PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Grant Benton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tobias Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benton's entrance music is I get Knocked Down. A fine choice. Black has chosen Remedy by Seether as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Benton
vs
Black

180 cm
37
185 lbs
20 - 14 - 1

180 cm
32
190 lbs
14 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Machiavelli Boutique

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grant Benton!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tobias Black!
The judges for this bout are , Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benton takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Benton misses with a straight left.
Benton looks to score with a jab to the body but Black is just out of range.
Benton works Black's body with a nice hook.
Black misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Benton scores with a nice head shot.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Benton scores with a jab to the jaw.
Benton throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Black raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Black misses with a head kick.
Black with a nice cross.
Benton scores with a jab. Black acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Black scores with a spinning back kick!
Benton keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Black misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A slow jab from Black misses its intended target.

Benton gets the takedown into side control.

Benton swings around for an armbar but Black sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Benton's guard.

Benton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Benton is looking to sweep but instead, Black has passed into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black wants to stand up but Benton manages to regain full guard.
Benton working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Black avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Benton throws his legs up looking for a submission but Black uses it to pass to side control.
Benton is trying to improve his position.
Black wants to stand but Benton has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Black would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

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

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.

Benton looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Benton controls Black momentarily but Black frees himself.
Benton has a closed guard, preventing Black from standing up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Black tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Black uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Benton.
Black misses with a body shot.
Black dodges the punch combination from Benton.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tobias Black will probably get the nod.
That's time! Benton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Benton takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Grant Benton has been cut.
Benton swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Black gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A shot to the body from Benton misses
and Black counters with a head kick. That will keep Benton thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Benton connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Black's hands.
A head kick misses from Black.
An attempted straight right counter from Benton misses the target.
The crowd cheers as Benton lands an impressive looking overhand right. Black doesn't seem phased though.
Black tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Black throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Black showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Benton.
Black pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Benton misses with a body shot.
Benton looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Black. Benton does a little dance to reset his feet.
Benton connects with a right hand. Black shakes it off.
Benton connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Black momentarily.

Black is rocked!
Black takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Benton throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Grant Benton is winning the standup battle so far.
Black lands with a nice body kick.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Black is fending him off so far but Benton persists. Nope, Black circles away and we're back to standing.
Black lands a high kick!
Black circles to his right before unloading a perfect head kick! Benton drops to the canvas, hurt badly! Black follows Benton to the ground and unloads with a series of strikes that force the referee to step in and end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:15 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tobias Black!
Tobias Black is the new middleweight champion!
In his post fight interview, Tobias Black started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.