PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Fredy Benton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Karlsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Benton
vs
Karlsson

175 cm
27
185 lbs
6 - 1 - 1

185 cm
24
177 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Fredy Benton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Karlsson!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Karlsson lands with an uppercut that bounces Benton off the cage and back into range.
Benton paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Karlsson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benton stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Benton fails with the takedown.
We've been hearing reports that Benton has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
A swing and a miss from Karlsson.
Benton feinted with a counter takedown.

Benton darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Benton working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Benton prevents Karlsson from standing back up.
Karlsson is looking for a sweep. Benton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Karlsson controlling the position well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benton thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Karlsson's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Benton lands a nice short elbow.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benton lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson trying to control here.
Karlsson wants to get back to his feet.
Benton slips a nice elbow through Karlsson's hands, connecting with Karlsson's forehead.
Benton scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Karlsson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Benton seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Karlsson wants to improve his position but Benton is controlling well.
Karlsson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Karlsson is trying to stand back up but Benton is controlling him
Karlsson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Benton working Karlsson over with strikes.
Karlsson wants to get back to his feet.
Benton not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson is looking to control Benton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Karlsson avoid being mounted?
Karlsson is looking for a sweep. Benton is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Karlsson has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Benton is on him like a limpet, forcing Karlsson back against the cage.
Benton has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Karlsson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
We've been informed that Karlsson has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Benton is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Karlsson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Fredy Benton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benton drops down looking for an ankle pick but Karlsson pulls his leg out and moves away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Benton.
Steve Karlsson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Benton shoots in but no luck this time.
Karlsson misses with an uppercut

and Benton counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benton missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Benton lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Karlsson wants to get back to his feet.
Benton missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Benton is nestled in close to Karlsson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson wants to get back to full guard.
Karlsson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Benton's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Benton's back!
Benton is trying to break free.
Benton is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Karlsson.
Karlsson struggling to keep hold of the position.
Karlsson is hanging on to Benton's back as he tries to escape.
Karlsson really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Benton.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Karlsson's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Benton haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Karlsson controlling from the back.
Karlsson not allowing Benton to control his hands.
Karlsson controlling well, preventing Benton from escaping the position.
Karlsson not allowing Benton to control his hands.
Karlsson trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Benton doesn't escape.
Benton is keeping busy.
Karlsson is riding his opponent, not letting Benton buck him off.
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 Fredy Benton will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Benton misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Benton ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Karlsson moves away.
A jab from Karlsson does it's job there.
Karlsson clobbers Benton with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
A jab from Karlsson misses.
Karlsson scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Fredy Benton has been cut.

Benton feints and as Karlsson raises his hands in defense, Benton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Benton working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Karlsson is adopting a defensive guard.
Benton has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Benton trying to control the position from guard on top but Karlsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benton keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Karlsson's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton chips away with some ground and pound.
Benton postures up.
Karlsson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Benton manages to get himself to full guard.

Benton controlling Karlsson's posture.
Benton keeping moving, preventing Karlsson from controlling successfully.
Fredy Benton overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Benton looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson tries to stand but Benton is controlling from the bottom.
Karlsson trying to control but Benton is working from the bottom.
Benton has control of Karlsson's left arm, preventing Karlsson from doing any damage.
Karlsson would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Karlsson wants to control from the top but Benton keeps moving.
Benton seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Karlsson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benton is keeping the position for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Karlsson gets caught flat footed, as Benton shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Benton stops Karlsson from standing up.
Benton wants to control from the top but Karlsson keeps moving.
Karlsson wants to stand up but Benton is controlling him.
Benton looking to pass the guard.
Benton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Benton not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Karlsson wants to stand but Benton is controlling the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benton shoots in and drives through. Karlsson sprawls well.

Benton dives in and scores a takedown into Karlsson's guard.
Benton scoring with punches to the head and body.
Benton content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Karlsson wants to get back to his feet but Benton is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Karlsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Benton is one step ahead there.
Karlsson is trying to control the position but Benton postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Karlsson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Benton is controlling him.
Karlsson being controlled here, momentarily.
Karlsson keeping moving, preventing Benton from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Fredy Benton will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Fredy Benton's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Karlsson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benton.
Karlsson rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Benton counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Karlsson is looking to escape.
Benton prevents Karlsson from improving his position.
Karlsson is looking to escape.
Benton drops an elbow to the side of Karlsson's head.
Benton lands with a punch from half guard.
Karlsson gets back to full guard.
Benton chips away with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benton lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Karlsson is rocked!
Benton trying to control the position from guard on top but Karlsson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Karlsson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Benton pushes down on Karlsson's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Karlsson wants to improve his position but Benton is controlling well.
Benton is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Benton is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Karlsson is just riding it out for now. Benton eventually gives up the hold.
Karlsson is trying to stand up here but Benton is controlling him well.
Benton sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Karlsson defending well though.
Benton is thwarting Karlsson's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nice strikes from Benton there.
Karlsson is still in real trouble! Can Benton finish him?
Benton keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Benton stops Karlsson from getting back to his feet.
Nice strikes from Benton there.
Karlsson wants to get back to his feet.

Benton is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Benton wants to take a breather but Karlsson is having none of it.
Benton winds up and cracks Karlsson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Benton throwing shots but Karlsson is blocking nicely.
Karlsson is looking to control Benton's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Karlsson avoid being mounted?
Karlsson taking some punishment here, with Benton in his half guard.
Karlsson is doing well to control the position and prevent Benton from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karlsson tries to roll over but Benton keeps him under control.
Benton lands a big elbow - Karlsson is out of it! He's waving his arms around but his eyes are closed and he's not intelligently defending himself - the ref has no choice but to jump in and stop the fight! This one is in the books! A TKO win for Benton!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Fredy Benton!