PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pantero Athrox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Pantero Athrox has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Athrox
vs
Benson

180 cm
18
160 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

170 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Pantero Athrox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Josh Benson!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Alan Glass and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benson throws a head kick that misses.
Athrox fails in his attempt to clinch.
Athrox shoots for a double leg takedown but Benson sprawls well. He's pushed Athrox's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Athrox shoots in looking for a takedown. Benson tries to sprawl out of it but Athrox keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Benson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Athrox shoots in and drives through. Benson sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pantero Athrox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benson moves in looking to clinch but Athrox pushes him off.

Athrox rushes Benson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benson prevents Athrox from breaking the clinch.
Benson is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Benson wants a takedown but no success here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Athrox tries to score a body lock takedown but Benson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Benson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Athrox wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Athrox pulls guard.

Benson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Athrox is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Athrox has escaped and now he's on top!

Athrox drops back looking for a leg! Benson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Benson manages to kick Athrox off! Athrox jumps back into Benson's guard.
Benson tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Athrox wants to control from the top but Benson keeps moving.
Athrox would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Benson keeping moving, preventing Athrox from controlling successfully.
Athrox preventing the sweep.

Benson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Athrox doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Athrox manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Athrox shoots in for a double leg but Benson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson wants to clinch but Athrox slips to the side

and Athrox counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Athrox.
Benson gets underhooks to prevent Athrox's takedown attempt.
Benson looking for a takedown.
Benson fails to pull guard.
Benson is looking to control Athrox's arms but Athrox gets an underhook and turns him. Now Benson has his back to the cage.
Benson tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Benson can't get the takedown.
Benson looks gassed!

Athrox jumps guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Athrox has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Benson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Athrox controls Benson momentarily but Benson frees himself.
Benson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Athrox is keeping the position for now.
Benson trying to control the position from guard on top but Athrox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Athrox trying to control the position.
Benson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pantero Athrox 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.

Athrox closes this distance looking for a takedown but Benson circles away.
Athrox doesn't manage to clinch there - Benson circles away.
Athrox shoots in but Benson avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Benson shoots in and bounces Athrox off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Benson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Athrox is looking to stand up but Benson isn't so interested in that idea.

Athrox had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Benson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Athrox Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Benson's back instead.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Benson staying busy and making it hard for Athrox to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Athrox working for the choke.
Benson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Benson is desperately trying to improve his position but Athrox has a good base and remains in mount.
Benson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Benson wants to improve his position but Athrox is controlling well.

Benson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Benson is looking to improve his position.

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.
Benson is not content to let Athrox control the position.
Athrox keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Athrox wants to stand but Benson has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Athrox works his foot free and advances to mount.
Benson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Athrox looking to control but Benson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Benson manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Benson moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Benson keeping full guard, as Athrox tries to pass.
Benson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Benson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Benson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Athrox gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Benson lands a nice shot that snaps Athrox's head back.
Benson misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Benson showed some decent athleticism there.
Benson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Benson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Athrox keeps working.
Benson working the head and body with strikes.
Athrox is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Benson scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Benson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Athrox is just riding it out for now. Benson eventually gives up the hold.
Benson lands strikes from half guard.
Benson has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Josh Benson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Benson shoots in and bounces Athrox off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Benson won't allow Athrox to sweep him here.

Athrox looking for a guillotine here but Benson defends easily.
Athrox keeping moving, preventing Benson from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Benson looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson trying to control but Athrox is working from the bottom.
Athrox is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Benson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Athrox shoots and misses

and Benson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Athrox is looking to escape.
Nice strikes from Benson there.
Benson content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Benson stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Athrox to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benson closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Benson lands in his opponent's guard.
Athrox wants to stand but Benson is controlling the position.
Athrox is trying to keep Benson in close.
Benson trying to control the position from guard on top but Athrox is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Athrox manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Benson manages to get himself to full guard.
Athrox slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Athrox decides to stand back up.
Athrox doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Benson counters with a takedown into side control.
Athrox gets back to half guard.
Benson is tying to control. Athrox wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Benson is taking a breather. Athrox 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.
Benson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Athrox is trying to stand.
Athrox wants to control but Benson is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Benson drops an elbow to the side of Athrox's head.
Athrox is refusing to be controlled, as Benson sits in half guard.
Nice strikes from Benson there.
The fighters are battling for position here. Athrox manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Benson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Athrox is keeping the position for now.
Benson trying to control but Athrox is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Athrox is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Benson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Athrox is keeping the position for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Josh Benson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Benson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Josh Benson!