PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between James Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gray Maynard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Maynard has chosen Young Jezzy- Lose my mind as his entrance music. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Benson
vs
Maynard

179 cm
28
180 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

172 cm
21
158 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 6 - 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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Gray Maynard!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Maynard shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Benson sprawls well. Benson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Maynard gets slowly back to his feet.
Maynard looks for a takedown but Benson sprawls well.
Benson misses with a body shot.

Maynard instigates a clinch.
Maynard working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Maynard working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Benson takes a shot to the head.
Benson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Maynard walks away with a smile on his face. Benson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Benson drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maynard is looking to stand up but Benson isn't so interested in that idea.
Benson passes Maynard's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Benson is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Maynard sees it coming and defends easily.
Benson takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Benson trying to control from half guard but Maynard is working away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Maynard can do anything to dispel that myth.
Benson tries to stand and escape but Maynard actually recovers to full guard.
Benson wants to pass the guard but Maynard is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Maynard trying to control the position.
Benson wants to control from the top but Maynard keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Benson advances position into side control!
Benson working the strikes but Maynard uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Benson is looking to take a break and control but Maynard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Benson is taking a breather. Maynard says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Maynard really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Benson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benson is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Maynard still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Maynard has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Benson regains half guard.
Maynard winds up and cracks Benson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Benson is trying to stand.
Maynard is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Benson!
Benson wants to control but Maynard is having none of it.
Benson really wants to buck Maynard off and get back to his feet.
Benson regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson is trying to stand up here but Maynard is controlling him well.

Benson kicks Maynard off and gets back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maynard keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Benson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Maynard on his heels. He'll look to pass Maynard's guard now, I'm sure.
Benson trying to control the position from guard on top but Maynard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benson looking to pass the guard.
Benson trying to stand up but can't free himself from Maynard's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Benson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Maynard fails with the takedown.
Maynard is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Maynard scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Benson takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Benson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Maynard working the ground and pound but Benson is defending the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson sneaks back into half guard.
Maynard wants to control but Benson is keeping him busy.
Benson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Maynard's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Maynard's back!
Benson not allowing Maynard to control his hands.

Maynard defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Benson's arms.
Benson looking to hold on to the position here but Maynard rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Benson trying to control but Maynard is working from the bottom.
James Benson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Benson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson advances position into side control!
Maynard manages to get back to half guard.
Benson wants to stand but Maynard has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Maynard is controlling Benson's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Maynard is trying to maintain the position but Benson is very close to passing his half guard.
Benson trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Maynard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Maynard is concentrating on defense, preventing Benson from advancing position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Gray Maynard has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Maynard slips a jab and a cross from Benson.
Maynard wants to clinch up but Benson keeps it at a distance.
Maynard fails with an attempt to clinch.

Maynard closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Benson's guard.
Maynard looking to sit in guard and control but Benson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Benson postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Maynard is pulling down on Benson's head. It's preventing any offense from Benson, at least for the moment.
Benson slips nicely into half guard.
Maynard wants to control but Benson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benson not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Benson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Maynard is doing well to control the position and prevent Benson from advancing to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Gray Maynard will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Maynard scores with a takedown into Benson's guard.
Maynard trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benson looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Maynard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Benson working for a triangle but Maynard defends it easily.

Benson is working an open guard so Maynard takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Maynard scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Benson is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson wants to control but Maynard is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Maynard working the head and body with strikes.
Benson is staying active underneath Maynard, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Benson manages to get to full guard.

Maynard stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Benson has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Maynard manages to get his head free but now Benson has transitioned to an armbar! Maynard grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Benson! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). James Benson!
James Benson decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.