PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rahj Princeton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Princeton is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Gods Gonna Cut yYou Down. Rahj Princeton has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Benson
vs
Princeton

179 cm
27
180 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

174 cm
20
159 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Benson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rahj Princeton!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Princeton closes the distance but Benson moves to the side
letting Benson counter with a right hand.

Benson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Benson trying to control but Princeton is having none of it.
Benson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

It looks like Rahj Princeton has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson wants to control the pace but Princeton is squirming around nicely.
Princeton's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Benson throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Benson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Princeton is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benson content just to control the position here.

Benson wants to finish this one by submission but Princeton is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Benson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benson takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Benson cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Benson is working for a guillotine from mount but Princeton frees his head quite easily.
Benson in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Princeton is rocked!

That has opened up Rahj Princeton's cut even more.

Benson is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Princeton has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Princeton!
Princeton must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Princeton would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Benson is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Benson successfully pulls guard.
Princeton wanted to stand there but Benson had control of the position.

Benson is working an open guard so Princeton takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Benson swats away the attempt to clinch by Princeton.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Princeton staying out of range there.
Princeton tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Princeton closes the distance and clinches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Benson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rahj Princeton's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Benson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Princeton tries to clinch up but Benson circles away and keeps his distance.
Benson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Princeton looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Princeton has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Princeton closes the distance and clinches up with Benson, looking for a takedown. Princeton pushes Benson against the cage but Benson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Princeton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Princeton wants it to stay on the feet.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Benson checks a leg kick.
Nice takedown defense from Princeton. No joy for Benson on that attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Princeton tries to clinch but Benson moves out of range.

Princeton has Benson up against the cage in a clinch.
Benson wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Benson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benson stops a takedown attempt from Princeton.

Princeton is fighting off a takedown attempt but Benson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Princeton to the mat. Princeton regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Princeton wants to stand but Benson is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Princeton is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Princeton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Benson sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Princeton wants to get back to his feet but Benson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Benson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Benson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Princeton is keeping the position for now.
Benson stops Princeton from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

James Benson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Princeton has managed to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Benson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rahj Princeton's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Princeton shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Benson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Benson trying to control from half guard but Princeton is working away.
Benson wants to pass to mount but Princeton is defending the position.
Princeton is trying to stand back up but Benson is controlling him
Benson seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Benson working over Princeton with some ground and pound. Princeton looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Benson wants to pass to mount but Princeton is defending the position.
Benson working over Princeton with some ground and pound. Princeton looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Benson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Benson is stalling here. Princeton is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Benson seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Princeton has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Princeton wants to stand but Benson is controlling his arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benson is trying to control Princeton's posture but Princeton avoids it.
Benson regains half guard.
Princeton tries to stand but can't do so whilst Benson controls his leg.
Benson works his way to full guard. Good work.

Princeton stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Benson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Princeton gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Benson counters with a good low kick that Princeton was not able to check.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Princeton drives through with a takedown into guard.
Princeton would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Benson wants to stand but Princeton is controlling the position.
Princeton won't allow Benson to sweep him here.
Princeton wants to stand but Benson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Princeton won't allow Benson to sweep him here.
Benson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Princeton is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

Princeton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Princeton would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Benson clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Rahj Princeton's cut.
That's time! Benson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Benson feints and as Princeton raises his hands in defense, Benson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Benson passes Princeton's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Benson trying to mount his opponent but Princeton defends it.
Benson seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Princeton pushes Benson off looking to stand but Benson dives back in and keeps control.

Benson decides to return to a standing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson keeps the fight on the outside.
Princeton wants to clinch.
Princeton wants to clinch up but Benson keeps it at a distance.

That's two 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.
Benson swats away the attempt to clinch by Princeton.
Benson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Princeton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson fails to land the takedown.
Benson misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Princeton tries to clinch up but Benson circles away and keeps his distance.
Benson jabs Princeton right on the nose. Princeton blinks but takes it well.
Benson just misses with a punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Benson had his way with Rahj Princeton in that round.
The cut man is working on Rahj Princeton's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Benson misses with a takedown attempt - Princeton sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Princeton avoids the body shot from Benson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Benson shoots in and gets a takedown into Princeton's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Princeton keeping moving, preventing Benson from controlling successfully.
Benson is standing up over Princeton. Princeton looks to escape but Benson dives into side control.

Benson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Princeton has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Benson but great work by Princeton.
Benson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Benson regains full guard. Nicely done.

Princeton gets to his feet - Benson follows without any prompting.
Princeton tries to close the distance and clinch but Benson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Princeton looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Benson lands a really nice looking cross but Princeton seems unphased.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Princeton wants to clinch.

Benson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Princeton tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Benson is in Princeton's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Princeton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Princeton wants to stand up but Benson is controlling him.
Benson wants to pass the guard but Princeton is keeping the position.
Rahj Princeton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benson content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Benson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Princeton is keeping the position for now.
Princeton throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Benson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Benson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for James Benson!
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for James Benson!
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight for James Benson!

James Benson wins by unanimous decision!
James Benson decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.