PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dick van Greeven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zach Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). van Greeven comes to the cage accompanied by Tom Waits - Telephone call from Istanbul. Zach Benson told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

van Greeven
vs
Benson

205 cm
22
299 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
275 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Organic Peak Performance

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dick van Greeven!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Zach Benson!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Cecil Peabody and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benson stuffs the takedown.
Benson lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Benson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around van Greeven's waist but van Greeven gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Benson off to one side.

van Greeven closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - van Greeven lands in his opponent's guard.
van Greeven is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
van Greeven trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benson wants to stand and escape but van Greeven is having none of it.
Benson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
van Greeven is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Benson doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
van Greeven preventing the sweep.
van Greeven postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
van Greeven knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Benson on the ground.
van Greeven preventing the sweep.
Benson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst van Greeven is controlling him.
van Greeven trying to control the position from guard on top but Benson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
van Greeven scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
van Greeven has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson looking for a sweep. Not yet Benson, not yet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

van Greeven closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Benson looks gassed!
Benson regains half guard.
Benson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but van Greeven scores with a couple of nice shots.
van Greeven looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Benson is trying to get back to full guard.
van Greeven is nestled in close to Benson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
van Greeven missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
van Greeven wants to pass the guard but Benson is defending well.
Benson tries to roll over but van Greeven keeps him under control.

Benson looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
van Greeven content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Benson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but van Greeven scores with a couple of nice shots.
Benson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
van Greeven looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Benson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
van Greeven is tying to control. Benson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Benson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
van Greeven drops an elbow to the side of Benson's head.

Benson is defending against the submission attempts here by van Greeven.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van Greeven lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Benson is trying to defend against the ground and pound but van Greeven scores with a couple of nice shots.
van Greeven lands with a punch from half guard.
Ground and pound from van Greeven.
Benson makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Benson.
van Greeven will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
van Greeven 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.
van Greeven keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Benson's head.
van Greeven is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
van Greeven with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson trying to strike off his back.
Benson wants to stand up but van Greeven is controlling him.
van Greeven slips nicely into half guard.
van Greeven scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Benson is trying to control but can't.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. van Greeven lands a nice short elbow.
van Greeven seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Benson is trying to control but can't.
van Greeven seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
van Greeven working over Benson with some ground and pound. Benson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Benson flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
van Greeven landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Benson is not content to let van Greeven control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick van Greeven dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Benson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from van Greeven.
Benson lands with a straight right. van Greeven didn't see that one coming.
Nice sprawl there from Benson as van Greeven shoots in.
van Greeven ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Benson moves away.

van Greeven gets a takedown into half guard.
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!
van Greeven drops an elbow to the side of Benson's head.
Benson tries to kick van Greeven off but van Greeven keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
van Greeven is keen to just control but Benson is a slippery customer.
van Greeven prevents Benson from improving his position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. van Greeven lands a nice short elbow.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Benson is trying to get back to full guard.
van Greeven moves into full mount! Benson won't be happy about that!

That's one minute gone in the round.
van Greeven scoring with strikes but Benson is staying in there.
van Greeven fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
van Greeven landing strikes from the mount and Benson is in trouble!
van Greeven is landing with some decent strikes but Benson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
van Greeven is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Benson can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
A nice elbow there by van Greeven.
van Greeven looking to control but Benson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
van Greeven prevents Benson from getting the reversal.
van Greeven dominating with strikes here.
van Greeven landing punches.
van Greeven lands a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson is bucking up trying to escape but van Greeven cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
BOOM! van Greeven connects with a massive shot to the dome!
van Greeven fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
van Greeven lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Benson keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
van Greeven scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
van Greeven is landing with some decent strikes but Benson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Benson trying desperately to get to his feet.
van Greeven tries to control but Benson wriggling away.
Benson tries to hold on but van Greeven postures up.
van Greeven lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
van Greeven is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Benson tries to lock up and control but van Greeven gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Benson is desperately trying to improve his position but van Greeven has a good base and remains in mount.
van Greeven landing shots from mount.
Dick van Greeven overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
van Greeven with shots to the head and body - Benson looks very uncomfortable down there.
A nice elbow there by van Greeven.
van Greeven lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Benson is trying desperately to improve position.
van Greeven trying to control but he's not successful this time.
van Greeven has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Benson's face.

van Greeven is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Benson can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
van Greeven in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Benson sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Benson tries to kick van Greeven off but van Greeven keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
van Greeven working the head and body with strikes.
Benson is looking for a sweep. van Greeven is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Benson wants to control but van Greeven is keeping busy.
van Greeven winds up and cracks Benson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
van Greeven is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Benson trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dick van Greeven dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Benson stuffs the takedown.
Nice body punch from Benson.
Benson shoots and misses

and van Greeven counters with a nice double leg into guard.
van Greeven postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Benson wants to sweep here but van Greeven controlling him for the moment.
Benson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst van Greeven is controlling him.
van Greeven wants to control from the top but Benson keeps moving.
van Greeven landing some decent shots from guard.
van Greeven trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Benson wants to stand and escape but van Greeven is having none of it.
van Greeven landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
van Greeven pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benson is keeping the position for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Benson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Benson keeping moving, preventing van Greeven from controlling successfully.
van Greeven is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Benson can do to turn this around?
Benson has momentary wrist control but van Greeven slips an elbow through the middle.
van Greeven missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
van Greeven looking to pass the guard.
Benson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
van Greeven stops Benson from standing up.
van Greeven is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson has momentary wrist control but van Greeven slips an elbow through the middle.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Benson closes the distance and clinches up with van Greeven, looking for a takedown. Benson pushes van Greeven against the cage but van Greeven circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
van Greeven shoots for a double leg takedown but Benson sprawls well. He's pushed van Greeven's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Benson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

van Greeven closes the distance and clinches.
van Greeven is trying to drag Benson to the mat but Benson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dick van Greeven. That's going to take a lot out of him.
van Greeven prevents Benson from breaking the clinch.
Benson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but van Greeven has him pressed against the cage.

van Greeven has picked Benson up - he's going for a ride! van Greeven dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Benson misses with some strikes from the bottom.
van Greeven wants to pass the guard but Benson is defending well.
Benson throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson works his way to full guard. Good work.
van Greeven stands up over Benson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Benson tries to strike from the bottom.
van Greeven works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Benson wants to get back to full guard.
Benson is looking to control van Greeven's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Benson avoid being mounted?
van Greeven prevents Benson from improving his position.
van Greeven working over Benson with some ground and pound. Benson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
van Greeven is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

van Greeven is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Benson has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
van Greeven wants to control the pace but Benson is squirming around nicely.
Benson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
van Greeven pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
van Greeven fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Zach Benson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benson is working to get back to half guard.
van Greeven avoids the attempt from Benson to control.
Benson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
van Greeven lands a big shot there that rocks Benson but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Dick van Greeven is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
van Greeven punishing his opponent with strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dick van Greeven showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for van Greeven, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:26
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dick van Greeven!