PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between CJ Benn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Diego Zeke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Benn
vs
Zeke

175 cm
19
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

172 cm
20
154 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, CJ Benn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Diego Zeke!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Daniel Cesar and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zeke swinging wildly here.
Benn avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zeke moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Zeke loads up on a big right hand but Benn slips the punch.
Zeke fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Diego Zeke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zeke throws a head kick that misses.

Benn has taken the fight to the clinch.
Benn lands a body punch in the clinch.
Benn is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Zeke wants a takedown.
Benn is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Zeke drops down looking for an ankle pick but Benn pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benn closes the distance and clinches up with Zeke, looking for a takedown. Benn pushes Zeke against the cage but Zeke circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for CJ Benn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zeke stuffs the takedown.
Zeke throws a series of punches but Benn avoids them all with ease.
Benn tests Zeke's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Zeke throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zeke shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Benn counters with a shoot takedown. Zeke fights it but they end up in guard.

Benn got a little sloppy there for a moment and Zeke has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Benn has managed to get both his arms back between Zeke's legs - danger averted.
Benn controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zeke wants to stand and escape but Benn is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benn in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Zeke scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Zeke looks gassed!
Zeke swinging wildly here.
Zeke throws a series of punches but Benn moves out of range.
Benn shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zeke defends it nicely.
Zeke swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeke missing with a left hand there. Benn was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zeke looks to land a right hand but Benn moved out of range.
Benn slips a jab and a cross from Zeke.
Benn shoots for a double leg takedown but Zeke sprawls well. He's pushed Benn's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Zeke thuds his right hand into Benn's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Some wild striking there from Zeke.
Zeke throws a left and a right that both miss

and Benn counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Benn tries to pass to full mount but Zeke defends it.
Benn thows a huge punch but Zeke dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeke avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Benn.
Benn prevents Zeke from improving his position.
Benn missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Zeke looking for submissions off his back.
Benn sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Zeke defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CJ Benn dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Benn keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zeke.
Benn keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Benn shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Zeke won't allow Benn to pass to mount.
Benn works his way into full mount!

Benn get's back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeke swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Benn counters with a shoot takedown. Zeke fights it but they end up in guard.
Zeke utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Benn trying to control but Zeke is working from the bottom.
Zeke keeping full guard, as Benn tries to pass.
Zeke is wriggling around but Benn manages to pass to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zeke looking for submissions off his back.
Zeke is breathing heavily.
Benn passes into side control, despite Zeke's attempt to control the position.

Benn wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zeke, who protects the arm well.
Benn lands a few punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeke tries to improve position but can't.
Benn wants to control but Zeke is keeping him busy.
Zeke wants to get back to his feet.

Benn looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Benn prevents Zeke from escaping the position.
Benn tries to advance to mount but can't.
Benn looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Zeke is avoiding damage well.
Zeke is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

CJ Benn dominated that second round.
That's time! Benn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A punch lands to the side of Benn 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Benn instigates a clinch.
Benn is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Zeke gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Zeke fails to pull guard.
Zeke goes for a takedown in the clinch but Benn prevents it.

Benn jumps guard and drags Zeke to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Zeke has gone for a leg lock! Benn slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zeke's guard.
Benn controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benn looking to pass the guard.

Zeke has his foot on Benn's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Benn works his way back into a safe position though.
Zeke takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Benn drops back looking for a leg! Zeke is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zeke manages to kick Benn off! Benn jumps back into Zeke's guard.
Benn preventing the sweep.

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.

Zeke is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Benn defends well.
Zeke wants to stand up but Benn is controlling him.
Benn advances position into side control!
Zeke wants to control but Benn postures up.
Diego Zeke has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benn has hold of Zeke's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Zeke tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Benn cranks the arm and Zeke screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Zeke, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). CJ Benn!