren uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bennet.
Bennet throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Bennet jabs Van Buren to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Van Buren misses with a low kick.
Bennet is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Van Buren lands with an uppercut that bounces Bennet off the cage and back into range.
Bennet uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Van Buren.
Van Buren lands a jab to the nose.
Bennet is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Van Buren.
Van Buren pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joost Van Buren will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bennet slips a straight right by Van Buren.
Bennet connects with a body shot that sends Van Buren's belly button to the back.
Bennet scores with a decent looking hook.
Bennet tries to move into range but Van Buren moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Bennet throws a nice inside leg kick.
Van Buren takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Van Buren misses with a low kick.
Bennet misses with the body kick
and Van Buren counters with a body kick that stops Bennet in his tracks momentarily.
Van Buren swinging wildly here.
It looked like Bennet wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Bennet takes a swing at Van Buren's ribcage but misses.
Van Buren has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Bennet finds it's way round the side to connect with Van Buren's head.
Van Buren rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bennet moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Van Buren misses the target.
It looked like Bennet was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Van Buren.
Van Buren lands with an overhand left.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Van Buren takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Bennet connects with a solid leg kick.
Bennet just misses with a punch to the body.
Van Buren loads up on a big right hand but Bennet slips the punch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bennet rushes Van Buren and presses him up against the cage.
Bennet lands a right hand.
Bennet blocking some punches.
Van Buren is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Bennet misses with a hook to the ribs.
Bennet has a couple of punches blocked by Van Buren.
Bennet struggles to land a body shot inside as Van Buren controls his hands.
Van Buren blocks a body shot from Bennet.
Bennet lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bennet lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Van Buren backwards.

Van Buren pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Some bone on bone action there as Van Buren checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Bennet fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Van Buren, pushing him back against the cage.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Van Buren looking to stall.

Van Buren escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennet uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Van Buren has time to react.
Bennet misses with a wild body shot.
Bennet goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bennet lands a jab to the nose.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bennet keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bennet looks to score with a jab to the body but Van Buren is just out of range.
Van Buren connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bennet momentarily.
Bennet scores with a hook to the body. Van Buren takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Bennet doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Bennet misses the jab.
Bennet swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Van Buren let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Bennet moves forwards but Van Buren connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Van Buren throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Van Buren dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bennet. That did some damage!
Bennet connects with a jab.
Bennet is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Van Buren.
Bennet displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Van Buren throws out the jab.
A head kick misses from Van Buren.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennet just misses with a punch to the body.
Van Buren slips a straight right by Bennet.
Bennet bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Van Buren's head.
Bennet displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Van Buren throws out the jab.

Bennet gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Nice body punch from Bennet.
Bennet tries to work over Van Buren's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Bennet misses with some punches.
Van Buren swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bennet.
Van Buren has a couple of punches blocked by Bennet.
Van Buren misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bennet softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Van Buren.
Bennet scores with a shot to the side of Van Buren's head.

Bennet breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice uppercut there from Bennet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Van Buren closes the distance looking to clinch
and Bennet counters with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennet lands with a good body shot.
Bennet lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Bennet takes a swing at Van Buren's ribcage but misses.
Bennet on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Van Buren stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Bennet.
Bennet throws out a loose jab but Van Buren uses good head movement to avoid it.
Van Buren misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Bennet swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Bennet moves out of range of the strikes.
Van Buren doesn't manage to clinch there - Bennet circles away.
Bennet swings widly with a right hand
letting Van Buren counter with a right hand.
Bennet misses with a kick to the body.
Van Buren unleashes a big counter combination but Bennet bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van Buren misses with a body shot.
Bennet swings for the body but Van Buren moves out of range.
Van Buren tries a quick counter leg kick but Bennet is wise to it.
A telegraphed right hand from Van Buren misses the target.
Van Buren connects with a nice looking jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Bennet showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bennet has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Bennet!
In his post fight interview, Michael Bennet started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.