PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sam Benton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Gunner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Benton might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Kung Fu Fighting. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Benton
vs
Gunner

185 cm
36
168 lbs
30 - 8 - 1

178 cm
27
165 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

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 30 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sam Benton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Thomas Gunner!
The judges for this bout are Saam Ante, Radbod Blank and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gunner motions for Benton to come forward. Gunner throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gunner connects with a solid leg kick.
Benton scores with a jab.
Benton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Gunner.
Sloppy strikes from Benton. Those never looked like landing.
Thomas Gunner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benton throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Benton on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Benton throws out a loose jab but Gunner uses good head movement to avoid it.
A solid body kick from Gunner.
Gunner displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Gunner drives through with a takedown into guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Benton throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Gunner stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Benton swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Gunner really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Benton. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gunner works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Benton is staying active underneath Gunner, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Gunner is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Benton regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gunner trying to control but Benton is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gunner trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Benton bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gunner's guard.

Benton is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Benton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Gunner had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Benton defends it easily.

Gunner looking for a guillotine here but Benton defends easily.
Benton wants to control from the top but Gunner keeps moving.

Gunner escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Benton gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gunner swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Gunner has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Benton can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benton keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gunner's head.

Benton got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gunner has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Benton has managed to get both his arms back between Gunner's legs - danger averted.
Benton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gunner swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Gunner working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Benton has passed into half guard!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Gunner manages to get to full guard.
Gunner keeping moving, preventing Benton from controlling successfully.

Benton is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benton is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Gunner looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Gunner has his foot on Benton's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Benton works his way back into a safe position though.

Benton is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Benton trying to control the position from guard on top but Gunner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benton chips away with some ground and pound.

Benton drops back looking for a leg! Gunner is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gunner manages to kick Benton off! Benton jumps back into Gunner's guard.
Benton passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gunner is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Benton landing a few strikes.
Benton trying to control the position but Gunner is working away.

Benton has hold of Gunner's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Gunner seems comfortable defending it but Benton has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Gunner is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Gunner is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Benton couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Sam Benton!