PBP Commentary

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

Benn
vs
Nakamura

175 cm
20
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

180 cm
22
155 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 1 - 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 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ryu Nakamura!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Daniel Cesar and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Benn.
Benn changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nakamura tries to avoid it but Benn manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nakamura to the ground. Nakamura escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nakamura fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Benn shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for CJ Benn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Benn.
Benn shoots in for a takedown but Nakamura shows good takedown defense.
Nakamura looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Nakamura fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Benn, pushing him back against the cage.
Benn tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nakamura just stands there and leans against the cage.
Benn blocking some punches.
Benn tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Nakamura scores with a shoulder strike.
Benn looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Benn wants a takedown but no success here.
Nakamura tries a body shot but Benn blocks it.
Benn tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nakamura just stands there and leans against the cage.
Benn fails to pull guard.
Benn fails to pull guard.
Benn tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Nakamura just stands there and leans against the cage.

Nakamura turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Nakamura manages to end up in side control.
A lull in the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nakamura is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Benn is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Nakamura lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Nakamura controlling from side mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benn is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Nakamura asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Benn avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Nakamura.
Nakamura really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Benn. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Nakamura has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Nakamura lands a body shot.
Nakamura throws a right hand that Benn ducks under and follows up with a left that Benn also avoids with ease.
Benn changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Nakamura tries to avoid it but Benn manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Nakamura to the ground. Nakamura escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Nakamura will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Horrible takedown by Benn or perhaps it was just good defense by Nakamura which made him look bad.

Benn darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Nakamura wants to control but Benn is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benn is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nakamura has managed to free his arm - good work.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Benn wants to work for an arm triangle but Nakamura is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Benn is breathing heavily.
Nakamura regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Benn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Benn postures up.
Benn throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Nakamura keeping moving, preventing Benn from controlling successfully.
Benn throwing strikes from guard but Nakamura blocks nicely.
Benn trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Benn trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nakamura tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Benn paws at him with a jab and circles away.
A combination from Nakamura does no damage.
Nakamura throws a nice looking combination but Benn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryu Nakamura dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Benn shoots in and drives through. Nakamura sprawls well.
Benn shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Nakamura as he jumps to the side.
Benn tries for a takedown but Nakamura sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for CJ Benn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nakamura scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Benn dodges the punch combination from Nakamura.
No luck for Benn with that takedown attempt.
Benn looks for a takedown but Nakamura sprawls well.
Benn dodges the punch combination from Nakamura.

Nakamura shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nakamura trying to control from half guard but Benn is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nakamura scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nakamura is looking to take a break and control but Benn is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nakamura performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Nakamura is just content to waste time from the top position. Benn takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Nakamura missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Benn has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Nakamura can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Benn had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Nakamura defends it easily.
Nakamura trying to control the position from guard on top but Benn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nakamura might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Benn kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nakamura pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benn is keeping the position for now.
Nakamura trying to control the position from guard on top but Benn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Benn is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nakamura wants to stand but Benn is controlling his posture from full guard.
Nakamura must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Benn throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Benn keeping moving, preventing Nakamura from controlling successfully.

Benn wriggles free and stands up.
Benn keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Nakamura connects with a single shot there.

Benn gets the takedown into side control.
Nakamura can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ryu Nakamura will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Benn has a takedown stuffed.
Nakamura is looking to clinch but Benn is avoiding it.
Benn gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Nakamura connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nakamura misses with the combination.
Nakamura throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Benn drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Benn tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Benn working away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Benn tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Benn has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Nakamura is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Benn yanks on the arm and Nakamura is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Benn.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). CJ Benn!