PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Wagner (ranked 3123 p4p, 24954 weight class) and Nickolas Benjamin (ranked 402 p4p, 597 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Wagner
vs
Benjamin

190 cm
27
205
5 - 3 - 0

181 cm
25
205
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bruce Wagner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Nickolas Benjamin!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, Chad Campbell and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wagner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Benjamin shoots and misses
and Wagner counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Benjamin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Wagner sprawls well. Wagner wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Benjamin gets slowly back to his feet.

Benjamin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Wagner, pushing him back against the cage.
Benjamin tries to land knees in the clinch but Wagner avoids the damage to the body.
Wagner misses with a hook to the ribs.
Wagner struggles to land a body shot inside as Benjamin controls his hands.
Benjamin is pushing Wagner up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee calls for Benjamin to work.
Benjamin stalling in the clinch.
Benjamin blocks a body shot from Wagner.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wagner misses with a hook to the ribs.
Benjamin is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bruce Wagner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nickolas Benjamin.

Benjamin breaks from the clinch.
Wagner missing with a left hand there. Benjamin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Wagner looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Benjamin tries for a takedown but Wagner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Benjamin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wagner.
Wagner throws the left hand but Benjamin avoids the punch easily.
Wagner fails to land with a series of punches.
Bruce Wagner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Benjamin will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Bruce Wagner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wagner scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Benjamin shoots in looking for a takedown. Wagner tries to sprawl out of it but Benjamin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Wagner manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Wagner lunges at Benjamin with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Benjamin's hand.
Wagner cracks Benjamin with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wagner swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Sloppy strikes from Benjamin. Those never looked like landing.
Wagner needs to keep his hands up - Benjamin had a free shot at his head there.
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!
Wagner misses with an uppercut. Benjamin saw that one coming.
Benjamin staying out of range there.
Wagner throws a jab when Benjamin was well out of range.
Wagner throws a big shot that misses.
Benjamin dives in and grabs Wagner's left leg, looking for a takedown. Wagner pushes down on Benjamin's head and hops out.
Wagner throws out a loose jab but Benjamin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Benjamin dives in and grabs Wagner's left leg, looking for a takedown. Wagner pushes down on Benjamin's head and hops out.
Benjamin dives in for a single leg takedown but Wagner sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Wagner loads up on a big right hand but Benjamin slips the punch.
Benjamin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wagner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A combination from Wagner does no damage.
Benjamin does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Wagner defends it nicely.
Benjamin moves in looking to clinch but Wagner pushes him off.
Benjamin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A head kick misses from Benjamin.
A little feinted left hand from Wagner on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Benjamin takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Wagner throws a hook but Benjamin blocks it.
Benjamin fails with an attempt to clinch.
Wagner throws a shot from downtown. Benjamin moves away and avoids it.
Benjamin looks for a takedown but Wagner sprawls well.
Benjamin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wagner swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Wagner misses with a hook to the ribs.
Wagner struggles to land a body shot inside as Benjamin controls his hands.
Benjamin prevents a body shot from Wagner.
Benjamin wants a takedown but no success here.
Benjamin has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Wagner is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Benjamin blocks a body shot from Wagner.
Benjamin jumps guard but Wagner stands there with Benjamin around his waist. Benjamin gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Benjamin is trying to pull guard but Wagner turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Wagner misses with a body punch.
Wagner tries to throw a body punch but Benjamin avoids it by throwing Wagner back against the cage.
Wagner struggles to land a body shot inside as Benjamin controls his hands.
Wagner tries a body shot but Benjamin blocks it.
Benjamin works on Wagner's body with a couple of short punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Wagner dominated that round.
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.

Benjamin moves away from the strike by Wagner.
Benjamin closes this distance looking for a takedown but Wagner circles away.
Benjamin tries to work over Wagner's front leg with a kick but Wagner checks it.

Wagner tries to keep at a distance but Benjamin has taken the fight into the clinch.
Good body shot from Wagner.
Wagner doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Wagner misses with a body punch.
Benjamin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Wagner can't find room to land a body shot as Benjamin controls the action.
Benjamin prevents a body shot from Wagner.

Benjamin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benjamin misses with a double jab.
Wagner swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Benjamin throws a left and a right that both miss
and Wagner counters with a nice uppercut.
Benjamin misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A bone on bone clash there as Benjamin blocks the leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wagner defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Benjamin.
Wagner fires out a quick counter leg kick but Benjamin just manages to avoid it.
Bruce Wagner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nickolas Benjamin.
Benjamin slips a jab from Wagner.
Benjamin slips a jab and a cross from Wagner.
Benjamin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Wagner pinned against the cage. Wagner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Benjamin is breathing heavily.
Good exchange - Wagner coming out on top.
A jab from Wagner misses.
Benjamin keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Benjamin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Wagner.
Wagner keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wagner throws a jab when Benjamin was well out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wagner as he jumps to the side.
Benjamin misses with a low kick as Wagner jumps back.
Wagner throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Wagner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Benjamin looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Wagner moves out of range as Benjamin strikes.
Wagner misses with a straight left.
Nickolas Benjamin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Wagner circles away from the clinch attempt.
Benjamin swings for the body but Wagner moves out of range.
Benjamin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Wagner pinned against the cage. Wagner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Wagner is looking to counter punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin goes for a double leg but Wagner avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Wagner continues to drive forward.
Benjamin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Wagner manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Wagner throws a hook but Benjamin blocks it.
Benjamin steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Wagner.
Benjamin tries to clinch
letting Wagner counter with a right hand.
Wagner throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Benjamin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Benjamin shoots in for a takedown but Wagner shows good takedown defense.
Benjamin shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wagner as he jumps to the side.
A good leg kick by Wagner.
Bruce Wagner is winning the standup battle so far.
Wagner paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Wagner is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Benjamin can do to turn this around?
Wagner connects with an inside leg kick.
Benjamin wants to clinch up but Wagner keeps it at a distance.
Benjamin tries to clinch there but Wagner circles away.
Wagner throws a hook but Benjamin blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Wagner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Benjamin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Benjamin wants to clinch up but Wagner keeps it at a distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Benjamin.
Benjamin looks for a takedown but Wagner sprawls well.
Wagner misses with a hook. Benjamin ducked under it nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Wagner with a hook.
Benjamin moves out of range of the leg kick from Wagner.
Benjamin fails with a takedown attempt.
Benjamin has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Benjamin there as he acknowledges the shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Bruce Wagner dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Wagner tries to work over Benjamin's front leg with a kick but Benjamin checks it.
Wagner scoring well with a low kick there.

Benjamin forces Wagner back against the cage and clinches.
Benjamin trying to land knees to the body.
Wagner misses with a body punch.
Benjamin is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Wagner gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Wagner lands a body shot.
Wagner doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Benjamin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Wagner throws a hook but Benjamin blocks it.
A combination from Wagner does no damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wagner bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Benjamin's head backwards.
Wagner is looking to score with low kicks.
Benjamin tries to clinch up.
Wagner throws a solid leg kick but Benjamin takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Wagner.
Wagner leaves Benjamin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wagner misses with a few strikes there.
Wagner throws a jab but it's blocked by Benjamin.
Benjamin shoots for a takedown but Wagner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Bruce Wagner has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nickolas Benjamin.
Benjamin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wagner throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.

Benjamin shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Benjamin was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Wagner is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Benjamin asserts his dominance and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Wagner bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Bruce Wagner is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Benjamin.
Wagner throws a nice inside leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benjamin swings for the body but Wagner moves out of range.
Wagner thows a left - swing and a miss!
Wagner lands a nice shot that snaps Benjamin's head back.
Benjamin tries to close the distance and clinch but Wagner swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Wagner motions for Benjamin to come forward. Wagner throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Wagner throws a nice looking combination but Benjamin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Wagner waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Benjamin.
No joy there for Wagner, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Benjamin moves out of range of the strikes.
Wagner misses with a hook.
Wagner tries to work over Benjamin's front leg with a kick but Benjamin checks it.
Benjamin shoots in looking for a takedown but Wagner manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Benjamin's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wagner throws a lazy right hand but Benjamin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wagner looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Benjamin fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Benjamin has his takedown stuffed
and Wagner counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wagner keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Benjamin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Wagner tries to land a leg kick but Benjamin saw it coming and moves away.
Wagner is looking to slow Benjamin down with leg kicks.
Benjamin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Wagner's waist but Wagner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Benjamin off to one side.
A jab from Wagner misses.
Benjamin is looking for the big counter here.
Benjamin avoids a punch combination nicely.
A nice side step and Benjamin releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wagner scores with a crisp jab that stopped Benjamin in his tracks.
A combination from Benjamin does no damage.
Benjamin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Wagner avoids it really well and circles away.
Wagner throws a hook but Benjamin blocks it.
Benjamin throws a counter combo.
Wagner throws a jab but it's blocked by Benjamin.
Benjamin will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Benjamin tries a head kick but it misses.
Wagner tried to counter with a leg kick but Benjamin avoided it.
Nickolas Benjamin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Wagner tries to work over Benjamin's front leg with a kick but Benjamin checks it.
Benjamin drops his hands momentarily and Wagner takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bruce Wagner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Wagner, 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bruce Wagner!
Bruce Wagner decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.