PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ben Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bart Griffin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Benson might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Emergence Of Talents. The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Benson
vs
Griffin

185 cm
23
190 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
198 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ben Benson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Bart Griffin!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, John Kavanagh and Franklyn Lucas.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Griffin defending well as Benson loads up on a big left hand.
Benson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Benson throws a solid leg kick but Griffin takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Benson.
Griffin avoids the body shot from Benson.
Benson connects with a right hand. Griffin shakes it off.

It looks like Bart Griffin has been cut.
Benson swings for the body but Griffin moves out of range.
Benson throws a lazy right hand but Griffin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Benson takes a swing at Griffin's ribcage but misses.

Griffin scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

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

Griffin swings around for an armbar but Benson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Griffin's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Griffin working for submissions but it's allowed Benson to get to half guard.
Benson is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

Griffin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Benson pulls his head out easily.

Griffin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Griffin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Griffin looks gassed!

Griffin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

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.

Griffin looking for submissions off his back.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Griffin slips under a jab.
Benson throws a hook but Griffin blocks it.
Benson lands a right hook to the body.
Benson swings for the body but Griffin moves out of range.
Benson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Griffin misses the target.
Benson throws a shot from downtown. Griffin moves away and avoids it.
Benson misses with a looping left.
Griffin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Benson.
Griffin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Benson.
Benson throws a head kick but Griffin moves out of range.
Griffin avoids the body shot from Benson.
Griffin moves out of range of the strikes.
Benson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Benson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Griffin circles away quickly and effectively.

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.
Griffin slips a jab from Benson.
Benson misses the shot to the body.
Benson throws a jab when Griffin was well out of range.
Griffin takes a jab right on the kisser.
Benson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Benson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Griffin on the side of the head.
Benson just misses with a punch to the body.
Benson misses with a straight left.
Griffin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Benson is fending him off so far but Griffin persists. Nope, Benson circles away and we're back to standing.
Benson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Griffin moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Benson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bart Griffin's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Benson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Griffin was well out of range. Poor timing from Benson.
A big right from Griffin misses.

Benson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

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

Griffin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Benson defends it easily.

Benson gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Benson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Griffin's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Griffin was well out of range. Poor timing from Benson.
Benson misses with a body shot.
Benson throws a body kick that misses.
Benson misses with a body shot.
Griffin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Griffin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Griffin slips a jab and a cross from Benson.
Benson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Griffin was well out of range. Poor timing from Benson.
Benson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Griffin fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Griffin avoids the body shot from Benson.
Griffin avoids the body shot from Benson.
Ben Benson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Griffin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Benson looks to score with a jab to the body but Griffin is just out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Griffin.

Benson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Griffin to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Griffin tries to free his leg and advance position but Benson is retaining full guard.

Griffin has gone for a leg lock! Benson slips out almost immediately though and dives into Griffin's guard.
Griffin is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Griffin is proving hard to escape from.

Griffin had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Benson defends it easily.

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

Griffin throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Benson escapes and throws Griffin's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Benson tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Griffin tries to improve position but can't.
Griffin gets back to half guard.

Griffin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Benson decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ben Benson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bart Griffin's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Benson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Griffin slips under a jab from Benson.
Griffin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benson throws a body punch but Griffin moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benson. Griffin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Benson misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Griffin has managed to clinch.
Griffin is working Benson over against the cage.
Griffin taking a breather.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch on the inside from Griffin fails to land.
Benson wants to break free but Griffin has control.
Benson is trying to force a seperation but Griffin has the dominant position.
Griffin lands a hook to the side of the head.
Griffin lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Ben Benson has been cut.
Griffin lands a body punch in the clinch.
Griffin lands with a left to the head.
Griffin misses with the head strike.
Griffin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Griffin has a couple of punches blocked by Benson.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Griffin.
Benson blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Griffin gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Griffin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Griffin is trying to work for a kimura but Benson is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Griffin is working for a submission of some sort.
Griffin is looking to stall here but Benson recovers full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Griffin is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Benson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Benson has escaped and now he's on top!

Griffin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Benson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Griffin is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Griffin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Benson is one step ahead there.

Griffin is working an open guard so Benson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Benson throws a body punch but Griffin moves out of range.
Griffin staying out of range there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benson takes a swing at Griffin's ribcage but misses.
Benson misses with a hook.
Benson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bart Griffin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Benson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight for Ben Benson!
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight for Ben Benson!
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight for Bart Griffin!

Ben Benson wins by split decision!