PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ardian Kurniawan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and DJ Benn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as DJ Benn enters the cage!

Kurniawan
vs
Benn

170 cm
23
135 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

167 cm
30
144 lbs
7 - 5 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ardian Kurniawan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, DJ Benn!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Tatsuya Matsuyama and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benn tries to clinch up but Kurniawan circles away and keeps his distance.
Left hook, right uppercut from Benn.
Crunch! Benn slams his shin into Kurniawan's torso.
Kurniawan walks into a left hand.

Benn gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Benn gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kurniawan.
Benn is defending well against a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benn working hard to break the clinch.

Benn breaks the clinch.

Benn moves into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Benn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Benn scores with a three punch combo!
Kurniawan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ardian Kurniawan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benn lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Benn stuffs the takedown attempt from Kurniawan. Kurniawan gets slowly back to his feet.
A countering left hand to the body from Benn misses.

Benn gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Benn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Benn lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Benn breaks from the clinch.
DJ Benn is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benn misses with a wild combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kurniawan looks for a takedown but Benn sprawls well.
Benn connects with a body shot that sends Kurniawan's belly button to the back.
Benn thumps Kurniawan with a low kick.
Benn lands with a right hand.
Kurniawan goes for a double leg but Benn avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Benn continues to drive forward.
Benn jabs Kurniawan to the body, keeping him at a distance.

Benn moves into the clinch.

Benn manages to break the clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Benn.
Benn tries to close the distance and clinch but Kurniawan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Benn clinches.

Benn manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benn is looking to clinch.

Kurniawan shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kurniawan showed some decent athleticism there.

Benn has one foot on Kurniawan's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Kurniawan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Benn circles away.
Kurniawan with a lazy takedown attempt
and Benn counters with a straight right hand.
Kurniawan walks into a left hand.

Kurniawan gets tackled into the cage by Benn. Benn maintains the clinch.
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!
Kurniawan wants a takedown but no success here.
Benn gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kurniawan.

Benn breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Benn looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Benn punishes Kurniawan's body with a nice straight punch.

Benn instigates a clinch.

Benn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Benn throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Benn lands with a nice combination. Kurniawan backs away looking to recover.
Kurniawan misses with a takedown attempt - Benn sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Benn instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DJ Benn 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.

Kurniawan gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Benn counter with a right hand.
Benn tries to clinch but Kurniawan moves out of range.
No luck for Kurniawan with that takedown attempt.
Kurniawan misses with a takedown attempt
and Benn counters with a one-two to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ardian Kurniawan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kurniawan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Benn scoring well with a low kick there.
Benn jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kurniawan moves forwards but Benn connects with a nice, crisp jab.

Benn closes the distance and clinches.

Benn pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A solid leg kick lands there for Benn.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benn stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Benn wants it to stay on the feet.
Kurniawan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kurniawan drops his hands momentarily and Benn takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Benn stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Benn wants it to stay on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kurniawan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Benn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kurniawan, pushing him back against the cage.

Benn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Benn has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Benn leaves Kurniawan with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kurniawan shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Benn sprawls well. Benn wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kurniawan gets slowly back to his feet.
Kurniawan takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kurniawan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kurniawan takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Benn clinches with his opponent.
DJ Benn seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kurniawan has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Benn avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benn breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Benn tries to clinch up but Kurniawan circles away and keeps his distance.

Benn closes the distance and clinches.

Benn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benn displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kurniawan.
Kurniawan fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Benn lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
DJ Benn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Benn closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Benn stuffs the takedown attempt from Kurniawan. Kurniawan gets slowly back to his feet.
Benn looks like he wants to counter punch here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kurniawan darts in looking for a takedown but Benn gets double underhooks and turns Kurniawan into the cage.
Kurniawan with a poor takedown
and Benn counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Benn pushes Kurniawan up against the cage in a clinch.
Kurniawan drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Benn gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Benn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Benn moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kurniawan fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Benn avoids it really well and circles away.
Kurniawan fails with the takedown.
DJ Benn seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Benn.
A slapping leg kick lands for Benn.
Kurniawan tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kurniawan dives in for a single leg takedown but Benn sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Kurniawan tries to keep at a distance but Benn has taken the fight into the clinch.

Benn manages to break the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benn looks to throw a body kick

and Kurniawan counters with a takedown into side control.

Kurniawan is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Benn is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kurniawan tries to move to mount but Benn blocks the move with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

DJ Benn 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!

Kurniawan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Benn ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Benn has taken the fight to the clinch.

Benn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Benn clinches.

Benn escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kurniawan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Benn is fending him off so far but Kurniawan persists. Nope, Benn circles away and we're back to standing.
Benn wants to clinch up but Kurniawan keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kurniawan fails with a takedown attempt.
A nice side step and Benn releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ardian Kurniawan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kurniawan takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Benn buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Benn.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Kurniawan with that takedown attempt.
Kurniawan takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Benn connects with a body shot that sends Kurniawan's belly button to the back.
Kurniawan looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Benn is fending him off so far but Kurniawan persists. Nope, Benn circles away and we're back to standing.
Benn stuffs the takedown.
Kurniawan is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kurniawan takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

Benn fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kurniawan, pushing him back against the cage.

Benn manages to break the clinch.
DJ Benn seems to be getting the better of the standup.
No joy there for Benn, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Benn slaps away a takedown attempt from Kurniawan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kurniawan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Benn defends it nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benn wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

Benn moves into the clinch.

Benn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kurniawan tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Benn jabs Kurniawan to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Benn moves in looking to clinch but Kurniawan pushes him off.
Kurniawan half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Kurniawan looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

Benn moves into the clinch.

Benn's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Benn tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kurniawan swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Benn feints and then cracks Kurniawan's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kurniawan down.

Benn rushes Kurniawan and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Benn breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benn closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kurniawan looking for a takedown.

Benn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kurniawan shoots in for a takedown but Benn shows good takedown defense.
Benn fails to land with a series of punches.
Kurniawan misses with a takedown attempt - Benn sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Benn has Kurniawan up against the cage in a clinch.

Benn breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benn fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kurniawan takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kurniawan on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kurniawan misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Nice jab there from Benn.
Kurniawan keeps the fight on the outside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kurniawan's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Benn connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kurniawan scrambles back to his feet.
Benn fails in his attempt to clinch.

Benn darts in and clinches Kurniawan up against the cage.

Benn breaks the clinch.
Benn connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ardian Kurniawan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benn fails with an attempt to clinch.

Benn has closed the distance and engaged Kurniawan in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
DJ Benn comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Benn 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 25:30
Judge Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 24:30
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 24:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... DJ Benn!