PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lorenzo Manta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and PJ Benn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benn has chosen Darude- Sandstorm as his entrance music. PJ Benn has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Manta
vs
Benn

180 cm
21
217 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

189 cm
27
210 lbs
12 - 6 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Violent Snake

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lorenzo Manta!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, PJ Benn!
The judges for this bout are Alan Glass, Daniel Franklin and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A big left from Manta misses.
Manta swinging wildly here.
Benn misses with a jab, cross combination.
Benn shoots in for a double leg but Manta sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Manta tries to score with a low kick but Benn moves his leg out of the way.
Benn shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Manta but Manta pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Manta misses the jab.
Manta misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benn.
Benn tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Manta swivels and escapes.
Lorenzo Manta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of PJ Benn.
Manta with a nice cross.
Benn shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Manta sprawls well. Manta wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Benn gets slowly back to his feet.
Manta throws a right and a left that Benn avoids nicely.
Manta misses with a low kick.
Benn throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Benn takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Benn takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Manta swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Benn counters with a takedown into side control.
Manta is looking to regain half guard here but Benn keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manta is working hard here to advance position.
Benn trying to control the position but Manta is working away.
Manta tries to bench press Benn off him but Benn keeps the position.
Benn lands a decent elbow from side control.
Benn throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Manta knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Benn on the ground.
Benn is trying to ground and pound but Manta uses the momentary lack of control by Benn to regain half guard.
Benn tries to pass the half guard into mount. Manta knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benn is looking to take a break and control but Manta is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Benn is controlling the pace.

That's two 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.
Manta is trying to maintain the position but Benn is very close to passing his half guard.
Benn trying to control the action but Manta is working from the bottom.
Manta tries to get to full guard but Benn has control of the leg.
Benn wants to advance to full mount but Manta doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Benn working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Manta's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Manta wants to sweep here but Benn controlling him for the moment.
Benn passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manta struggling a bit here.
Manta is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Benn asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Manta manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Benn preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Manta thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Benn has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Manta is working away from the top position though.
Benn avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Manta.

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 gets back to full guard.
Manta landing with the ground and pound.
Manta throwing strikes but missing.
Manta landing with the ground and pound.
Manta slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Manta misses with the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Manta working away.
Benn manages to work his way to half guard, despite Manta's best efforts.
Benn moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenzo Manta dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Manta throws a lazy head kick
and Benn counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Benn avoids a punch combination nicely.
Manta tries to land a leg kick but Benn saw it coming and moves away.
Lorenzo Manta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Manta throws a lazy right hand but Benn sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Benn shoots in and bounces Manta off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Manta trying to control the position.
Benn makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Manta keeping moving, preventing Benn from controlling successfully.
Benn might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Manta kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Manta looking to hit a scissor sweep but Benn is one step ahead there.

Benn drops back looking for a leg! Manta is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Manta manages to kick Benn off! Benn jumps back into Manta's guard.
Benn throwing strikes but missing.
Manta avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Benn wants to control from the top but Manta keeps moving.
Benn preventing the sweep.
Benn won't allow Manta to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Benn is looking to work some ground and pound but Manta has wrist control.
Manta keeping moving, preventing Benn from controlling successfully.
Benn won't allow Manta to get back to his feet.
Manta keeping moving, preventing Benn from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Manta not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Benn throws a series of punches but Manta avoids them all with ease.
Benn tries a low kick but Manta avoids it.
Horrible takedown by Benn or perhaps it was just good defense by Manta which made him look bad.
Benn takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Benn misses with a takedown attempt - Manta sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A right-left combo lands from Manta.

It looks like PJ Benn has been cut.
Benn is breathing heavily.
Benn swats away the attempt to clinch by Manta.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Donk. Manta catches Benn right on the button with a cross.
A low kick from Manta misses

and Benn counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Manta is controlling Benn's posture.
Manta tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Manta is trying to keep Benn in close.
PJ Benn has got the better of the ground game so far.
Manta looking for a sweep. Not yet Manta, not yet.
Manta is looking to stand up but Benn isn't so interested in that idea.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Manta tries to land a sweep but no joy.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Lorenzo Manta just wasn't active enough.
Benn shoots in for a takedown but Manta shows good takedown defense.
Lorenzo Manta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of PJ Benn.
Benn fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Manta manages to avoid it.
Manta fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Benn.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manta misses with a double jab

and Benn counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Manta!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Manta is trying to escape the mount.
Benn misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

Benn goes for an armbar but Manta turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Manta.
Manta is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Manta with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benn manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Manta manages to get himself to full guard.
Manta is pulling down on Benn's head. It's preventing any offense from Benn, at least for the moment.
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 Lorenzo Manta will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on PJ Benn's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Benn with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Benn tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Manta swivels and escapes.
Benn moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Manta moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Manta lands with a hook. Benn tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Nice straight punches there by Manta. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Manta.
Manta lands a front kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Manta connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Manta throws a 1-2 combo that connects squarely on Benn's jaw, knocking him onto his back! Manta dives in looking to finish as Benn flails his arms in a desperate attempt to block Manta's strikes! Manta is raining down hammerfists and the ref stops it! Benn's desperate flailing just didn't constitute intelligent defence. Some people will probably question the ref's decision but Benn was definitely hurt and the ref saved him from taking unnecessary punishment. A fighter's safety is paramount in this sport.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Lorenzo Manta!