PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Baeddan MacAuliffe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benson comes to the cage accompanied by Mantis-Snapped. MacAuliffe has chosen Notorious by Duran Duran as his entrance music. Baeddan MacAuliffe will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Benson
vs
MacAuliffe

175 cm
26
155 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
156 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Prefers standup

V-Mask Clothing (10%)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, James Benson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Baeddan MacAuliffe!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, John Roberts and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
MacAuliffe dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Benson fails to land the takedown.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by MacAuliffe!
MacAuliffe scores with a push kick.
Benson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but MacAuliffe defends well and Benson ends up having to push MacAuliffe into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
MacAuliffe wants to counter with a clinch but Benson pushes him away.
Benson dives in and grabs MacAuliffe's left leg, looking for a takedown. MacAuliffe pushes down on Benson's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Benson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benson has a takedown stuffed.
An inside leg kick lands from MacAuliffe.
Benson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
James Benson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
MacAuliffe lands with a nice body punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
MacAuliffe scores with a punch to the head.
MacAuliffe lands with a shot to the body.

Benson shoots in and bounces MacAuliffe off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Benson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Benson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

MacAuliffe looking for a guillotine here but Benson defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

MacAuliffe throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Benson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
MacAuliffe looking to hit a scissor sweep but Benson is one step ahead there.
MacAuliffe is trying to control the position but Benson postures up.
MacAuliffe throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
MacAuliffe can't keep his opponent in guard - Benson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Benson is working for a kimura but MacAuliffe is defending it quite comfortably.

Benson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benson is looking for a kimura here.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Benson is looking for a kimura here.

Benson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Benson is working for a kimura but MacAuliffe is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
MacAuliffe missing with punches from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacAuliffe is trying to control but can't.
MacAuliffe might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Benson haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

MacAuliffe actively working from the bottom here.
MacAuliffe is looking to control Benson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can MacAuliffe avoid being mounted?

Benson is looking for a kimura but MacAuliffe is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Benson to get the leverage.
MacAuliffe moves into full guard.

MacAuliffe looking for a guillotine here but Benson defends easily.

Benson drops back, looking for a kneebar! MacAuliffe looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. MacAuliffe looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from MacAuliffe!

Benson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

MacAuliffe looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

MacAuliffe is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Benson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Benson taking a bit of punishment here - MacAuliffe scoring with strikes.
MacAuliffe working away.
Benson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but MacAuliffe wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
MacAuliffe wants to control but Benson is keeping him busy.
Benson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Benson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baeddan MacAuliffe 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.

Benson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before MacAuliffe can pounce on him.
A right-left combo lands from MacAuliffe.
MacAuliffe feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Bensons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Benson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by MacAuliffe!
Baeddan MacAuliffe seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Benson shoots in looking for a takedown but MacAuliffe manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Benson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Nice sprawl there from MacAuliffe as Benson shoots in.
Benson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benson fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Benson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
MacAuliffe scores with a kick to the body.
MacAuliffe throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
MacAuliffe stuffs the takedown attempt from Benson. Benson gets slowly back to his feet.
MacAuliffe thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Benson if he has to take too many more of those.
Benson is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
MacAuliffe lands with a good body shot.
MacAuliffe lands a jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
MacAuliffe feints a jab promting Benson to slip. MacAuliffe then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Benson slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
MacAuliffe throws a series of strikes that have Benson backpedaling.
MacAuliffe lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
MacAuliffe throws a nice head kick!

Benson shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
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!
Benson is pushing down on MacAuliffe's leg trying to pass to half guard. MacAuliffe is fighting to maintain full guard but Benson has managed to sneak the leg through.
MacAuliffe moves into full guard.

Benson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and MacAuliffe dives on top into guard.

Benson looking for a sweep. Not yet Benson, not yet.

Benson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
MacAuliffe keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Benson's head.
MacAuliffe working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Benson's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
MacAuliffe trying to control the position from guard on top but Benson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
MacAuliffe has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
MacAuliffe with a nice head shot there.

MacAuliffe avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
MacAuliffe working some strikes from top position.
MacAuliffe works over Benson with some ground and pound from guard.

Benson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. MacAuliffe doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. MacAuliffe manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
MacAuliffe postures up and lands a big shot to Benson's brow.

MacAuliffe avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Benson working for a triangle but MacAuliffe defends it easily.
MacAuliffe wants to control from the top but Benson keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
MacAuliffe slips nicely into half guard.
Benson manages to get to full guard.
Benson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Benson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Benson keeping moving, preventing MacAuliffe from controlling successfully.

Benson looking for a guillotine here but MacAuliffe defends easily.
My spies in School of Hard Knocks inform me that MacAuliffe has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

Benson working for a triangle but MacAuliffe defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
MacAuliffe is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
MacAuliffe works over Benson with some ground and pound from guard.

Benson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. MacAuliffe is aware though and is defending well.
MacAuliffe works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Benson is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but MacAuliffe pulls his head out easily.

MacAuliffe seems to be looking for submissions.
Benson wants to get back to full guard.
MacAuliffe controlling the action here.

Benson actively working from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Baeddan MacAuliffe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Benson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A right-left combo lands from MacAuliffe.
Benson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says MacAuliffe as he avoids it easily.
MacAuliffe scores with a three punch combo!
Benson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Benson looks for a takedown but MacAuliffe sprawls well.
MacAuliffe throws a front kick that sends Benson stumbling back into the cage.
A nice combination there by MacAuliffe.

Benson is rocked!
MacAuliffe throws a series of strikes that have Benson backpedaling.
Oh Benson is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
MacAuliffe scores with a one two! Benson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
MacAuliffe rushes Benson and starts throwing punches like they are going out of style! Benson is up against the cage and has nowhere to go. MacAuliffe Piles on the pressure and Benson crumples to the floor! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Baeddan MacAuliffe!
Baeddan MacAuliffe seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
The defeated James Benson had this to say: 'Great fight tonight.I Wish the best of luck to my opponent for his future...'.