PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leonardo Clay (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Clay
vs
Benson

216 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

192 cm
25
265 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Leonardo Clay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Benson!
The judges for this bout are Paul Gruel, Chris Saunders and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from Benson.
Clay is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Benson.

Clay drives through with a takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Clay prevents Benson from getting back to his feet.

Clay gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Benson stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Some wild striking there from Benson.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Benson drives through and clinches with Clay against the cage.
Clay can't get the takedown.
Benson scores with a nice hook to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Benson.
Benson is looking to break free of the clinch but Clay has double underhooks.
Benson lands a hook to the side of the head.
A frustrated look appears on Benson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Benson has Clay pressed against the cage.
Benson scores with a shoulder strike.
Benson prevents the takedown attempt.
A body shot lands from Benson.
Benson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Clay manages to break the clinch.

Clay drives through with a takedown into Benson's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Benson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Clay is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Clay decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Clay dodges the punch combination from Benson.
Clay drops down looking for a counter takedown but Benson sprawls and moves away.

Benson clinches with his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benson throws a punch but it's blocked by Clay.
Benson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Benson working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Benson lands with a light punch inside.
Benson gets through Clay's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson is trying to break the clinch but Clay has him pressed against the cage.
Benson should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Clay breaks the clinch.

Benson clinches up with Clay and pushes him back against the cage.
Benson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Benson lands an elbow inside that Clay shrugs off.
Benson is trying to force a seperation but Clay has the dominant position.
Clay drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonardo Clay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right from Benson.
Benson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Benson wants to get back to striking at distance but Clay won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Benson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Benson prevents the takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A right hook to the body lands for Benson.
Benson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A nice right hand lands inside from Benson.
Benson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nice body punch from Benson.
Clay tries to pull guard but Benson holds him up against the cage and eventually Clay drops back down to his feet.
Benson gets through Clay's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benson scores with a hook to the body.
Still in the clinch, Benson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Clay's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Benson taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Benson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Benson throws a right and a left that Clay avoids nicely.
Clay feinted with a counter takedown.

Benson moves into the clinch.
Benson is trying to break the clinch but Clay is controlling him.

Clay breaks from the clinch.

Benson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Benson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Clay's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
James Benson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Clay dives in and grabs Benson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Benson pushes down on Clay's head and hops out.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Clay escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Clay fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Leonardo Clay has been cut.

Benson closes the distance and pushes Clay back into the cage.
Benson lands with a right to the head.
Benson cracks Clay with a nice body shot.
Benson throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Clays head.
Clay is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Benson is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Leonardo Clay. That's going to take a lot out of him.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Benson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

Clay pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Clay fails with the takedown.
Benson scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
This has been an exciting period of action!

Benson rushes Clay and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A body shot lands from Benson.
A short uppercut from Benson.
Benson lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Clay or not.
James Benson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Benson is trying to break the clinch but Clay has him pressed against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Benson scores with a nice short uppercut.
Clay is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Benson is keeping busy.
Benson has Clay pressed against the cage.

Clay breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Benson lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Clay sprawling to the canvas. Benson follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Clay hang on?

Clay is rocked!
Benson tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Clay.
Oh Clay is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Benson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Benson prevents Clay from standing back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Clay is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Benson stands up and beckons Clay to join him on the feet.
Benson dances in with a quick combination. Clay is being worked over with jabs and crosses. Oooh, a right straight from Benson snaps Clay's head back. Clay stumbles backwards against the cage. Benson steps forward and delivers a right cross that connects with Clay's jaw, simultaneously knocking him out and sending his mouthpiece into the crowd! There's a worthy souvenir for the fans. This one is over folks. Clay just didn't come prepared.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:10 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). James Benson!