PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Henson Benderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mana Festation (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benderson comes to the cage accompanied by The Time is Now. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Benderson
vs
Festation

168 cm
24
148 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

166 cm
25
139 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Henson Benderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Mana Festation!
The judges for this bout are Cecil Peabody, Tiny Johnson and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benderson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Benderson throws a hook but Festation avoids it easily.
Festation counters with a body kick.
Benderson misses with a looping right.
Benderson cracks Festation with a right hand to the side of the head.
The fight stays on the outside here - Benderson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Benderson throws a jab when Festation was well out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Benderson.
Festation is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Festation looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.

Benderson moves into the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Benderson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benderson content to slow the pace in the clinch.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Benderson for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Benderson misses with a knee strike.
Benderson stalling against the cage.
Benderson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
We've been informed that Festation has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benderson misses with a knee strike.
Benderson tries to land a knee to the head but Festation blocks with his arms.
Festation misses with a punch to the body.
Benderson takes a shot to the head.
Benderson's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Benderson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Benderson is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Festation pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Benderson tries to land a knee to the head but Festation blocks with his arms.
Benderson misses with a knee strike.
Festation has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Benderson is struggling to control the position.
Benderson misses with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A right hook to the body lands for Festation.
Festation stalling.
Festation tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Our sources have told us that Benderson has been working on his elbows in the gym.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Benderson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Benderson lands a knee to the head.
Benderson tries to land a knee to the head but Festation blocks with his arms.
Benderson wants to stall.
Festation has had enough of the clinch but Benderson keeps him there for the moment.
Festation is trying to push Benderson away but Benderson has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Benderson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Festation misses with a body punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benderson leaning his opponent against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Benderson throws an elbow but misses.
Nice body punch from Festation - that landed with a thud.

Festation escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Festation misses with the body kick
and Festation takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Festation defending well as Benderson loads up on a big left hand.
Benderson scores with a hook.

Festation gets tackled into the cage by Benderson. Benderson maintains the clinch.
Benderson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Festation managing to block the knees to the body from Benderson.

Festation manages to break the clinch.
Crunch! Festation slams his shin into Benderson's torso.
Festation motions for Benderson to come forward. Festation throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Festation feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Benderson's calf.
Benderson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Festation throws an off balance right hand
and Benderson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Festation pushes Benderson away with a front kick.
Festation swings widly with a right hand
and Benderson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A thudding body kick lands there by Festation!
Benderson misses with a wild combination.
Benderson throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Festation dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Benderson. That did some damage!
Festation takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Benderson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Festation looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Benderson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Festation uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Benderson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Henson Benderson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Festation ducks under a wild hook from Benderson.
Benderson tries to close the distance and clinch but Festation swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Festation thuds his shin into the meat of Benderson's side.
Festation misses with an attempted mid kick.
Benderson has a takedown stuffed.
A jab from Benderson misses.
Benderson scores with a punch to the head.
Benderson misses with a left hand
and Festation counters with a nice kick to the body.
Benderson tries a head kick but it misses.
Festation misses with the body kick
and Benderson counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A solid body kick from Festation.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Festation checks a leg kick.
Festation misses with a kick to the body.

Benderson moves into the clinch.
Benderson pressing his opponent against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benderson stalling the fight.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Benderson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Benderson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Benderson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Benderson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Festation as Benderson tries to tie him up.
Benderson landing knees to the head.
Benderson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Festation avoids it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Festation manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Festation blocks a jab.
Festation moves out of range of the body kick.
A little jabbing left from Festation on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Benderson takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Festation scores with a nice body kick.
Nice uppercut there from Festation.
Mana Festation is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Festation lands with a thumping leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benderson blocks a leg kick.
Festation takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
A slow jab from Benderson misses its intended target.
Festation throws a body kick that misses.
Benderson on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Benderson swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Benderson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Festation looks for the body kick but Benderson saw that one coming.
A nice inside leg kick there by Festation. That's going to slow Benderson down.
Benderson takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Benderson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Festation moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Festation throws a push kick but Benderson slaps the foot to one side.
Festation throws a body kick that misses.
Benderson throws a big counter combination but Festation scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Festation throws a head kick that misses.
Festation connects with a solid leg kick.
Festation throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
A solid body kick from Festation.
Festation pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Festation lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Benderson circles away quickly and effectively.
Benderson fails to land with a series of punches.
Benderson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Festation counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Festation moves out of range as Benderson strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Festation throws a leg kick which misses Benderson's front leg but catches the back leg as Benderson tries to avoid it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benderson avoids the body shot from Festation.
An inside leg kick from Festation misses.
Benderson sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Festation misses with an attempted mid kick.
Benderson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Benderson blocks a head kick by Festation.
Benderson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Benderson scores with the left hand. Festation knows he should have avoided that one.
Benderson throws a head kick but Festation moves out of range.
Mana Festation seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Festation misses with the combination.
Benderson is looking for a counter combo.
Benderson dodges the punch combination from Festation.
That kick from Festation tenderised Benderson's leg. Benderson is trying to keep his angry face on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mana Festation showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Benderson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Benderson tries to clinch up.
Benderson takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Benderson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Festation paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Festation lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Festation ducks under a wild hook from Benderson.
Festation appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Benderson will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Festation feints and then cracks Benderson's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Benderson down.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Festation, right into the meat.
Benderson wants to slow Festation down by chopping away at his legs.
Festation misses with a body kick.

Benderson has Festation up against the cage in a clinch.
Benderson stalling against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Festation letting Benderson take a breather here.
Benderson trying to stall but Festation improves his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benderson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Benderson throws a knee to the head but misses.
Benderson trying to land knees to the body.
Benderson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Festation is defending well.
Festation working hard to break the clinch.
Benderson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Festation is defending well for now.
Benderson looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Festation wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Benderson has him pressed against the cage.
Benderson lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Festation backwards.
Festation wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Festation tries a body shot but Benderson blocks it.
Benderson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Festation blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Knees in the clinch landing for Benderson.
Benderson taking a breather.
Benderson tries to stall but Festation uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Maybe Benderson would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Benderson blocking some punches.
Benderson stalls.

Festation escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A head kick misses from Festation.
Festation tries a low kick but Benderson avoids it.
Benderson throws a head kick that misses.
Festation looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Festation lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Benderson on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Festation explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Festation wants to land a leg kick but Benderson is out of range.
Festation lands a nice leg kick that just misses Benderson's sensitive parts.
Benderson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Festation.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Festation lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Benderson has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Benderson and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Benderson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Festation throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Benderson walks forward, straight into a front kick from Festation.
Festation throws a head kick that Benderson semi-blocks.
Festation lands with a straight right. Benderson didn't see that one coming.
Festation stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Benderson.
A looping hook to the body misses from Festation. Benderson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Festation scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
An inside leg kick from Festation misses.
A nice leg kick lands there from Festation.
Benderson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benderson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Festation.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benderson misses with a body punch
and Festation counters with a nice body kick.
Festation lands with a kick to the temple. Benderson shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Benderson loads up on a big right hand but Festation slips the punch.
Festation connects with a body shot.
Festation is looking to land body kicks.
Benderson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Festation is out of range and Benderson settles back down.
Benderson avoids a kick to the body.
Festation moves forwards but Benderson connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Festation moves out of range as Benderson strikes.
A head kick by Festation misses
and Benderson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Festation connects with a solid leg kick.
Benderson misses with a looping right.
Festation throws a counter combo.
Festation keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mana Festation comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Festation has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Cecil Peabody scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mana Festation!
Henson Benderson was interviewed post fight and said 'Damn...'.