PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Grant Benton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Julio El Toro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benton comes to the cage accompanied by I get Knocked Down. Grant Benton is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Benton
vs
El Toro

180 cm
43
185 lbs
29 - 18 - 1

178 cm
39
196 lbs
22 - 19 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 29 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grant Benton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Julio El Toro!
The judges for this bout are Jonathan Paton, Steve Montenegro and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

El Toro gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

El Toro manages to break the clinch.
El Toro throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Benton counters with a straight right hand.
El Toro misses with an uppercut
and Benton counters with a straight right hand.
El Toro tries to clinch up.
El Toro throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Benton is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by El Toro.
Benton punishes El Toro's body with a nice straight punch.
El Toro moves away from the strike by Benton.
El Toro misses with a few strikes there.

A momentary lapse in concentration from El Toro enables Benton to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. El Toro manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

El Toro manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benton is trying to push El Toro away but El Toro has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Benton slows down the pace here.
El Toro lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Benton manages to break the clinch.
El Toro has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Benton swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - El Toro throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
El Toro throws out a loose jab but Benton uses good head movement to avoid it.
Benton tests El Toro's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Benton misses the shot to the body.
Benton moves out of the way of the counter high kick fromEl Toro.
Benton throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
It seemed like El Toro was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
El Toro tests Benton's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Benton throws a body shot but no joy.
Benton misses with a straight right.
Benton blocks a jab.

Oooooh!!! El Toro has knocked Benton down with a huge combo! El Toro steps away and waves a wobbly Benton back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like Grant Benton has been cut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

El Toro instigates a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Benton fails to land.
Benton tries a body shot but El Toro blocks it.
El Toro has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
El Toro is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
El Toro wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Benton's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Benton will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from El Toro! But no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Toro keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benton throws an uppercut from half a mile away. El Toro sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Benton shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. El Toro is trying to defend but Benton finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Benton is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Benton has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
El Toro wants to get back to his feet.
Benton controlling the pace for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as El Toro is looking to escape.
Benton sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Benton has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Benton working for a submission but El Toro is keeping him at bay.
Benton wants to take his opponent's back but El Toro doesn't allow it.
Benton tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Benton trying to control but El Toro is having none of it.
Benton controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Julio El Toro will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Grant Benton's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

A jab from Benton finds it's way through El Toro's defenses.

Benton feints and as El Toro raises his hands in defense, Benton changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
El Toro keeping moving, preventing Benton from controlling successfully.
Benton trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Benton is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Benton wants to control from the top but El Toro keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benton pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. El Toro is keeping the position for now.

El Toro pushes Benton off and gets back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Toro throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice body punch from El Toro.
Benton jabs at El Toro's body.
Julio El Toro seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
El Toro moves out of range as Benton strikes.
El Toro paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
El Toro avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
El Toro throws a body punch but Benton moves out of range.
Benton works the jab nicely.
El Toro throws a shot from downtown. Benton moves away and avoids it.
Benton throws a body shot but no joy.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by El Toro.
El Toro feints a jab promting Benton to slip. El Toro then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Benton slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Benton lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Benton looks to land a left hand but El Toro moved out of range nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from El Toro. Benton does a little dance to reset his feet.
El Toro bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Benton throws an overhand right that lands on El Toro's shoulder, as El Toro tries to avoid the shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton slips a straight right by El Toro.
Benton takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Benton dives in for a single leg takedown but El Toro sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
El Toro wants to clinch up but Benton keeps it at a distance.
Benton lands a jab to the nose.
A telegraphed right hand from Benton misses the target.
Benton is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by El Toro.
Benton tries for a takedown but El Toro sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
El Toro is looking to clinch.
Benton slips a straight right by El Toro.
Benton throws out a powerful jab.
El Toro lands a nice shot that snaps Benton's head back.
El Toro walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
El Toro looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Benton swings for the body but El Toro moves out of range.
El Toro displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Benton throws out the jab.
Benton scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
El Toro avoids the body shot from Benton.
Julio El Toro seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton works the jab nicely.
El Toro tries to clinch but Benton moves out of range.
El Toro takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
El Toro is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Benton throws a big counter combination but El Toro scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
El Toro throws a leg kick which misses Benton's front leg but catches the back leg as Benton tries to avoid it.

Excellent takedown into side control there by El Toro.
El Toro scores with punches from side control.
Benton takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Benton throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benton misses with a takedown attempt - El Toro sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grant Benton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benton staying out of range there.
El Toro misses with an uppercut. Benton saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benton ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
El Toro throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benton misses with the combination.
El Toro shapes to counter with a head kick.
El Toro throws an overhand right that lands on Benton's shoulder, as Benton tries to avoid the shot.
El Toro takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
El Toro tries to clinch but fails miserably
and El Toro takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
El Toro throws a hook but Benton avoids it easily.
El Toro misses with a lunging right hand
and Benton counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
El Toro rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Benton moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
El Toro throws the left hand but Benton avoids the punch easily.
It looked like Benton wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
El Toro connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Benton slips under a jab from El Toro.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
El Toro doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Benton closes the distance and lands a one-two.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Benton.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Julio El Toro will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Grant Benton's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from El Toro as Benton shoots in.
El Toro looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
El Toro throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
El Toro takes a swing at Benton's ribcage but misses.
A little feinted left hand from Benton on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
El Toro keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Benton.
Benton moves away from the strike by El Toro.
El Toro rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Benton moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

El Toro closes the distance and clinches.
Benton lands a shoulder strike.
El Toro lands on the inside with an uppercut.
El Toro misses with a hook from the clinch.
El Toro looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

El Toro's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benton will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
El Toro gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Benton.
Good exchange - Benton coming out on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Toro's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and El Toro duly obliges.
Benton dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

El Toro clinches.

El Toro pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
El Toro looks to throw the jab but Benton is out of range.
El Toro throws a nice looking combination but Benton bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A decent looking cross lands there for Benton.
El Toro tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Benton lands a nice shot that snaps El Toro's head back.
A solid leg kick lands there for El Toro.
Benton waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract El Toro.
A left lands for Benton.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
El Toro cracks Benton with a right hand to the side of the head.
El Toro throws a left and a right that both miss
and Benton counters with a stiff right hand.
Benton connects with a body shot.
Benton scores with a nice strike.
Benton misses with an uppercut. El Toro saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Toro looks to score with a jab to the body but Benton is just out of range.
Benton lands a nice shot that snaps El Toro's head back.
El Toro tries to clinch but Benton moves out of range.
Benton with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Benton just misses with a punch to the body.
Benton moves out of range of the strikes.
El Toro throws a hook to the side of Benton's head but Benton sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Benton.
Julio El Toro is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
El Toro is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
El Toro throws a jab when Benton was well out of range.
El Toro getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
El Toro scores with the left hand. Benton knows he should have avoided that one.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benton. El Toro does a little dance to reset his feet.
A punch lands to the side of Benton 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Benton gets cracked with a nice right hand there by El Toro.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benton shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches El Toro napping and manages to drive through into side control!
El Toro is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
You can see the frustration on El Toro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Benton is looking to take a break and control but El Toro is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Benton decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
El Toro avoids a punch combination nicely.
Benton digs a good hook to El Toro's body.
Benton slips under a jab from El Toro.
El Toro lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
El Toro scores with a punch to the head.

Benton shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Benton was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benton slows the pace down.
Benton wants to lay and pray for a moment but El Toro keeps working.
Grant Benton has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
You can see the frustration on El Toro's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Julio El Toro.
I've got El Toro winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jonathan Paton scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Julio El Toro!
In his post fight interview, Julio El Toro started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.