PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Royce Grazies (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Benton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Benton's choice of entrance music: Kung Fu Fighting. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Grazies
vs
Benton

186 cm
23
197 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

185 cm
25
185 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Royce Grazies!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sam Benton!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benton tries a low kick but Grazies avoids it.
Benton is looking to clinch but Grazies is avoiding it.
Grazies takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

Benton drives through and clinches with Grazies against the cage.

Benton is fighting off a takedown attempt but Grazies is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Benton to the mat. Benton regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Benton is pulling down on Grazies's head. It's preventing any offense from Grazies, at least for the moment.

Benton throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Benton has control of Grazies's left arm, preventing Grazies from doing any damage.

Grazies is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Benton is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Benton has escaped and now he's on top!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Benton accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Grazies works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Benton forces his way into half guard.
Benton has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Grazies is not content to let Benton control the position.

Grazies looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benton missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Grazies is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Benton pulls his head out easily.
Grazies avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Benton.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Grazies shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Benton pinned against the cage. Benton gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Benton lands a jab to the nose.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Grazies shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Benton holds on and takes a little breather.
Grazies stopping the sweep attempt from Benton.
Grazies looking to sit in guard and control but Benton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Benton sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Grazies's guard.
Benton winds up and cracks Grazies with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Benton lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Grazies gets back to full guard.
Grazies keeping moving, preventing Benton from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton postures up and lands a big shot to Grazies's brow.

Benton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Grazies has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Benton has managed to get both his arms back between Grazies's legs - danger averted.
Grazies utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Benton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Grazies swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Grazies looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Grazies utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Grazies escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Benton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Benton wants to control from the top but Grazies keeps moving.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Benton shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Benton showed some decent athleticism there.

Benton seems to be working for a kimura but Grazies defends the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benton trying to mount his opponent but Grazies defends it.
Benton works his way into side control.
Benton lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Grazies wants to control but Benton postures up.

Benton thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Grazies manages to get back to half guard.
Benton prevents Grazies from improving his position.

Benton is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Grazies is just riding it out for now. Benton eventually gives up the hold.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Benton dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Grazies scores with a takedown into Benton's guard.
Grazies tries to free his leg and advance position but Benton is retaining full guard.
Benton pulls Grazies in close to prevent any damage.
Grazies trying to control but Benton is working from the bottom.

Grazies drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Benton dives on top into guard.

Grazies is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Grazies is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Benton is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Benton scoring with punches to the head and body.
Benton is working Grazies over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Benton's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Benton trying to control but Grazies is working from the bottom.

Grazies is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Benton defends well.
Benton forces his way into half guard.
Benton is thwarting Grazies's attempts to control the position.
Benton is pressing down on Grazies's thigh, looking to free his foot. Grazies is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Benton connects with a nice short shot to Grazies's temple.
Grazies wants to control but Benton is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Grazies wants to improve his position but Benton is controlling well.
Benton is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Benton not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Grazies is trying to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Benton throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Benton doesn't manage to clinch there - Grazies circles away.
Benton throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

Benton looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Grazies!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benton has hold of Grazies's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Grazies manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
A nice elbow there by Benton.
Benton wants to control the pace but Grazies is squirming around nicely.
Benton postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Grazies looks a forlorn figure.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benton is landing with some decent strikes but Grazies is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Grazies is desperately trying to improve his position but Benton has a good base and remains in mount.
Benton lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Grazies regains half guard.
Grazies is not content to let Benton control the position.
Grazies works his way to full guard. Good work.

Grazies escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Benton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Benton preventing the sweep.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Benton chips away with some ground and pound.

Grazies throws his legs up looking for a submission but Benton uses it to pass to side control.
Sam Benton has got the better of the ground game so far.
Benton connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Grazies some visible discomfort.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Benton showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Benton gets the takedown into side control.

Benton is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Grazies knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Benton in side control, throwing shots but Grazies defends.
Grazies takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Grazies parries the strikes from Benton easily there. Benton is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Grazies to escape.

Benton working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Benton works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Grazies is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Benton's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Grazies is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Benton pulls his head out easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grazies moves into full guard.
Grazies working a defensive guard here.

Grazies is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Benton is aware though and is defending well.
Benton lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Grazies escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Benton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Benton advances position into side control!
Benton working the head with strikes.
Sam Benton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton happy to just control the position for now.
Grazies tries to bench press Benton off him but Benton keeps the position.
Benton trying to control the action but Grazies is working from the bottom.
Grazies being controlled for a moment.
Benton is looking to take a break and control but Grazies is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton staying calm.
Grazies sneaks back into half guard.
Grazies wants to control but Benton is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Benton sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Despite being in the dominant position, Sam Benton just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Grazies shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Benton counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Grazies keeping moving, preventing Benton from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benton is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Grazies has his foot on Benton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Benton works his way back into a safe position though.
Benton controlling from the top position.

Grazies throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Benton controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Benton comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Benton has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 27:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 27:30
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Benton!