PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Balboa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Rocky Balboa has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Balboa
vs
Bennett

199 cm
22
286 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
295 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super 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, Rocky Balboa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Bennett!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, Alyssa Summers and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Balboa.
Bennett stuffs the takedown.
Bennett swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
No luck for Balboa with that takedown attempt.
Bennett now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Balboa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bennett sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bennett lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Balboa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balboa shoots in but no luck this time.
Bennett unleashes a big counter combination but Balboa bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Balboa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balboa throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Balboa moves in looking to clinch but Bennett pushes him off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Balboa misses with a takedown attempt
and Bennett cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Bennett chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Balboa can pounce on him.
Balboa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bennett counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Balboa looks for a takedown but Bennett sprawls well.
Bennett appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Balboa falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bennett counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Balboa thinking.
Balboa is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa tries for a takedown but Bennett sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bennett! But no joy.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown but Bennett shows good takedown defense.
Bennett is looking for the big counter here.
No luck for Balboa with that takedown attempt.
Rocky Balboa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bennett stuffs the takedown attempt from Balboa. Balboa gets slowly back to his feet.
Bennett unleashes a big counter combination but Balboa bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Balboa shoots for a double leg takedown but Bennett sprawls well. He's pushed Balboa's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bennett throws a counter combo.
No luck for Balboa with that takedown attempt.
Bennett is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa tries to clinch up but Bennett circles away and keeps his distance.
A little jabbing left from Bennett on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Balboa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bennett throws a counter combo.
Balboa with a poor takedown
and Bennett counters with a stiff right hand.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Balboa.
Bennett defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Balboa.
Bennett slips a jab from Balboa.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Balboa has his takedown stuffed
and Bennett counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Rocky Balboa has been cut.
Balboa with a lazy takedown attempt
and Balboa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bennett has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Balboa shoots and misses
and Bennett counters with a left and a right that stings Balboa.
Balboa fails with the takedown
and Bennett counters with a left and a right that stings Balboa.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bennett avoids the head kick by Balboa.
Bennett looks like he wants to counter punch here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Bennett dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rocky Balboa's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Balboa goes for a double leg but Bennett avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bennett continues to drive forward.
Bennett throws out a counter right but Balboa avoids it with no problem.
Balboa shoots in but no luck this time.
Bennett leaves Balboa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
A countering left hand to the body from Bennett misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Balboa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Balboa has his takedown stuffed
and Bennett counters with a low kick, right behind Balboa 's knee.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balboa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bennett counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Balboa thinking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett stuffs the takedown.
Bennett swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Balboa swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Balboa backing away here, and Bennett unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Balboa looks for a takedown but Bennett sprawls well.
Horrible takedown attempt by Balboa or perhaps it was just good defense by Bennett, which made it look bad.
It seemed like Bennett was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Bennett displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Balboa.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Balboa looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Bennett throws a counter combo.
Michael Bennett seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Balboa throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bennett's waist but Bennett gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Balboa off to one side.
Bennett only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Balboa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bennett is fending him off so far but Balboa persists. Nope, Bennett circles away and we're back to standing.
It seemed like Bennett was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Balboa closes the distance and clinches up with Bennett, looking for a takedown. Balboa pushes Bennett against the cage but Bennett circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bennett is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Balboa shoots in but Bennett avoids the takedown attempt easily.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Balboa might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Balboa fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa tries for a takedown but Bennett sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bennett looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
A low kick from Balboa misses
and Bennett counters with a good low kick that Balboa was not able to check.
Balboa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bennett pinned against the cage. Bennett gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Balboa is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bennett sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck for Balboa with that takedown attempt.
As Balboa backs off Bennett throws a huge counter combo but Balboa manages to avoid it all.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
A little jabbing left from Bennett on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Balboa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bennett now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bennett sprawls well. Bennett wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Balboa gets slowly back to his feet.
Rocky Balboa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balboa with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bennett counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Bennett showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rocky Balboa's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Balboa fails with a takedown attempt.
Despite the aggression on Bennett's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Balboa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
As Balboa backs off Bennett throws a huge counter combo but Balboa manages to avoid it all.
Balboa tries to clinch up but Bennett circles away and keeps his distance.
Bennett let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Bennett keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bennett swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice takedown defense from Bennett. No joy for Balboa on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Balboa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Balboa misses with a leg kick
and Bennett counters with a low kick, right behind Balboa 's knee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Balboa with that takedown attempt.
Bennett looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Bennett stuffs the takedown.
Bennett swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Balboa gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bennett connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Balboa tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bennett feints a counter leg kick.
Balboa misses with a takedown attempt
and Bennett counters with a nice low kick that buckles Balboa's knee momentarily.
Balboa tries for a takedown but Bennett circles away easily
and Bennett counters with a stiff right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balboa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bennett circles away.
Bennett unleashes a big counter combination but Balboa bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Balboa fails with the takedown
and Bennett counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Balboa goes for a double leg but Bennett avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Bennett continues to drive forward.
Bennett let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Balboa changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bennett tries to avoid it but Balboa manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bennett to the ground. Bennett escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Bennett throws out a counter right but Balboa avoids it with no problem.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Balboa.
Bennett feints a counter leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balboa tries for a takedown but Bennett sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
As Balboa backs off Bennett throws a huge counter combo but Balboa manages to avoid it all.
Balboa throws the kick towards the body but Bennett avoids it.
A countering left hand to the body from Bennett misses.
Balboa tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bennett manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Balboa shoots in for a takedown but Bennett shows good takedown defense.
Bennett lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
A low kick from Balboa is predictable there
and Bennett cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Balboa misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Bennett let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Balboa fails to land the takedown.
Bennett let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balboa closes this distance looking for a takedown but Bennett circles away.
Balboa darts in looking for a takedown but Bennett gets double underhooks and turns Balboa into the cage.
Rocky Balboa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Balboa is looking to clinch.
Balboa fails with a takedown attempt.
Michael Bennett is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
The fighters circling - Balboa throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 26:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 25:30
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Bennett!