PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gene Bennett (ranked 6392 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joao Miguel (ranked 25081 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bennett
vs
Miguel

222 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Intelligent

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Gene Bennett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Joao Miguel!
The judges for this bout are Yuuki Gou, Taro Takaoka and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Miguel keeps the fight on the outside.
Bennett dives in for a single leg takedown but Miguel sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bennett blocks a head kick by Miguel.
Miguel slaps away a takedown attempt from Bennett, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Miguel keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Miguel wants to counter with a clinch but Bennett pushes him away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gene Bennett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bennett misses with a takedown attempt
and Miguel counters with a stiff right hand.
Bennett uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Miguel.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennett goes for a double leg but Miguel avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Miguel continues to drive forward.
Bennett shoots in and drives through. Miguel sprawls well.
Miguel steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Bennett.
Miguel throws a low kick but Bennett avoids it.

Miguel shoots in and gets a takedown into Bennett's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Miguel has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bennett is proving hard to escape from.
Miguel wants to control from the top but Bennett keeps moving.
Bennett lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Bennett throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Bennett will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Bennett will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Miguel in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bennett changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Miguel tries to avoid it but Bennett manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Miguel to the ground. Miguel escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bennett shoots in looking for a takedown but Miguel manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Bennett's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Bennett is breathing heavily.

Bennett feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Bennett keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Miguel's head.
Bennett landing some decent shots from guard.
Miguel utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Miguel pulls Bennett in close to prevent any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bennett's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Miguel really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bennett. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bennett prevents Miguel from getting back to his feet.
Miguel is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bennett content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Miguel has momentary wrist control but Bennett slips an elbow through the middle.
Bennett stands up over Miguel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett works over Miguel with some ground and pound from guard.
Bennett stands up over Miguel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bennett scoring with punches to the head and body.
Miguel trying to keep a closed guard but Bennett is proving a slippery customer.
Miguel tries to strike from the bottom.
Bennett postures up and lands a big shot to Miguel's brow.
Bennett connects with a couple of short punches.
Bennett keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Miguel's head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Miguel can do anything to dispel that myth.
Bennett works over Miguel with some ground and pound from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bennett with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Miguel trying to keep a closed guard but Bennett is proving a slippery customer.
Bennett lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett working some strikes from top position.
Bennett lands a couple of digs.
Bennett scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bennett makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bennett is in close to Miguel's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bennett landing with the ground and pound.
Bennett makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bennett landing with the ground and pound.
Bennett cracks Miguel with a solid left hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bennett stands up over Miguel, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bennett distracts Miguel with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bennett is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gene Bennett dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bennett shoots in and bounces Miguel off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Bennett lands a couple of elbows.
Bennett content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bennett distracts Miguel with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bennett lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Miguel is rocked!
Bennett lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Miguel is still in real trouble! Can Bennett finish him?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bennett loads up on a big left hand. Miguel felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Bennett looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Miguel can't hide his disappointment, as Bennett celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:49 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gene Bennett!