PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between John Holliday (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Benton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benton has chosen Kung Fu Fighting as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Holliday
vs
Benton

183 cm
25
200 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

185 cm
26
185 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Good kicks
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 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, John Holliday!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Benton!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Alan Glass and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid leg kick lands there for Benton.
Sam Benton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Holliday moves out of range of the body kick from Benton.
Benton lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Benton connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Benton misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Holliday sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Benton takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Benton rushes Holliday and presses him up against the cage.
Benton misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Holliday.

Benton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Benton lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Benton 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.

Benton gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Holliday is trying to break free.
Benton trying to land knees to the body.
Holliday is trying to break the clinch but Benton is controlling him.
Benton lands an elbow inside.
Holliday is looking to break free of the clinch but Benton has double underhooks.
Holliday has had enough of the clinch but Benton keeps him there for the moment.
Benton is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Holliday is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Holliday is trying to break the clinch but Benton has him pressed against the cage.
Benton lands a damaging elbow.
Holliday has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Holliday takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like John Holliday has been cut.
Benton taking a breather.
Holliday takes an elbow to the temple.
Holliday tries to break free but Benton pushes him back against the cage.
Benton keeps control of Holliday as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Holliday takes an elbow to the temple.
Benton tries a knee to the head but Holliday blocks it.
A frustrated look appears on Holliday's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Benton avoiding damage.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Holliday tries to break the clinch but Benton is controlling the position.
Benton misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Holliday.
Holliday can't break the clinch.
Holliday is trying to force a seperation but Benton has the dominant position.
Benton is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Holliday is defending well for now.
Holliday tries to circle away but Benton has him pinned against the cage.
Knees to the body from Benton.
Holliday is trying to break the clinch but Benton has him pressed against the cage.
A knee to the head by Benton.

Benton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Benton throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Holliday.
A nice leg kick lands there from Benton.
Benton moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Holliday takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Holliday takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Holliday tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Holliday chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Benton can pounce on him.
Holliday is breathing heavily.

Benton moves into the clinch.
Benton lands a knee to the body.
Benton controlling the action here for a moment.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benton is trying to stall.
Benton lands an elbow that stopped Holliday in his tracks for a moment.
Holliday is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Holliday is defending well for now.
Holliday wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Benton dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Holliday wants to break the clinch but can't.
Benton creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Holliday's defenses.

Benton manages to break the clinch.
Holliday sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Holliday takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Holliday swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Benton tries to clinch up.
Benton bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Benton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Benton throws out a leg kick but Holliday moves out of range and Benton only half commits.
Benton connects with a solid leg kick.
Holliday missing with a left hand there. Benton was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Benton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Holliday paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A big left from Holliday misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Holliday takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Benton lands a nice leg kick that just misses Holliday's sensitive parts.
Benton lands with a thumping leg kick.

Benton moves into the clinch successfully.
Holliday has had enough of the clinch but Benton keeps him there for the moment.
Holliday tries to break free but Benton pushes him back against the cage.
Benton is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Knees in the clinch landing for Benton.
Benton unloads a knee to the mid-section. Holliday lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Benton scores a nice knee to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benton is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Holliday letting Benton take a breather here.
Benton with an attempt at a knee that misses.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Holliday looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Benton stalling against the cage.
Benton unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Benton lands a nice elbow.
Holliday blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Benton dominated that round.
The cut man is working on John Holliday's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Benton connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Holliday throws a hook to the side of Benton's head but Benton sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Benton throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Benton lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
An inside leg kick lands from Benton.
A good leg kick by Benton.
Benton keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Holliday misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benton.
Holliday misses with an uppercut. Benton saw that one coming.
Benton fails with an attempt to clinch.
The fighters circling - Holliday throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Benton dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Holliday. That did some damage!
A jab from Holliday misses.
Holliday is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Benton lands a nice leg kick that just misses Holliday's sensitive parts.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Benton.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Benton.
Benton feints and then cracks Holliday's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Holliday down.
Holliday is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Holliday takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Benton lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Benton looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Benton has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Holliday takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Holliday chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Benton can pounce on him.
Holliday takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Holliday takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Holliday paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Benton connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Benton pushes Holliday away with a front kick.
Benton lands a nice looking body kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Benton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton lands a high kick!
Benton lands a nice looking kick to the body. Holliday takes a step back to recover.
Holliday will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Benton.

Benton has taken the fight to the clinch.
Benton lands a knee to the body.
Benton with a knee to the head.
Benton utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Benton misses with a knee strike.
Benton lands a good knee to the midsection. Holliday won't want to take too many of those.
Benton connects with a knee to the head.
Benton missing with knees to the body.
Benton working Holliday over with knees to the body.
Benton lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Benton lands an elbow inside that Holliday shrugs off.
Benton unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Benton manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Benton using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Benton is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Benton connects with a nasty looking knee right to Holliday's face.
Benton lands a damaging elbow.
Benton lands a good knee to the midsection. Holliday won't want to take too many of those.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Benton obliges.
Sam Benton seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Benton gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Benton is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Benton has Holliday pressed against the cage.
Holliday avoiding damage as Benton throws knees to the body.
Benton lands an elbow inside.
Holliday tries to break the clinch but Benton is controlling the position.
Benton crunches a lovely knee into Holliday's ribcage.
Nice elbow from Benton.
Benton lands a knee to the body.
Benton scores a nice knee to the body.
Benton lands an elbow just above Holliday 's eye.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Nice elbow from Benton.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benton is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Holliday is defending well for now.

Benton manages to break the clinch.
Benton slips a straight right by Holliday.

Benton pushes Holliday up against the cage in a clinch.
Benton landing knees to the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Benton.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benton taking a breather.
Knees to the body from Benton.
Benton crunches a lovely knee into Holliday's ribcage.
Benton working Holliday over with knees to the body.
Holliday is looking to break free of the clinch but Benton has double underhooks.
Benton is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Holliday takes an elbow to the forehead.
Benton lands an elbow inside.
Benton unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Benton using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Benton is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Holliday is defending well for now.
Benton unloads a knee to the mid-section. Holliday lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Benton tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Holliday avoids it.
Holliday on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Holliday's face as he tries to break the clinch.
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 cut man is working on John Holliday'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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Benton connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Benton explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Holliday looks to score with a jab to the body but Benton is just out of range.
A swing and a miss from Holliday.
Holliday takes a swing at Benton's ribcage but misses.
Holliday moves out of range of the body kick from Benton.
Holliday takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Holliday tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Benton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Benton moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Benton keeps control of Holliday as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Holliday wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Benton has him pressed against the cage.
Benton misses with a knee strike.
Holliday wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Holliday.
Benton is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Holliday has had enough of the clinch but Benton keeps him there for the moment.
Holliday avoiding damage as Benton throws knees to the body.
Holliday wants to get back to striking at distance but Benton won't allow it.
Come on Benton - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Benton keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Holliday's efforts to push away.
A frustrated look appears on Holliday's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Holliday looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Benton keeps control of Holliday as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Holliday tries to break free but Benton pushes him back against the cage.
Holliday blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Holliday on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Holliday takes a knee to the side of the body.
Benton crunches a lovely knee into Holliday's ribcage.
Benton utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Benton keeps control of Holliday as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Benton tries to land knees in the clinch but Holliday avoids the damage to the body.
Benton crunches a lovely knee into Holliday's ribcage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Benton obliges.
Benton putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Holliday in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Sam Benton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benton lands a knee to the body.
Holliday can't break the clinch.
Benton tries to land knees in the clinch but Holliday avoids the damage to the body.
Benton has Holliday pressed against the cage, preventing Holliday from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Holliday is trying to break free.
Benton misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Holliday.
Benton landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Knees in the clinch landing for Benton.
Benton landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
John Holliday has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benton keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Holliday's efforts to push away.
A frustrated look appears on Holliday's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Holliday on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Benton has Holliday pressed against the cage, preventing Holliday from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Holliday goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Holliday is trying to break the clinch but Benton is controlling him.
Holliday has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Benton has Holliday pushed against the cage.
Benton utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Holliday tries to break the clinch but Benton is controlling the position.
Benton scores with a knee to the head.
Benton lands an elbow just above Holliday 's eye.
Benton trying to control the position but instead, Holliday has worked for underhooks and has pushed Benton into the cage.
Holliday swings wildly with an uppercut but Benton uses good head movement to avoid it.
Holliday misses with a punch to the body.
Holliday is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Benton keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Holliday's efforts to push away.
Holliday working hard to break the clinch.
Benton keeps control of Holliday as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Holliday wants to get back to striking at distance but Benton won't allow it.
Holliday wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Holliday wants to break free but Benton has control.
Holliday wants to get back to striking at distance but Benton won't allow it.
A body shot lands from Holliday.
A frustrated look appears on Holliday's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Holliday wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Holliday misses with a shot to the kidneys.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Holliday.
Holliday is trying to break the clinch but Benton has him pressed against the cage.
Benton is stalling here.
Holliday struggles to land a body shot inside as Benton controls his hands.

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 George Francis scores the fight 25:30
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 25:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 25:30

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