PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Dean Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Shatto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bennett
vs
Shatto

180 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
21
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dean Bennett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Josh Shatto!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shatto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bennett pinned against the cage. Bennett gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Bennett rushes Shatto and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bennett is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Shatto pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Shatto is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bennett pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bennett misses with a knee strike.
Bennett lands a nice knee to the body.

Bennett breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bennett throws a leg kick which misses Shatto's front leg but catches the back leg as Shatto tries to avoid it.
Bennett cracks Shatto with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

Bennett rushes Shatto and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Shatto wants a takedown but no success here.
Dean Bennett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Shatto.
Bennett misses with a knee to the head.
Bennett pushes Shatto back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Shatto misses with a knee strike.
Shatto looks gassed!
Shatto with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Bennett escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Bennett has Shatto up against the cage in a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Bennett scores with a nice short uppercut.
Shatto misses with a knee strike.
Bennett using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Shatto has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Shatto.
Bennett gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Bennett has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Shatto avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Bennett gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.Still in half guard, Bennett seems content to control.
Shatto is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bennett wants to stand up but Shatto is controlling the position.
Bennett trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Bennett prevents Shatto from improving his position.
Bennett wants to stand but Shatto has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Shatto trying to control from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Shatto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shatto shoots in for a takedown but Bennett shows good takedown defense.
Nice sprawl there from Bennett as Shatto shoots in.
Dean Bennett is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shatto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bennett pinned against the cage. Bennett gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Nice sprawl there from Bennett as Shatto shoots in.
Shatto tries to clinch
and Bennett counters with a flying knee. Nice.

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.
Shatto shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bennett counters by moving into the clinch.
Shatto connects with a knee to the head.
Bennett crunches a lovely knee into Shatto's ribcage.

Bennett successfully pulls guard.
Shatto stops Bennett from standing up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bennett keeping moving, preventing Shatto from controlling successfully.

Shatto gets to his feet. Bennett looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Shatto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Bennett throws a head kick but Shatto moves out of range.
Shatto shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bennett pinned against the cage. Bennett gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Bennett darts in and clinches Shatto up against the cage.
Bennett misses with a knee strike.
Shatto looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Bennett connects with a nasty looking knee right to Shatto's face.
Shatto lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Bennett backwards.
Shatto keeps control of Bennett as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Shatto throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett lands a nice knee to the body.
Bennett is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Shatto gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bennett landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Shatto misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Bennett.
Shatto looking to throw knees to the head but Bennett is blocking nicely.
Shatto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Shatto tries to pull guard but Bennett holds him up against the cage and eventually Shatto drops back down to his feet.
Bennett tries to break the clinch but Shatto is controlling the position.
Shatto tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Bennett blocks an elbow strike from Shatto.
Shatto is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bennett pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Shatto letting Bennett take a breather here.
Bennett throws a knee to the head but misses.
Bennett using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

Bennett breaks from the clinch.
Bennett tries to clinch up.
Shatto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Bennett instigates a clinch.
Shatto tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bennett just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bennett dodges an elbow strike from Shatto.
Bennett tries a knee to the head but Shatto blocks it.
Bennett tries for a takedown but Shatto manages to get underhooks.
Shatto throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bennetts head.
A short right from Bennett on the inside.
Bennett dodges an elbow strike from Shatto.

Bennett manages to break the clinch.

Bennett closes the distance and clinches.
Bennett wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Shatto throws an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shatto lands an elbow inside that Bennett shrugs off.
Shatto misses with some punches.
Shatto tries to land a knee to the head but Bennett blocks with his arms.
Bennett with a knee to the head.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Bennett trying to stall but Shatto improves his position.
A right hand to the body from Bennett.

Bennett manages to break the clinch.
Bennett throws a head kick that misses.
Bennett tries a head kick but it misses.
Shatto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bennett as he jumps to the side.
Shatto looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Shatto misses with a takedown attempt - Bennett sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shatto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bennett throws a sloppy head kick and Shatto moves out of range easily.
Shatto misses with a takedown attempt
and Bennett counters with a good low kick that Shatto was not able to check.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bennett tries a head kick but it misses.
Horrible takedown by Shatto or perhaps it was just good defense by Bennett which made him look bad.
Shatto misses with a takedown attempt
and Bennett counters with a low kick, right behind Shatto 's knee.
Shatto shoots in but no luck this time.
Bennett misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Bennett dominated that round.
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.

Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bennett.
Bennett pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

Bennett forces Shatto back against the cage and clinches.
Bennett landing knees to the head.
Knees to the body from Bennett.

Bennett escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shatto throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bennett's waist but Bennett gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shatto off to one side.

Bennett gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Bennett looking to throw knees to the head but Shatto is blocking nicely.
Shatto tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bennett just stands there and leans against the cage.
Shatto throws an elbow but it misses.
Bennett tries to land a knee to the head but Shatto blocks with his arms.
Shatto throws an elbow that misses.
Shatto tries to land a knee to the head but Bennett blocks with his arms.
Shatto takes a knee right on the jaw!
Shatto misses with a knee to the head.

Bennett manages to break the clinch.
Shatto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Dean Bennett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Shatto.
Shatto misses with a takedown attempt - Bennett sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shatto shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bennett keeps Shatto at a distance using the push kick.
Shatto fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Bennett tries to clinch up but Shatto circles away and keeps his distance.
Shatto closes the distance and clinches up with Bennett, looking for a takedown. Shatto pushes Bennett against the cage but Bennett circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett circles away from the clinch attempt
and Bennett counters with a nice leg kick.
Shatto will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shatto tries to clinch there but Bennett circles away.
Bennett doesn't manage to clinch there - Shatto circles away.
Shatto doesn't manage to clinch there - Bennett circles away.
Bennett lands with a thumping leg kick.
Shatto shoots and misses

and Bennett counters by clinching up.

Bennett manages to break the clinch.
Shatto shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bennett counters by clinching up.
Bennett throws a knee to the head but misses.
Shatto scores with a knee to the head.

Bennett breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Bennett lands a nice leg kick that just misses Shatto's sensitive parts.
Nice sprawl there from Bennett as Shatto shoots in.
Bennett tries a head kick but it misses.
Shatto shoots in but no luck this time.
Bennett misses with a head kick.
Shatto has his takedown stuffed

and Bennett counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Shatto is trying desperately to land a takedown but Bennett is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Shatto.
Shatto tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Shatto jumps guard.
Bennett wants to stand but Shatto is controlling his posture from full guard.
Shatto looking to control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Shatto is on top in guard.
Shatto trying to control the position from guard on top but Bennett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bennett is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Bennett is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shatto is controlling him.
Shatto passes into half guard.
Shatto wants to pass the guard but Bennett is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett wants to improve his position but Shatto is controlling well.

Bennett looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shatto tries for a takedown but Bennett circles away easily
and Bennett counters with a head kick. That will keep Shatto thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Shatto doesn't manage to clinch there - Bennett circles away.
Shatto misses with a takedown attempt

and Bennett counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bennett.
Shatto misses with a knee to the head.
Bennett lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Shatto tries a knee to the head but Bennett blocks it.
Bennett lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Shatto tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Shatto has Bennett pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Bennett manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nice elbow from Bennett.
Shatto with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bennett takes a knee right on the jaw!
Bennett is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Shatto lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Shatto lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Bennett backwards.
Bennett tries to score a body lock takedown but Shatto shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Bennett breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Shatto shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bennett as he jumps to the side.
Bennett lands a front kick.
Nice body kick there by Bennett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shatto avoids the head kick by Bennett.

Bennett drives through and clinches with Shatto against the cage.

Bennett breaks from the clinch.
Dean Bennett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bennett throws a head kick that Shatto semi-blocks.

Shatto is rocked!
Shatto takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Bennett moves into the clinch successfully.
Bennett tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Bennett.
Bennett misses with a punch on the inside.
Shatto wants a takedown.
Shatto drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shatto misses with a knee to the head.
Shatto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Shatto changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Bennett fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Shatto wants to clinch
and Bennett counters with a two punch combo.
Shatto closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bennett circles away.
Bennett throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shatto tries to clinch up but Bennett circles away and keeps his distance.
Bennett misses with a head kick.
Bennett lands a nice looking kick to the body. Shatto takes a step back to recover.
Josh Shatto seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bennett connects with a high kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dean Bennett dominated that second round.
That's time! Bennett's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Shatto shoots in but Bennett avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Shatto shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Shatto takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shatto is still on wobbly legs! Can Bennett finish him?
Shatto misses with a takedown
and Bennett counters with a flying knee that drops Shatto! Shatto dives in and finishes the fight with a flurry of strikes from the mount!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:14 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dean Bennett!