PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between James Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anton Zanin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Anton Zanin enters the cage!

Benson
vs
Zanin

192 cm
25
265 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

200 cm
25
273 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue 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 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, James Benson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Anton Zanin!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Roger Salmon and Jeff Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zanin swats away the attempt to clinch by Benson.
Benson needs to keep his hands up - Zanin had a free shot at his head there.

It looks like James Benson has been cut.
Zanin keeps the fight on the outside.
Zanin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Benson defends it nicely.
Benson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Benson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Benson misses with a punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zanin is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Benson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Benson pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Zanin has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Benson after a bit of a struggle.
James Benson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anton Zanin.
Zanin blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zanin looking for a takedown.
Benson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Benson is looking to break free of the clinch but Zanin has double underhooks.
Benson tries to throw a body punch but Zanin avoids it by throwing Benson back against the cage.
Zanin avoids the elbow strike from Benson, against the cage.
Zanin prevents a body shot from Benson.
Benson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Benson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Benson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Benson lands a body punch.
Benson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Benson misses with a punch on the inside.
Benson scores with a shot to the side of Zanin's head.
Benson throws a head punch that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Benson has had enough of the clinch but Zanin keeps him there for the moment.
Benson tries to throw a body punch but Zanin avoids it by throwing Benson back against the cage.
Benson effectively controlling the action here.
Benson tries to break the clinch but Zanin is controlling the position.

Zanin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zanin misses with a takedown attempt - Benson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Benson moves in looking to clinch but Zanin pushes him off.
Zanin is looking for the big counter here.
Zanin keeps the fight on the outside.
Zanin lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Benson forces Zanin back against the cage and clinches.
Benson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Benson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Benson.
Zanin prevents a body shot from Benson.
A head punch on the inside from Benson fails to land.
Zanin blocking some punches.
Benson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Benson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Zanin.
Zanin is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Benson is defending well.
Benson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Benson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Zanin blocking some punches.
Benson gets underhooks to prevent Zanin's takedown attempt.

Zanin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Benson is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benson throws a series of punches but Zanin avoids them all with ease.
Benson misses with a double jab.
Zanin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Benson.
Zanin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Benson counters with a straight right hand.
Zanin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Benson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zanin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Benson tries to clinch there but Zanin circles away.
Benson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Zanin closes the distance and clinches.
Benson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Zanin wants to take the fight to the mat but Benson manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zanin is looking to take this one to the mat.
Benson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benson avoiding damage as Zanin throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Benson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Benson's cut.
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 series of punches but Zanin avoids them all with ease.
Benson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zanin can do to turn this around?
Zanin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Benson.
Zanin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Benson.
Zanin tries to counter by closing the distance.
Benson misses with a two punch combination.
Benson tries to clinch up.
James Benson is winning the standup battle so far.
Benson falls off balance throwing a combination

and Zanin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Benson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Benson throws a head punch that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zanin has a couple of punches blocked by Benson.
Benson misses with a punch on the inside.
Benson can't find room to land a body shot as Zanin controls the action.

Zanin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson wants to clinch.
Zanin throws a front kick that sends Benson stumbling back into the cage.
James Benson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zanin closes the distance and clinches up with Benson, looking for a takedown. Zanin pushes Benson against the cage but Benson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Zanin clinches with his opponent.
Benson tries to throw a body punch but Zanin avoids it by throwing Benson back against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Benson.
Benson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Zanin drops down looking for an ankle pick but Benson pulls his leg out and moves away.
Nice sprawl there from Benson as Zanin shoots in.
James Benson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anton Zanin.
Benson throws a series of punches but Zanin moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zanin tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Benson defends well and Zanin ends up having to push Benson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Benson tries to clinch but Zanin moves out of range.
Benson looks to land a combination. Zanin sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Benson looks to land a combination but Zanin avoids it well.

Zanin gets the takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benson avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Zanin.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zanin landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Zanin happy to just control the position for now.
Benson takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benson taking punishment in the form of punches.
Zanin working the head and body with strikes.
Zanin lands a nice forearm strike.
Benson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Benson tries to get out of the position.
Zanin content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Benson takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

James Benson's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at James Benson's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Anton Zanin!