PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Shingo Tanaka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Mobb Deep - Survival of the Fittest. This should be a great matchup!

Tanaka
vs
Benson

181 cm
22
185 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

180 cm
27
182 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Great low kicks
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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shingo Tanaka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dan Benson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benson shoots and misses
and Tanaka counters with a leg kick.
Benson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Benson looks to land a combination but Tanaka avoids it well.
Benson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Benson dives in and grabs Tanaka's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tanaka pushes down on Benson's head and hops out.
Shingo Tanaka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Benson.
Benson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tanaka. Tanaka obviously looking to wear him down.
Decent striking displayed by Benson there.
Tanaka lands a leg kick that knocks Benson off balance momentarily.
Tanaka 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.
Benson throws a right hand that Tanaka ducks under and follows up with a left that Tanaka also avoids with ease.
Tanaka throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Benson.
Tanaka lands a really nice looking cross but Benson seems unphased.
Tanaka lands a nice leg kick that just misses Benson's sensitive parts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Benson.
Some wild striking there from Benson.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Benson is defended easily by Tanaka.
Tanaka feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Benson's calf.
Dan Benson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tanaka avoids a punch combination nicely.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tanaka.
Tanaka cracks the inside of Benson's front leg.
Tanaka checks the leg kick nicely there.
Tanaka lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Benson takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Benson crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Tanaka - the referee stops the clock and Benson gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Tanaka. Benson manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Benson looks winded!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tanaka scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Benson throws a front kick aimed at Tanaka's knee but Tanaka avoids it well.
Benson throws a series of punches but Tanaka moves out of range.
Benson's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Tanaka bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Benson takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Tanaka lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A solid leg kick lands there for Tanaka.
Tanaka moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Tanaka. Benson shrugs it off though.
Tanaka lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Tanaka connects with a solid leg kick.
Tanaka chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tanaka.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tanaka.
Tanaka looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Benson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Tanaka.
Tanaka throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Benson's head.
Benson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tanaka. Tanaka obviously looking to wear him down.
Tanaka with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tanaka lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tanaka ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Tanaka scores with a leg kick.
Tanaka lands with a thumping leg kick.
Tanaka lands a nice leg kick that just misses Benson's sensitive parts.
Benson takes a kick to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tanaka.

Tanaka scores with a takedown into Benson's guard.

Tanaka stands and steps away. Benson gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Good leg kick by Tanaka there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Benson is trying desperately to land a takedown but Tanaka is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Benson.
Benson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tanaka. Tanaka obviously looking to wear him down.
Tanaka thumps Benson with a low kick.
Tanaka dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Benson. That did some damage!
Tanaka throws a leg kick which misses Benson's front leg but catches the back leg as Benson tries to avoid it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tanaka feints and then cracks Benson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Benson down.

Tanaka feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tanaka throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shingo Tanaka 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.

Tanaka connects with a solid leg kick.
Tanaka throws a leg kick which misses Benson's front leg but catches the back leg as Benson tries to avoid it.

Benson gets caught napping as Tanaka dives in and scores a takedown. Benson manages to retain guard.
Benson wants to get back to his feet but Tanaka is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tanaka wants to control from the top but Benson keeps moving.
Tanaka working some strikes from top position.
Benson keeping moving, preventing Tanaka from controlling successfully.
Tanaka prevents Benson from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tanaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Benson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tanaka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tanaka works over Benson with some ground and pound from guard.
Tanaka cracks Benson with a solid left hand.
Tanaka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tanaka throwing strikes but missing.
Tanaka is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Benson can do to turn this around?
Tanaka is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka throws a big elbow that misses.
Benson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Tanaka throws a strike but Benson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Benson looking to pass the guard.
Tanaka pulls Benson in close to prevent any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson wants to control from the top but Tanaka keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Benson is defended easily by Tanaka.
A shot to the body from Benson misses
and Tanaka counters with a nice leg kick.
Benson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Tanaka plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
A chopping leg kick lands by Tanaka.
Benson is breathing heavily.
Both fighters circling a little - Tanaka finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.

Tanaka scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tanaka wants to free his trapped foot but Benson is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tanaka prevents Benson from standing back up.
Tanaka looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Benson pushes Tanaka off looking to stand but Tanaka dives back in and keeps control.
Tanaka sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Benson defending well though.

Tanaka is looking for a kimura but Benson is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Tanaka to get the leverage.
Tanaka throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Benson to regain full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tanaka in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tanaka postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shingo Tanaka dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Tanaka scores with a leg kick.
Benson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A solid body kick from Tanaka.
Tanaka with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Benson tries for a takedown but Tanaka circles away easily
and Tanaka counters with a low kick, right behind Benson 's knee.
Benson has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Tanaka.
Benson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tanaka can pounce on him.
Tanaka shoots in for a double leg but Benson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Tanaka throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
A chopping leg kick lands by Tanaka.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tanaka connects with a solid leg kick.
Tanaka throws a nice outside leg kick.
Tanaka cracks the inside of Benson's front leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tanaka lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Benson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Benson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Tanaka shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Benson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Tanaka working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Tanaka throws a big elbow that misses.
Tanaka looking to pass the guard.
Tanaka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tanaka is in close to Benson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Shingo Tanaka overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Benson wants to stand and escape but Tanaka is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tanaka gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tanaka can pounce on him.
Tanaka lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Tanaka thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Benson if he has to take too many more of those.
Tanaka throws a quick inside leg kick.
That kick from Tanaka tenderised Benson's leg. Benson is trying to keep his angry face on.
Tanaka scoring well with a low kick there.
Benson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Tanaka throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Benson was covering up waiting for the punch and Tanaka finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Tanaka postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tanaka throws a big elbow that misses.
Tanaka is looking to work some ground and pound but Benson has wrist control.
Tanaka throwing strikes from guard but Benson blocks nicely.
Tanaka makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Benson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Benson is looking to stand up but Tanaka isn't so interested in that idea.
Tanaka loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Dan Benson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanaka lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Benson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tanaka throws a strike but Benson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Benson trying to control but Tanaka is working from the bottom.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tanaka is on top in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Shingo Tanaka showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tanaka 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 Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Shingo Tanaka!