PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benji Torres (ranked 1199 p4p, 2276 weight class) and Semba Rua (ranked 162 p4p, 296 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Torres
vs
Rua

188 cm
23
171
7 - 6 - 0

184 cm
24
180
10 - 6 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Benji Torres!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Semba Rua!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Ackerman and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rua takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Torres connects with the punch.
Torres rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Rua moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Torres looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Rua loads up on a big right hand but Torres slips the punch.
Torres fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Torres lands with a hook. Rua tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Torres looks to throw the jab but Rua is out of range.
Torres fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rua connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

It looks like Benji Torres has been cut.
Torres scores with a hook to the body. Rua takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Torres slips a jab from Rua.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Torres lands a jab to Rua's midsection.
Rua throws the left hand but Torres avoids the punch easily.
Rua throws a lazy right hand but Torres sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rua on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Torres stuns Rua with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A cross from Torres lands.
Rua throws a jab when Torres was well out of range.
Rua misses the shot to the body.
Benji Torres seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torres lands a jab to the head.
A big left from Rua misses.
Torres scores with a body shot.
Torres cracks Rua with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Decent striking displayed by Torres there.
Rua looks to land a left hand but Torres moved out of range nicely.
Rua missing with a left hand there. Torres was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Rua fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Rua takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Torres fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Torres lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rua throws out a loose jab but Torres uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rua catches Torres with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A big left from Rua misses.
Rua takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Torres lands with a nice body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua throws a lazy right hand but Torres sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Rua throws an off balance right hand
and Torres counters with a two punch combo.
Torres ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rua moves away.
Rua misses with a lunging right hand
and Torres counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rua waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Torres.
Torres steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rua.
Rua looks to throw the jab but Torres is out of range.
Torres with a nice cross.
Rua throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Torres moves out of range of the strikes.
Torres uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rua.
Torres connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Rua's hands.
Rua misses with a left hand
and Torres counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Rua takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A left lands for Torres.
Rua keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rua misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torres throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Torres lands a jab to the head.
Torres tests Rua's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Rua has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Torres finds it's way round the side to connect with Rua's head.
Rua throws out a loose jab but Torres uses good head movement to avoid it.
Torres throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rua counters with a stiff right hand.
Rua walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Rua throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Torres.
Torres lunges at Rua with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rua's hand.
Rua throws a big shot that misses.
Rua moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rua throws a hook but Torres avoids it easily.
Torres closes the distance and lands a one-two.
The fighters circling - Rua throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rua walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua falls off balance throwing a combination
and Torres cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Rua showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Torres.
Rua doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Rua throws a jab when Torres was well out of range.
A counter left hand to the body from Torres misses its target.
Nice body punch from Torres.
Rua with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Torres to score with a decent uppercut.
Rua takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Torres misses with a wild body shot.
Rua throws a counter combo.
Torres scores with a nice strike.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rua throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Rua takes one to the chin there.
Rua takes one to the side of the head.
Rua throws out a loose jab but Torres uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Benji Torres dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Benji Torres's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rua swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Torres.
Torres lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A nice combination there by Torres.
Rua has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Torres scores with a sloppy right hand. Rua should have avoided that one.
Torres fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rua on the side of the head.
Torres slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rua throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Torres lands a body shot.
The fighters circling - Rua throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Rua will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
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!
Torres slips a straight right by Rua.
Rua takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rua takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Torres uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rua.
Rua takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Torres takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torres avoids the body shot from Rua.
Torres scores with a jab.
Torres connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Rua momentarily.
Rua loads up on a big right hand but Torres slips the punch.
Benji Torres is winning the standup battle so far.
Torres scores with a shot to the body.
Torres lands a nice hook to Rua's body. Rua takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rua takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rua takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Torres throws the left hand but Rua avoids the punch easily.
Torres throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rua stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Torres scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rua in his tracks.
Torres works Rua's body with a nice hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rua takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A big left from Rua misses.
Torres slips under a jab from Rua.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torres connects with a nice looking jab.
Rua throws a sloppy body shot
and Torres counters with a left and a right that stings Rua.
Rua scores with the left hand. Torres knows he should have avoided that one.
Rua has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Torres finds it's way round the side to connect with Rua's head.
Rua misses with a lunging right hand
and Torres counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Torres stalks Rua and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rua's face. Rua staggers backwards, shaken.
Torres steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Rua.
Rua ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Torres moves away.
Rua looks to throw the jab but Torres is out of range.
Torres jabs at Rua's body.
Torres closes the distance and lands a one-two.
A shot to the liver by Torres. Beautiful body shot.
Rua might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Rua throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Torres counters with a stiff right hand.
Rua pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Torres is looking to counter punch.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Rua might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Torres has got the better of the exchanges.
Torres throws a body punch but Rua moves out of range.
Torres lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot lands for Torres.
Rua throws a right hand that misses
and Rua takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Rua throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Torres fails to land with a series of punches.
Rua takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Rua misses with a lunging right hand
and Torres counters with a two punch combo.
Torres scores with a hook to the body. Rua takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Torres lands a glancing blow to the side of Rua's head.
Rua throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Torres counters with a left to the body.
Torres lands with an overhand left.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rua moves forwards but Torres connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Rua's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Torres connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Rua scrambles back to his feet.
Rua misses the body punch
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
letting Torres counter with a right hand.
Nice shot lands for Torres.
Torres swings for the body but Rua moves out of range.
Torres is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rua can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rua bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Torres lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Rua at a distance.
Torres lands a slapping body shot.
Torres throws a shot to the body.
Rua throws a poor cross that misses
and Torres counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Torres tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Rua was well out of range. Poor timing from Torres.
Rua looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A shot to the liver by Torres. Beautiful body shot.
Rua misses with a hook. Torres ducked under it nicely.
Torres lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Torres throws a shot to the body.
Torres swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rua throws out a counter right but Torres avoids it with no problem.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Torres with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Rua tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Torres was well out of range. Poor timing from Rua.
A left and a right from Torres both land. Nice combination.
Rua throws a jab when Torres was well out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Benji Torres dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Benji Torres'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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Torres ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Torres lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rua circles away quickly and effectively.
Torres with a jab.
Torres tests Rua's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Torres throws a good cross that connects.
A jab from Torres does it's job there.
Torres fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Torres.
Torres misses the shot to the body.
Rua takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Torres lands with a shot to the body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Torres connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Torres cracks Rua with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rua misses with a hook. Torres ducked under it nicely.
Rua misses the jab.
Torres was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Torres slips under a jab from Rua.
Rua takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
A combination from Torres does no damage.
Rua keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Left hook, right uppercut from Torres.
Rua thows a left - swing and a miss!
Torres lunges at Rua with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Rua's hand.
Torres cracks Rua with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Torres throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Rua counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Rua is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Torres fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Rua manages to avoid it.
Rua misses with a looping right.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Torres keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rua takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Rua misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rua takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Torres with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Torres looks to land a combination but Rua avoids it well.
Rua throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
It looked like Torres was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Rua.
Rua takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Torres scores with a jab to the body.
Nice shot by Torres.
Torres lands a nice shot that snaps Rua's head back.
Rua lands with a good body shot.
Left hook, right uppercut from Torres.
Nice body punch from Torres.
Torres takes a swing at Rua's ribcage but misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Torres.
Rua slips under a jab from Torres.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Torres!
Torres connects with a jab.
Torres staying out of range there.
Rua takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Torres showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rua.
A decent looking cross lands there for Torres.
Torres displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rua throws out the jab.
Rua closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Benji Torres is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A shot to the body from Torres misses
and Rua counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
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!
Rua throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Torres counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Torres uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Torres is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Torres just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Torres scores with a crisp jab that stopped Rua in his tracks.
Rua takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Torres with a nice cross.
Rua misses with a body shot
and Torres counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Rua closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Torres lands a nice looking body shot.
Nice defenses there by Torres.
Rua throws a hook but Torres blocks it.
Torres bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Torres connects with a jab.
Torres lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Torres scores with a body shot.
Torres feints a jab promting Rua to slip. Torres then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Rua slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Semba Rua has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rua walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benji Torres showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Torres 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benji Torres!