PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Grant Benton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Norman Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Benton
vs
Diaz

180 cm
27
165 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

172 cm
24
165 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Dynamite

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grant Benton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Norman Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Diaz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Benton.
A big right from Diaz misses.
Benton slips a jab from Diaz.
Diaz gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Benton slips under a jab from Diaz.

Benton pushes Diaz up against the cage in a clinch.
Benton is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Diaz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Benton working aggressively here.
Diaz doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Benton as Diaz tries to tie him up.
Benton presses Diaz against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Benton is struggling to control the position.
Diaz swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz is looking to control Benton's arms but Benton gets an underhook and turns him. Now Diaz has his back to the cage.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Benton holds him up against the cage and eventually Diaz drops back down to his feet.

Diaz breaks the clinch.
Benton lands with a straight right. Diaz didn't see that one coming.
Diaz scores with a punch to the head.
Benton scores with a nice strike.
The fighters circle momentarily. Benton darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Diaz throws a lazy right hand but Benton sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Diaz misses with a looping right.
Diaz throws out a loose jab but Benton uses good head movement to avoid it.
No luck for Diaz with that takedown attempt.

Benton forces Diaz back against the cage and clinches.
Benton lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Benton goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz has Benton pressed against the cage, preventing Benton from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Benton pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Diaz manages to break the clinch.
Diaz throws a lazy uppercut
and Diaz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Diaz circles away from the clinch attempt.
Diaz digs a good hook to Benton's body.
Diaz cracks Benton with a right hand to the side of the head.
Benton scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Benton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Diaz takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Diaz on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Some wild striking there from Diaz.
Benton tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Benton moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Benton keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Diaz closes the distance and pushes Benton back into the cage.
Benton has Diaz pressed against the cage, preventing Diaz from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Benton throws a head punch that misses.

Diaz breaks the clinch.
Grant Benton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Benton lands with an uppercut that bounces Diaz off the cage and back into range.

Benton gets a clinch.

Benton breaks the clinch.
Nice straight punches there by Benton. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Benton.
A jab from Benton does it's job there.
Benton is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Diaz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Benton moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Benton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Diaz paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Benton rushes Diaz and presses him up against the cage.
Benton misses with the head strike.
Diaz misses with a punch on the inside.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diaz rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Benton moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Diaz avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benton connects with a good right hand that stumbles Diaz. Diaz circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz throws the left hand but Benton avoids the punch easily.
Benton scores with a jab to the jaw.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Diaz fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Benton trying to stall but Diaz improves his position.
Benton stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Diaz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Benton is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Benton blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Diaz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Diaz manages to break the clinch.
Diaz gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Benton.
Some wild striking there from Diaz.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Benton dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Benton gets a clinch.

Diaz breaks the clinch.
Benton keeps the fight on the outside.

Diaz rushes Benton and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Benton throws a head punch that misses.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Diaz creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Diaz lands with a left to the head.
Diaz misses with a punch to the body.
Diaz misses with a body punch.
Benton stalling against the cage.
Benton is trying to force a seperation but Diaz has the dominant position.
Diaz lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Diaz misses with the head strike.
Benton wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Diaz has him pressed against the cage.
Benton lands an uppercut.

Diaz manages to break the clinch.

Benton moves into range and clinches up with Diaz.
Diaz is trying to push Benton away but Benton has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Diaz jumps guard but Benton stands there with Diaz around his waist. Diaz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Benton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Benton jabs Diaz right on the nose. Diaz blinks but takes it well.
Benton scores with a three punch combo!
Benton scores with a nice right hand.
Diaz fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Benton moves in looking to clinch but Diaz pushes him off.
Benton slips a jab from Diaz.
Benton lands a jab-cross combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz throws out a loose jab but Benton uses good head movement to avoid it.
Diaz is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Diaz slips a jab and a cross from Benton.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton fails with an attempt to clinch.
Diaz throws a jab but it's blocked by Benton.
A big left from Benton misses.
Diaz throws a head kick that misses.
Diaz is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Benton.

Benton pushes Diaz up against the cage in a clinch.
Diaz is looking to control Benton's arms but Benton gets an underhook and turns him. Now Diaz has his back to the cage.
Benton is pushing Diaz up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Benton.
Benton makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Benton lands a left hand that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Grant Benton has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Diaz escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Benton moves into range and clinches up with Diaz.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but Benton has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz drops down looking for an ankle pick but Benton pulls his leg out and moves away.
Grant Benton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Norman Diaz.

Benton pushes Diaz up against the cage in a clinch.
A short left from Benton.

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

Benton takes the fight into the clinch.
Diaz throws a head punch that misses.

Diaz breaks from the clinch.
Diaz jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Benton moves into the clinch.
Diaz scores a nice knee to the body.
Benton is pressed up against the cage. Diaz has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Benton down to the mat. Benton avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Diaz tries to move into range but Benton moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Benton tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Diaz tries to clinch up.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Benton sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Benton lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Diaz circles away quickly and effectively.
Grant Benton is winning the standup battle so far.
Benton swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Diaz blocks a jab.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Benton sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Benton tries to close the distance and clinch but Diaz swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Diaz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Norman Diaz is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Benton tries to clinch but Diaz is having none of it.
Diaz throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Diaz looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Benton is fending him off so far but Diaz persists. Nope, Benton circles away and we're back to standing.
Diaz throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Benton.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Benton lands a glancing blow to the side of Diaz's head.

Benton moves into range and clinches up with Diaz.
Diaz scores with a nice hook to the head.
Benton tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Benton dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Diaz throws the left hand but Benton avoids the punch easily.
Diaz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Benton swats away the attempt to clinch by Diaz.

Benton fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Diaz, pushing him back against the cage.
Diaz tries to break the clinch but Benton is controlling the position.
Diaz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Benton has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Benton backwards.
Diaz wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Benton has him pressed against the cage.
Diaz blocks a body shot from Benton.
Diaz tries to circle away but Benton has him pinned against the cage.
Diaz looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Diaz tries to break the clinch but Benton is controlling the position.
Diaz is trying to force a seperation but Benton has the dominant position.
Diaz swings wildly with an uppercut but Benton uses good head movement to avoid it.
Benton blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Benton gets through Diaz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Diaz has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz landing knees to the head.

It looks like Grant Benton has been cut.
Benton can't break the clinch.
Benton blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Diaz is trying to drag Benton to the mat but Benton just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Benton breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diaz misses with a left hand
and Benton cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Benton moves into range and clinches up with Diaz.
Benton has a couple of punches blocked by Diaz.
Benton lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Diaz dodges the punch combination from Benton.
Diaz walks into a left hand.
Benton throws a hook to the side of Diaz's head but Diaz sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Donk. Benton catches Diaz right on the button with a cross.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Diaz uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Benton.
Benton lands a glancing blow to the side of Diaz's head.
Diaz throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benton throws a hook but Diaz avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Diaz misses its intended target.
Diaz swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Diaz jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Diaz shoots in for a double leg but Benton sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Diaz throws a right and a left that Benton avoids nicely.
Diaz moves forwards but Benton connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Diaz takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Diaz misses with a wild combination.
Diaz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Benton gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Diaz's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Diaz throws a head punch that misses.
Diaz has a couple of punches blocked by Benton.
Diaz tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Benton smiles and moves away.
Grant Benton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Norman Diaz.
Benton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Benton wants to clinch up but Diaz keeps it at a distance.
Benton slips under a jab from Diaz.

Benton pushes Diaz up against the cage in a clinch.
Benton scores with a shot to the side of Diaz's head.
Benton lands a shoulder strike.
Stalling in the clinch from Benton.

Diaz breaks from the clinch.
Benton on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Diaz throws a shot from downtown. Benton moves away and avoids it.
Benton lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Diaz at a distance.
Benton ducks under a wild hook from Diaz.

Benton gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Benton lands a left hand.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Benton controlling the action here for a moment.
Benton scores with a shot to the side of Diaz's head.
Benton lands a body punch in the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Benton scores with a nice short uppercut.
Benton misses with a punch to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Benton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Diaz needs to keep his hands up - Benton had a free shot at his head there.

Benton rushes Diaz and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Norman Diaz has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Grant Benton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A frustrated look appears on Diaz's face as he tries to break the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Grant Benton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Benton 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grant Benton!
Grant Benton decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.