PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xanthippus Of Carthage (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Benson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Benson
vs
Of Carthage

192 cm
25
265 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

225 cm
24
285 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Benson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Xanthippus Of Carthage!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Colin Fray and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benson falls off balance throwing a combination
letting Of Carthage counter with a right hand.

It looks like James Benson has been cut.
Of Carthage swings for the body but Benson moves out of range.
Of Carthage throws a lazy right hand but Benson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Benson throws a combination. Of Carthage tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Of Carthage throws a hook to the side of Benson's head but Benson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Benson throws a big counter combination but Of Carthage scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Benson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Of Carthage throws a jab but it's blocked by Benson.
No joy there for Benson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A slow jab from Of Carthage misses its intended target.
Benson slips a jab and a cross from Of Carthage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A jab from Of Carthage misses.
Of Carthage gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Benson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Of Carthage paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Of Carthage jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Of Carthage just misses with a punch to the body.
Benson is looking for a counter combo.
Of Carthage throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Of Carthage pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Benson throws a right and a left that Of Carthage avoids nicely.
Benson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson scores with a nice right hand.
Benson throws a right hand that Of Carthage ducks under and follows up with a left that Of Carthage also avoids with ease.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Benson has Of Carthage up against the cage in a clinch.

Of Carthage breaks from the clinch.
Benson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Of Carthage throws a jab but it's blocked by Benson.
Benson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Of Carthage swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Of Carthage staying out of range there.
Benson staying out of range there.
Benson staying out of range there.
Of Carthage throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Benson tries to close the distance and clinch but Of Carthage swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Benson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Of Carthage misses with a straight left.
Sloppy strikes from Of Carthage. Those never looked like landing.

Benson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Of Carthage, pushing him back against the cage.
Of Carthage is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Benson manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Of Carthage pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Benson lands with a cross.
Benson tries to clinch up.
Benson misses with the combination.
Benson slips a jab and a cross from Of Carthage.
Benson misses with a jab, cross combination.
It seemed like Of Carthage was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Benson tries to clinch there but Of Carthage circles away.
Of Carthage ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Benson moves away.
Of Carthage bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Benson's head.
Benson closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Of Carthage throws a hook but Benson avoids it easily.
Benson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Of Carthage.

Benson moves into the clinch.

Of Carthage pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Of Carthage lands a slapping body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
No joy there for Of Carthage, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Of Carthage connects with a jab.
Benson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Of Carthage was well out of range. Poor timing from Benson.
A slow jab from Of Carthage misses its intended target.
Of Carthage looks to land a combination but Benson avoids it well.
A little feinted left hand from Benson on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A nice combination there by Benson.
Benson tries to clinch but Of Carthage moves out of range.
Benson tries to clinch but Of Carthage is having none of it.
Benson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Of Carthage.
Benson staying out of range there.
Of Carthage throws a hook but Benson blocks it.
Benson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Of Carthage throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Benson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Benson is breathing heavily.

Benson has Of Carthage up against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Of Carthage tries a body shot but Benson blocks it.
Benson is stalling here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Of Carthage lands with a right to the head.

James Benson's cut is getting worse.
Benson blocks an uppercut.
Benson is trying to stall.
Benson struggles to land a body shot inside as Of Carthage controls his hands.

Benson manages to break the clinch.
Benson fails to land with a series of punches.
Benson tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Of Carthage manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Of Carthage.
Benson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Of Carthage paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Of Carthage lands with a right hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Of Carthage misses with a looping right.
Of Carthage avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Of Carthage misses with a looping right.
Of Carthage keeps the fight on the outside.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Xanthippus Of Carthage will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on James Benson's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Of Carthage feints and then winds up with a huge right hand that connects perfectly and sends Benson sprawling to the canvas! Benson rolls over backwards and springs off the cage and manages to regain his footing - how acrobatic! Oh, he's still wobbly - can Of Carthage finish him?!
Benson doesn't manage to clinch there - Of Carthage circles away.
Of Carthage throws a big shot that misses.
Benson tries to bum rush Of Carthage with a series of wild strikes but Of Carthage uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Of Carthage avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Of Carthage throws a hook but Benson avoids it easily.
Of Carthage swats away the attempt to clinch by Benson.
James Benson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Of Carthage throws a hook but Benson avoids it easily.
Of Carthage throws a looping overhand right but Benson ducks down to avoid it.
It looked like Benson was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Benson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Of Carthage lands with a good body shot.
Benson doesn't manage to clinch there - Of Carthage circles away.
Xanthippus Of Carthage seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Of Carthage throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Benson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Benson slips under a jab.
Of Carthage has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Benson defending well as Of Carthage loads up on a big left hand.
A shot to the liver by Of Carthage. Beautiful body shot.
Of Carthage misses with an uppercut. Benson saw that one coming.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Of Carthage sees an opening and throws a straight punch right through Benson's defenses. It connects perfectly with Benson's jaw and knocks him out cold! Wow - that's a contender for knockout of the year - absolutely brutal!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:06 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Xanthippus Of Carthage!
In his post fight interview, Xanthippus Of Carthage started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.