PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Mike Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bobo Plata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bennett comes to the cage accompanied by Stronger, Kanye West. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bennett
vs
Plata

182 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 Tokyo, Mike Bennett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Bobo Plata!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Yukihiro Shimada and Tatsuya Matsuyama.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Plata shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Plata has a takedown stuffed.
Bennett looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bennett doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Plata counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Bennett throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Bennett has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Plata can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Plata trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bennett trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Plata wanted to stand there but Bennett had control of the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Bennett holds on and takes a little breather.
Plata works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Plata is looking for a kimura but Bennett is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Plata to get the leverage.

Plata seems to be working for a kimura but Bennett defends the submission attempt.
Bennett flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Bennett trying to hold on to Plata's head to control him but Plata postures up.
Bennett moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Plata is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bennett is breathing heavily.
Plata trying to control the position from guard on top but Bennett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Plata stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bennett swivels though and keeps the full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Bennett tries a head kick but it misses.
A head kick misses from Bennett.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Bennett gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Plata moves into the clinch.
Bennett tries to break the clinch but Plata is controlling the position.

Plata tightens his grip and picks Bennett up, before dumping him to the ground. Bennett manages to land in guard.
Plata slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Bennett looking to control.

Plata decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Plata gets the takedown into side control.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Plata is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bennett knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
You can see the frustration on Bennett's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plata tries to advance to mount but can't.
You can see the frustration on Bennett's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bennett tries to improve position but can't.

Plata wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bennett, who protects the arm well.
Bennett is looking to reverse the position.
Plata wants to control but Bennett is keeping him busy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bennett shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Plata counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mike Bennett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bennett throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Plata.

Plata gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bennett tries to pull guard but Plata holds him up against the cage and eventually Bennett drops back down to his feet.

Bennett breaks from the clinch.
Bennett tries to clinch up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett throws a sloppy head kick and Plata moves out of range easily.
Bennett dodges the punch combination from Plata.
Bennett goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Bennett shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Plata pinned against the cage. Plata gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A solid body kick from Bennett.

Bennett shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Bennett was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Bennett raining down shots from the mount!
Bennett looking to control but Plata is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Bennett works his way to his opponent's back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Bennett is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Plata has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Plata trying to control the position but Bennett manages to sink in the hooks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Bobo Plata will probably get the nod.
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.

Plata fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Bennett sprawls well initially but Plata persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Plata prevents Bennett from improving his position.

Bennett looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Bennett is trying to stand up here but Plata is controlling him well.
Bennett blocking the ground and pound attempt from Plata.
Bennett is refusing to be controlled, as Plata sits in half guard.
Bennett manages to get to full guard.
Bennett keeping full guard, as Plata tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bennett throws a head kick but Plata moves out of range.
Bennett shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett throws a head kick that misses.
Plata is looking to clinch.
Plata fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Plata is breathing heavily.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Plata.

Bennett closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Bennett creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Plata sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
A lull in the action here.
Bennett trying to control the position but Plata is working away.

Bennett is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Plata knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Bennett lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Bennett works to advance to full mount. Plata defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett wants to control the pace but Plata is squirming around nicely.
Plata tries to hold on but Bennett pushes him away.
Plata keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Bennett trying to control but Plata is having none of it.
Bennett controlling the position easily from mount.
Bennett tries to control but Plata wriggling away.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Mike Bennett.
Bennett wants to clinch.
Bennett throws a head kick but Plata moves out of range.
Plata closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Plata drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bennett is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Plata looking to pass the guard.
Bennett looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Plata must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Plata passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Bennett gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Bennett is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Plata's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Plata's back!

Bennett is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Plata is defending well though. Bennett let's go of the attempt for now.

Plata fending off the submission attempt from Bennett.
Bennett keeps control of the position as Plata tries to break free.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bennett has the rear naked choke here! This is very bad for Plata! Can he survive? No! He's out! Bennett gets to his feet and celebrates with his cornermen. He looks absolutely delighted. In the post fight interviews he takes time to thank his parents and everyone who has believed in him from the start. How sweet.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Mike Bennett!