PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Xander Benson (ranked 5113 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lio Rush (ranked 7680 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.

Benson
vs
Rush

175 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Xander Benson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lio Rush!
The judges for this bout are Peter Branson, Winston Alpacca and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rush clinches with his opponent.
A short right from Rush on the inside.
Rush misses with the head strike.
Rush can't break the clinch.
Rush misses with a short punch on the inside.

Benson drags the fight down to the ground.
Rush makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rush accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rush throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rush working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rush throws a big right hand that misses.
Benson is trying to control the position but Rush postures up.
Rush with a flurry of punches that miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benson is trying to keep Rush in close.
Benson tries to strike from the bottom.
Benson is trying to control the position but Rush postures up.
Rush throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Benson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rush is aware though and is defending well.
Rush missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Benson controls Rush momentarily but Rush frees himself.
Rush working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rush missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Benson keeping full guard, as Rush tries to pass.
Rush trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rush.
Rush throws a strike but Benson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Rush throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Benson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Benson preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rush lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rush throws a big elbow that misses.
Rush throwing strikes but missing.
Benson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rush slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Rush misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Benson is breathing heavily.
You can see the frustration on Benson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Rush tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Rush in side control, throwing shots but Benson defends.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson struggling a bit here.
Benson dodges the ground and pound from Rush.
Rush throws a strike aimed at the side of Benson's head but Benson avoids it well.
Rush in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
An elbow from Rush crashes against the mat.
Rush working the strikes but Benson uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Rush thows a huge punch but Benson dodges it nicely.
Rush not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rush throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rush thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Rush missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rush throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rush sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Benson defending well though.
Rush throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Benson actively working from the bottom here.
Rush missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Rush not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rush throwing shots but Benson is blocking nicely.
Rush scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rush sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Benson defending well though.
Rush landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Rush thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Benson's head.
Rush thows a huge punch but Benson dodges it nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benson blocking the ground and pound attempt from Rush.
Rush not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Rush thows a huge punch but Benson dodges it nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lio Rush dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rush closes the distance and clinches.
Benson blocking some punches.
Benson putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rush in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A short right from Rush on the inside.
Benson has Rush pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Rush manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Rush working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rush lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Benson lands a hook that snaps the head of Rush backwards.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rush.
Benson is trying to drag Rush to the mat but Rush just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Benson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rush misses with some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Rush fails to land.
Benson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rush has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rush scores with a shot to the side of Benson's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Rush pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xander Benson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rush misses with a punch on the inside.
Rush throws a punch but it's blocked by Benson.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rush as Benson tries to tie him up.
Lio Rush seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Rush lands a shoulder strike.
Rush throws a punch but it's blocked by Benson.
Benson blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Benson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rush moves into the clinch.
Rush misses with a hook from the clinch.
Rush lands a hook that snaps the head of Benson backwards.
Rush lands with a left to the head.
Rush working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rush throws a head punch that misses.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Rush as Benson shoots in.
Rush misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Rush closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benson takes a shot to the head.
Benson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Rush.
Rush throws a head punch that misses.
Rush swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rush lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Benson blocks an uppercut.
Rush misses with some punches.
Rush tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Benson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Benson tries to keep at a distance but Rush has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush misses with the head strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benson.

Benson manages to break the clinch.
Benson throws a sloppy head kick and Rush moves out of range easily.

Benson has closed the distance and engaged Rush in a clinch.
A short right from Rush on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rush.
Rush lands a hook that snaps the head of Benson backwards.
A nice left hand lands by Rush.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Rush misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benson.

Rush pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rush drives through and clinches with Benson against the cage.
Rush throws a head punch that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rush lands with a right to the head.
Rush lands an uppercut.
Rush looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Rush swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rush misses with the head strike.
Rush misses with the head strike.
Rush working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Benson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benson.
Rush lands a hook to the side of the head.
Benson blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rush.
Benson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Benson blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rush.
Rush throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lio Rush showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Benson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Rush moves into the clinch successfully.
Rush scores with a shot to the side of Benson's head.
Benson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Benson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Benson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rush has taken the fight to the clinch.
Benson fails to pull guard.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rush.
Benson blocks an uppercut.
Benson blocks an uppercut.
Rush misses with some punches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rush takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Benson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rush darts in trying to clinch
and Benson counters with a three punch combo that has Rush backing up. Rush nods at Benson to acknowledge the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rush gets a clinch.
Rush misses with some punches.
Rush swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rush throws a head punch that misses.
Rush lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A right handed body shot lands from Benson.
Benson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rush walks away with a smile on his face. Benson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Xander Benson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Rush gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rush throws a punch but it's blocked by Benson.
Rush is trying to pull guard but Benson has him pressed against the cage.
Rush misses with a punch on the inside.
Rush throws a head punch that misses.
Rush tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Benson pulls Rush into guard.
Rush is looking to work some ground and pound but Benson has wrist control.
Rush throwing strikes from guard but Benson blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rush.

Rush avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Benson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rush doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rush manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Benson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rush.
Rush trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rush throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Benson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rush in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rush throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Benson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Benson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Rush working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rush lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rush missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rush with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rush postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rush accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rush stops Benson from standing up.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Rush moves into range and clinches up with Benson.
Rush throws a head punch that misses.
Rush misses with a punch on the inside.
Rush lands a right hand that snaps the head of Benson backwards.
Lio Rush is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Benson is trying to break the clinch but Rush has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rush tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benson is working for takedown but Rush is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rush has a couple of punches blocked by Benson.
Benson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benson tries to break free but Rush pushes him back against the cage.
Xander Benson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rush.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lio Rush comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Rush 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lio Rush!
An out of breath Lio Rush thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.