PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rick Bennet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Norton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bennet
vs
Norton

170 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rick Bennet!
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 Norton!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Daniel Franklin and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bennet gets caught napping as Norton dives in and scores a takedown. Bennet manages to retain guard.
Bennet is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Norton content to stall in guard here.
Bennet trying to control the position here.
Norton preventing the sweep.
Bennet keeping moving, preventing Norton from controlling successfully.
Bennet knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Norton on the ground.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Josh Norton hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Bennet wants to clinch.
Norton shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bennet defends it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Norton gets caught flat footed, as Bennet shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Norton trying to control the position here.
Bennet trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bennet trying to control the position from guard on top but Norton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bennet pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Norton is keeping the position for now.
Bennet wants to stand but Norton has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norton looking to control.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Josh Norton wasn't active enough on the ground.
Bennet tries for a takedown but Norton sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bennet is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bennet shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Norton defends it nicely.
Norton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bennet defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Norton.

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

Norton looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Bennet!
Bennet wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Bennet staying busy and making it hard for Norton to control.
Bennet is really stuck here.
Bennet trying to survive by controlling the hands.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bennet tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norton tries to push Bennet's head away but Bennet is holding on tight.
Bennet wants to control but Norton is having none of it.

Norton is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bennet has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Bennet is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Rick Bennet will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bennet shoots in and gets a takedown into Norton's guard.
Bennet throws a big elbow that misses.
Norton preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Bennet is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bennet is looking to stand up but Norton won't let him.
Norton 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.
Norton is controlling Bennet's posture.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Norton gets caught napping as Bennet dives in and scores a takedown. Norton manages to retain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennet wants to stand but Norton is controlling his posture from full guard.
Norton wants to get back to his feet but Bennet is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Norton keeping moving, preventing Bennet from controlling successfully.

Norton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bennet gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bennet has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Norton is trying to keep Bennet in close.

Bennet gets to his feet. Norton looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Norton changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bennet tries to avoid it but Norton manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bennet to the ground. Bennet escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Norton is breathing heavily.
Bennet looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Bennet clinches up against the cage.
Bennet tries to pull guard but Norton forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Norton goes for a takedown attempt but Bennet pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Bennet is trying hard to land a takedown here. Norton sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Norton closes the distance and clinches up with Bennet, looking for a takedown. Norton pushes Bennet against the cage but Bennet circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rick Bennet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Norton.
Norton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Norton wants it to stay on the feet.
Bennet shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Norton but Norton pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bennet tries to clinch but Norton is having none of it.
Norton moves out of range as Bennet throws a body kick.
Bennet misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bennet shoots in but no luck this time.
Bennet tries to clinch but Norton moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Norton tries to clinch there but Bennet circles away.

Bennet instigates a clinch.
Norton has had enough of the clinch but Bennet keeps him there for the moment.
Norton stalling in the clinch but Bennet improves position.
Norton on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Bennet pulls Norton into guard.
Bennet looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Norton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bennet is keeping the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bennet doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rick Bennet dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bennet scores with a takedown into Norton's guard.
Bennet postures up.
Norton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bennet trying to control the position from guard on top but Norton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Norton pushes Bennet off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Norton fails in his attempt to clinch.
Norton tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bennet swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Bennet.
Bennet tries to clinch there but Norton circles away.
Bennet misses with a head kick.
Norton stuffs the takedown.
Norton fails with the takedown.
Norton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Norton changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bennet tries to avoid it but Norton manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bennet to the ground. Bennet escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rick Bennet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Josh Norton.
Bennet has a takedown stuffed.
Bennet walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Bennet is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennet changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Bennet fails with a takedown attempt.

Bennet closes the distance and clinches.
Bennet gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Norton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Bennet shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Bennet showed some decent athleticism there.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nice strikes from Bennet there.

Bennet wants to work for an arm triangle but Norton is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Rick Bennet overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennet controlling the action here.
Bennet not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bennet tries to stand and escape but Norton is controlling the position.
Bennet trying to control the action but Norton is working from the bottom.

Bennet seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Norton has recovered full guard.
Bennet looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennet trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bennet wants to get up but he can't break Norton's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Norton throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Norton working a defensive guard here.
Bennet wants to control from the top but Norton keeps moving.
Josh Norton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rick Bennet is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bennet controlling from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rick Bennet showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bennet 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rick Bennet!