PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Xantos Aremis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erik Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aremis comes to the cage accompanied by Infected Mushroom - Merlin. Erik Bennett is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Aremis
vs
Bennett

178 cm
22
175 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

183 cm
25
182 lbs
15 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Black Belt Nutrition #=========||=========#

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Xantos Aremis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Erik Bennett!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, John Kavanagh and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bennett lands a nice looking body shot.
Aremis lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Bennett fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Aremis sprawls well initially but Bennett persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Aremis is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bennett's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bennett's back!
Bennett breaks Aremis's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Bennett postures up in Aremis's guard and throws a big left but Aremis blocks it.
Bennett trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Aremis 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.
Aremis trying to keep a closed guard but Bennett is proving a slippery customer.
Aremis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bennett is one step ahead there.
Bennett with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett stopping the sweep attempt from Aremis.
Bennett with a nice head shot there.
Bennett forces his way into half guard.
Bennett looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Aremis wants to control but Bennett is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Aremis is looking to improve his position.
Aremis manages to get to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aremis wants to get back to his feet but Bennett is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bennett throwing strikes from guard but Aremis blocks nicely.
Bennett forces his way into half guard.
Aremis is trying to stand.
Aremis wants to get back to full guard.

Bennett is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Aremis doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bennett.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bennett throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bennett is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Aremis as he works his way to full guard.
Aremis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aremis looking to control.
Bennett wants to pass the guard but Aremis is keeping the position.
Aremis trying to keep a closed guard but Bennett is proving a slippery customer.
Bennett with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bennett with a nice head shot there.
Bennett in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aremis wants to stand and escape but Bennett is having none of it.
Bennett trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Bennett works over Aremis with some ground and pound from guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Aremis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bennett.
Bennett distracts Aremis with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Aremis looking for a sweep. Not yet Aremis, not yet.
Bennett throwing strikes from guard but Aremis blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aremis is looking to stand up but Bennett isn't so interested in that idea.
Bennett trying to control but Aremis is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Bennett 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.

Bennett decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Aremis has hold of Bennett's hands but Bennett slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Bennett wants to pass the guard but Aremis is defending well.
Aremis trying to control from the bottom.
Bennett sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Aremis defending well though.
Bennett is keen to just control but Aremis is a slippery customer.
Bennett is looking to advance position but Aremis won't allow it.

Bennett seems to be working for a kimura but Aremis defends the submission attempt.
Bennett missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aremis regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Bennett.
Bennett looking to pass the guard.
Bennett is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Erik Bennett has got the better of the ground game so far.
Aremis wants to control but Bennett passes easily into half guard.
Aremis is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Bennett is trying to control. Aremis wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bennett is pressing down on Aremis's thigh, looking to free his foot. Aremis is holding on for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bennett thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Aremis's head.
Bennett wants to control but Aremis is keeping him busy.
Aremis is looking for a sweep. Bennett is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bennett lands a nice short elbow.
Bennett thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Aremis's head.
Bennett throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Bennett is pressing down on Aremis's thigh, looking to free his foot. Aremis is holding on for now.

Bennett is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Aremis doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Bennett.
Bennett landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bennett lands a nice short elbow.
Bennett not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Aremis is trying to stand.
Bennett not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Bennett is trying to control the action in half guard but Aremis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bennett sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Aremis defending well though.
Bennett prevents Aremis from standing back up.
Aremis is looking to improve his position.
Ground and pound from Bennett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aremis on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bennett throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Aremis taking some punishment here, with Bennett in his half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bennett throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Bennett prevents Aremis from improving his position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bennett lands a nice short elbow.
Bennett works his way into full mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aremis tries to hold on but Bennett pushes him away.
Bennett in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erik Bennett showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A good leg kick by Bennett.

It looks like Xantos Aremis has been cut.

Bennett fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Aremis to the ground. Bennett is now in Aremis's guard.
Bennett sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Aremis's guard.
Aremis striking from half guard on the bottom.
Bennett wants to pass the guard but Aremis is defending well.
Aremis is refusing to be controlled, as Bennett sits in half guard.
Bennett has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bennett looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Aremis with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Bennett passes to full mount!
Aremis is in a horrible position here. Bennett smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Xantos Aremis's cut is getting worse.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Aremis can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bennett is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Aremis has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Aremis!
Aremis works over Bennett with some ground and pound from guard.
Aremis postures up in Bennett's guard and throws a big left but Bennett blocks it.
Aremis wants to pass the guard but Bennett is keeping the position.
Bennett wants to sweep but no luck.
Xantos Aremis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aremis wants to pass the guard but Bennett is keeping the position.
Bennett has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Bennett throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Aremis looking to sit in guard and control but Bennett gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett throwing strikes from guard but Aremis blocks nicely.
Bennett with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bennett won't allow Aremis to get back to his feet.
Bennett throws a strike but Aremis rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bennett has Aremis pulled in close to control his posture.
Erik Bennett is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett wants to hit a switch here but Aremis passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Bennett there!
Aremis scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Bennett?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Aremis is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Bennett has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Bennett!
Bennett trying to control but Aremis is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erik Bennett comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Bennett has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erik Bennett!
Erik Bennett thanked the fans post fight for their support.