PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Wayde Sullivan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and DERIK BENSON (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.

Sullivan
vs
BENSON

191 cm
18
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

205 cm
19
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 New York, Wayde Sullivan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, DERIK BENSON!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Franklyn Lucas and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

BENSON tries to keep at a distance but Sullivan has taken the fight into the clinch.

Sullivan pulls guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

BENSON decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Sullivan misses with an uppercut.

BENSON has managed to clinch.

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

Sullivan clinches with his opponent.
BENSON drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sullivan is looking to break free of the clinch but BENSON has double underhooks.
Sullivan fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Sullivan gets a trip takedown into half guard.
BENSON is trying to control but can't.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BENSON is refusing to be controlled, as Sullivan sits in half guard.
Sullivan wants to stand up but BENSON is controlling the position.
BENSON moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
BENSON is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
BENSON throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sullivan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
BENSON trying to keep a closed guard but Sullivan is proving a slippery customer.
Sullivan wants to pass the guard but BENSON is keeping the position.

BENSON is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
BENSON controls Sullivan momentarily but Sullivan frees himself.
Sullivan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
BENSON feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Sullivan's calf.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

BENSON tries to keep at a distance but Sullivan has taken the fight into the clinch.
BENSON is trying to break the clinch but Sullivan has him pressed against the cage.

Sullivan has BENSON pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Sullivan pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending BENSON tumbling to the mat - Sullivan dives into BENSON's guard.
BENSON trying to keep a closed guard but Sullivan is proving a slippery customer.
BENSON looks gassed!
BENSON looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sullivan is one step ahead there.
Sullivan postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan controlling from the top position.
BENSON thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Sullivan distracts BENSON with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
BENSON trying to control the position.
Sullivan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
BENSON is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sullivan is controlling him.
Sullivan controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wayde Sullivan dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Sullivan closes the distance but BENSON moves to the side

and BENSON counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sullivan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sullivan wants to stand but BENSON is controlling the position.
Sullivan seems keen to control BENSON's posture.
BENSON preventing the sweep.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sullivan trying to keep a closed guard but BENSON is proving a slippery customer.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sullivan holds on and takes a little breather.
Sullivan looking to hit a scissor sweep but BENSON is one step ahead there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sullivan tries to clinch

and BENSON counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
BENSON must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Sullivan is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
BENSON tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Sullivan just stands there and leans against the cage.
BENSON has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sullivan is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Sullivan breaks from the clinch.
BENSON avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
BENSON throws a series of strikes that have Sullivan backpedaling.
Sullivan tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but BENSON paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Sullivan forces BENSON back against the cage and clinches.

Sullivan tightens his grip and picks BENSON up, before dumping him to the ground. BENSON manages to land in guard.
Sullivan tries to free his leg and advance position but BENSON is retaining full guard.
Sullivan trying to control but BENSON is working from the bottom.
BENSON working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Sullivan.
Sullivan postures up.
Sullivanis looking to pass into half guard but BENSON pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now BENSON is in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sullivan had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. BENSON is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Sullivan Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take BENSON's back instead.
BENSON trying to control the hands but Sullivan won't let him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sullivan trying to control.
Sullivan is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften BENSON up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Sullivan controlling the positon.
Sullivan avoiding BENSON 's attempts to control his hands.
Sullivan has the hooks in. BENSON is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Sullivan is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
BENSON is really stuck here.
BENSON trying to control the action but Sullivan just sinks the hooks in.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DERIK BENSON showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Sullivan fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
BENSON tries to clinch but Sullivan is having none of it.
Sullivan fails with an attempt to clinch.
BENSON throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sullivan's waist but Sullivan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing BENSON off to one side.
Sullivan misses with a hook.
Wayde Sullivan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Sullivan moves into the clinch.
BENSON lands an uppercut.
BENSON blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sullivan wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
BENSON changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Sullivan fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Sullivan throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
BENSON swats away the attempt to clinch by Sullivan.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sullivan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wayde Sullivan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of DERIK BENSON.

Sullivan closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Sullivan breaks from the clinch.

BENSON gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sullivan makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Wayde Sullivan overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sullivan preventing the sweep.
Sullivan content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan trying to control the position from guard on top but BENSON is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
BENSON wants to sweep here but Sullivan controlling him for the moment.

Sullivan stands up and waves to BENSON to follow him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan throws a right and a left that BENSON avoids nicely.
BENSON closes the distance but Sullivan moves to the side

and Sullivan counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in BENSON's guard now.
Sullivan content to stall in guard here.
BENSON controls Sullivan momentarily but Sullivan frees himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sullivan scoring with punches to the head and body.

BENSON is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sullivan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Sullivan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
BENSON is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sullivan is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Sullivan looks to score with a jab to the body but BENSON is just out of range.
Sullivan is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by BENSON.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wayde Sullivan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Sullivan 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wayde Sullivan!