PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ching Dan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Corey Benavidez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Dan
vs
Benavidez

180 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
198 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ching Dan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Corey Benavidez!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Michael Johnstone and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dan misses with a leg kick.

Dan closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Dan lands in his opponent's guard.
Benavidez has his hands on Dan's head, controlling the position.
Dan looking to pass the guard.
Benavidez is trying to control the position but Dan postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Benavidez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dan defends it easily.
Dan controlling from the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dan wants to get up but he can't break Benavidez's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Benavidez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dan defends it easily.
Benavidez is trying to keep Dan in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Benavidez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Dan is aware though and is defending well.
Dan trying to control the position from guard on top but Benavidez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dan has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Dan slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Benavidez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Dan defends it easily.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Benavidez has an active guard here but Dan has managed to pass into half guard.
Benavidez looks winded!
Benavidez keeping control of the position.

Benavidez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Dan pulls his head out easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dan is trying to control. Benavidez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Benavidez shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dan as he jumps to the side.
Dan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Benavidez.
Dan throws a wild body kick that Benavidez sees coming a mile off.
Benavidez shoots in looking for a takedown. Dan tries to sprawl out of it but Benavidez keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A little feinted left hand from Dan on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ching Dan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Corey Benavidez.
Nice takedown defense from Dan. No joy for Benavidez on that attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Dan has managed to clinch.

Benavidez wants the takedown. Dan is fighting it off but Benavidez persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Dan's guard against the cage.
Dan wants to stand and escape but Benavidez is having none of it.
Benavidez wants to pass the guard but Dan is keeping the position.
Dan trying to keep a closed guard but Benavidez is proving a slippery customer.
Benavidez works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Benavidez is looking to advance position but Dan won't allow it.
Benavidez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
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 Ching Dan will probably get the nod.
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.

Benavidez gets a double leg takedown into Dan's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benavidez trying to control but Dan is working from the bottom.
We've been informed that Benavidez has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Benavidez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dan is keeping the position for now.
Benavidez wants to control from the top but Dan keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benavidez is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Dan keeping full guard, as Benavidez tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Dan working for a triangle but Benavidez defends it easily.
Dan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Corey Benavidez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Dan shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez wants to control but Dan is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Benavidez looking for submissions off his back.
Benavidez makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Benavidez.
Benavidez is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benavidez has an active guard here but Dan has managed to pass into half guard.
Benavidez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dan's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dan's back!
Dan trying to control the hands but Benavidez breaks the grip.

Benavidez is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Dan is defending well though. Benavidez let's go of the attempt for now.
Benavidez tries to get the hooks in deep but Dan pushed the leg off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dan defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Benavidez looking to hold on to the position here but Dan rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Benavidez trying to control the position from guard on top but Dan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benavidez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Benavidez advances to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Corey Benavidez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Benavidez shoots in for a takedown but Dan shows good takedown defense.
Nice sprawl there from Dan as Benavidez shoots in.
Benavidez misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ching Dan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Corey Benavidez.
Benavidez shoots in for a takedown but Dan shows good takedown defense.
Dan half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Dan instigates a clinch.

Dan has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Benavidez is trying to keep an underhook but Dan manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Benavidez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Corey Benavidez has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Benavidez with the active half guard here but Dan passes nicely into side control.

Dan working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dan is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Benavidez is trying to escape and Dan transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Benavidez is forced to tap! Nice work there by Dan! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:29 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ching Dan!
Corey Benavidez spoke after the fight, saying 'Fuck it!'.