PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Juan Manuel Marquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antwan Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antwan Benson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Manuel Marquez
vs
Benson

181 cm
18
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Juan Manuel Marquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Antwan Benson!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Daniel Bishop and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Marquez throws a series of punches but Benson avoids them all with ease.
Benson slips a jab and a cross from Marquez.
Marquez lands with a straight right. Benson didn't see that one coming.
Benson slips a jab and a cross from Marquez.
Marquez lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Benson dives in and grabs Marquez's left leg, looking for a takedown. Marquez pushes down on Benson's head and hops out.
Marquez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Marquez misses with a double jab.
Marquez throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Marquez scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Marquez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Marquez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Benson.
Marquez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Marquez scores with a jab to the body.
Benson fails with a takedown attempt.
Marquez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson slips a jab and a cross from Marquez.
Benson dodges the punch combination from Marquez.
Benson shoots in but no luck this time.
Juan Manuel Marquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antwan Benson.
Marquez misses with a few strikes there.
Marquez scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Benson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Marquez circles away.
Marquez just misses with a punch to the body.
Marquez is looking to score with low kicks.
Marquez scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Marquez thows a body shot but no joy.
Benson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Juan Manuel Marquez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marquez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Benson.

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.
Marquez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marquez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Benson dodges the punch combination from Marquez.
Danga de danga de dang - Marquez scores with a four punch combination!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Marquez lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Benson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Benson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Marquez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Marquez tries to clinch but Benson is having none of it.
Marquez leaves Benson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Marquez scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Marquez is working the combinations to good effect here.
Marquez scores with a decent looking hook.
Marquez misses with a double jab.
Benson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez throws a series of punches but Benson avoids them all with ease.
Marquez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Benson.
Marquez misses the shot to the body.
Marquez misses with a few strikes there.
Benson keeps the fight on the outside.
Marquez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Benson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Marquez is looking to wear down Benson with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Some wild striking there from Marquez.
Marquez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Marquez wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Marquez tries to bum rush Benson with a series of wild strikes but Benson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Marquez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Benson shoots in for a takedown but Marquez shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Benson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Benson looks gassed!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Marquez stuns Benson with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A combination from Marquez does no damage.
Marquez fails to land with a series of punches.
No joy there for Marquez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Benson fails to land the takedown.
Marquez fails to land with a series of punches.
Marquez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Marquez lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Benson backs up against the cage.
Marquez lands a body shot.
Marquez lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Marquez lands a nice looking body shot.
Marquez misses with a two punch combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Manuel Marquez dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Benson checks a low kick from Marquez.
Marquez looks to land a combination but Benson avoids it well.
Benson blocks a head kick by Marquez.
Benson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Benson moves out of range of the body kick.
Marquez throws a series of punches but Benson moves out of range.
Marquez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Benson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Benson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Marquez looks to land a combination but Benson avoids it well.
Marquez throws a series of strikes that have Benson backpedaling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A left and a right from Marquez both land. Nice combination.
Benson is breathing heavily.
Benson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Juan Manuel Marquez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marquez misses with a two punch combination.

Marquez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Marquez lands in his opponent's guard.

Marquez decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson fails with the takedown.
Marquez lands with a nice combination. Benson backs away looking to recover.
Benson is trying desperately to land a takedown but Marquez is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Benson.
Danga de danga de dang - Marquez scores with a four punch combination!
Marquez misses with a two punch combination.
Juan Manuel Marquez is winning the standup battle so far.
A punch combination from Marquez misses.
Marquez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Marquez is looking to chop away at Benson's legs.
Marquez swings for the body but Benson moves out of range.

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.
Marquez rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Benson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice body punch from Marquez.
A combination from Marquez does no damage.
Marquez 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.
Marquez wants to clinch up but Benson keeps it at a distance.
Marquez wants to slow Benson down by chopping away at his legs.
Marquez tries to clinch there but Benson circles away.
Benson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Marquez.
Benson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Marquez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Some wild striking there from Marquez.
Marquez misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Marquez!
Marquez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Marquez is looking to clinch.
Marquez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Benson.
Marquez throws a series of punches but Benson avoids them all with ease.
Marquez digs a good body shot into Benson's ribs.
Marquez scores with a one two! Benson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A left and a right from Marquez both land. Nice combination.
Marquez fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Marquez misses with a wild combination.
Marquez displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Benson.
Juan Manuel Marquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antwan Benson.
Marquez moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marquez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Marquez throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Marquez jabs at Benson's body.
No joy there for Marquez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Marquez throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Marquez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Marquez connects with a looping right hand.
Marquez misses with the combination.
Marquez throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Benson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Benson slaps away a takedown attempt from Marquez, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Benson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Manuel Marquez dominated that second round.
That's time! Marquez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Marquez looks to land a combination but Benson avoids it well.
Marquez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Benson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Marquez lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Marquez.
Marquez fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Benson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Marquez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Marquez throws a nice looking combination but Benson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Marquez throws a nice looking combination but Benson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Benson tries for a takedown but Marquez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Marquez looks to land a combination but Benson avoids it well.
Marquez misses with a series of wild punches.
Benson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Marquez tries to bum rush Benson with a series of wild strikes but Benson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Benson takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marquez misses with a wild combination.
Benson dodges the punch combination from Marquez.
A nice combination there by Marquez.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Benson enables Marquez to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Benson manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Marquez stands and steps away. Benson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A left and a right from Marquez both land. Nice combination.
Benson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Marquez.
A shot to the liver by Marquez. Beautiful body shot.
Marquez throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Benson.
A punch combination from Marquez misses.
Marquez tries to bum rush Benson with a series of wild strikes but Benson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Marquez is fending him off so far but Benson persists. Nope, Marquez circles away and we're back to standing.
Marquez comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Marquez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A left and a right from Marquez both land. Nice combination.
Marquez dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Marquez fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Benson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Marquez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Marquez scores with a jab to the body.
Marquez throws a right and a left that both miss.
Marquez scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Benson doesn't seem bothered though.
No joy there for Marquez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Marquez scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Marquez swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Benson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marquez misses with a two punch combination.
Marquez misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Marquez will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Marquez throws a right hand that Benson ducks under and follows up with a left that Benson also avoids with ease.
Marquez misses with a series of wild punches.
Benson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Marquez tries to avoid it but Benson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Marquez to the ground. Marquez escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Juan Manuel Marquez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antwan Benson.
Marquez tries to bum rush Benson with a series of wild strikes but Benson uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Benson slips a jab and a cross from Marquez.
Marquez tries to clinch up.
Marquez misses with a two punch combination.
Benson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Marquez.

That's four 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.
Marquez looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Marquez swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Danga de danga de dang - Marquez scores with a four punch combination!
Marquez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Benson leaves Marquez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Benson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Marquez lands a jab-cross combination.
Marquez scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Marquez misses with a double jab.
Marquez throws a nice looking combination but Benson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Antwan Benson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marquez lands a two punch combo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juan Manuel Marquez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Marquez has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:24
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:25
Judge James Glass scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juan Manuel Marquez!