PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bennie Dillon (ranked 25764 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryu Faioanaka (ranked 6033 p4p, 573 weight class). Bennie Dillon has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dillon
vs
Faioanaka

211 cm
18
193 lbs
2 - 5 - 1

185 cm
18
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
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 - 5 - 1, fighting out of New York, Bennie Dillon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryu Faioanaka!
The judges for this bout are Alyssa Summers, Franklyn Lucas and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A left and a right from Faioanaka both land. Nice combination.

It looks like Bennie Dillon has been cut.
Dillon avoids a punch combination nicely.

Faioanaka moves into range and clinches up with Dillon.
Dillon stops a takedown attempt from Faioanaka.
Dillon jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Faioanaka walks away with a smile on his face. Dillon gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ryu Faioanaka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dillon throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Faioanaka shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Dillon striking from the bottom here.

Faioanaka thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Dillon pulls Faioanaka in close to his closed guard and prevents Faioanaka from doing any damage or advancing position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Faioanaka trying to control the position from guard on top but Dillon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Faioanaka throws a big elbow that misses.
Faioanaka looking to pass the guard.
Dillon has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Faioanaka has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Dillon is proving hard to escape from.
Faioanaka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dillon is keeping the position for now.
Faioanaka won't allow Dillon to get back to his feet.

Dillon pushes Faioanaka off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Faioanaka moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Faioanaka manages to break the clinch.
Dillon throws a nice looking combination but Faioanaka bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dillon defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Faioanaka.

Faioanaka has closed the distance and engaged Dillon in a clinch.
Faioanaka wants a takedown.
Bennie Dillon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryu Faioanaka.
Dillon tries to score a body lock takedown but Faioanaka shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Dillon holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Dillon fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Faioanaka jumps guard but Dillon turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Dillon has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Faioanaka uses from the top position.
Dillon controlling the position.
Faioanaka must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dillon wants to stand and escape but Faioanaka is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dillon has Faioanaka pulled in close to control his posture.
Faioanaka throws a big right hand that misses.
Dillon can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Faioanaka controls the pace.
Faioanaka won't allow Dillon to sweep him here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dillon wants to stand and escape but Faioanaka is having none of it.
Faioanaka trying to control but Dillon is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Faioanaka looks winded!

Faioanaka closes the distance and clinches.
Dillon looking to stall.
Faioanaka tries to pull guard but Dillon forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Dillon throws a knee to the head but misses.
Faioanaka fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Faioanaka jumps guard.
Dillon slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Dillon advances to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Faioanaka tries to kick Dillon off but Dillon keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Dillon performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Faioanaka trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryu Faioanaka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bennie Dillon'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.

Faioanaka misses with a takedown attempt
and Dillon counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Sloppy strikes from Faioanaka. Those never looked like landing.

Dillon gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Dillon has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

Faioanaka breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Faioanaka.
Dillon throws a head kick but Faioanaka moves out of range.
Faioanaka was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faioanaka swings for the body but Dillon moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Dillon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Faioanaka fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Dillon has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Faioanaka regains guard immediately.
Dillon's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Faioanaka controls Dillon momentarily but Dillon frees himself.
Dillon content to stall in guard here.
Dillon continues to stall.
Faioanaka working a defensive guard here.
Faioanaka is breathing heavily.
Faioanaka can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Dillon controls the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dillon's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bennie Dillon is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Faioanaka lands with a kick to the ribs.

Faioanaka has Dillon up against the cage in a clinch.

Dillon pulls guard successfully.

Dillon has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Faioanaka off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Dillon misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faioanaka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dillon is fending him off so far but Faioanaka persists. Nope, Dillon circles away and we're back to standing.
Bennie Dillon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryu Faioanaka.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Faioanaka.
Dillon tries to close the distance and clinch but Faioanaka swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Faioanaka moves into the clinch.
Dillon wants a takedown but no success here.
Faioanaka leaning against his opponent.
Dillon has Faioanaka pushed against the cage.
Dillon is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Faioanaka gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Faioanaka tries to pull guard but Dillon holds him up against the cage and eventually Faioanaka drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Faioanaka decides to pull guard.
Dillon postures up in Faioanaka's guard and throws a big left but Faioanaka blocks it.
Faioanaka trying to strike off his back.
Dillon stops Faioanaka from standing up.
Dillon content to stall in guard here.
Dillon has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Faioanaka working a defensive guard here.
Dillon is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bennie Dillon dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Bennie Dillon's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Faioanaka instigates a clinch.

Faioanaka manages to break the clinch.
Faioanaka finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Dillon misses the shot to the body.
Ryu Faioanaka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Faioanaka looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Faioanaka shoots for a double leg takedown but Dillon sprawls well. He's pushed Faioanaka's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Faioanaka tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dillon swivels and escapes.
Bennie Dillon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryu Faioanaka.
Faioanaka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Faioanaka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dillon misses with a double jab.
Faioanaka misses with a wild body shot.
It looked like Dillon was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Faioanaka is trying hard to land a takedown here. Dillon sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dillon misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Faioanaka lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Dillon throws a head kick that misses.
Dillon backing away here, and Faioanaka unleashes a leg kick that just misses.

Faioanaka clinches.
Dillon jumps guard but Faioanaka turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Faioanaka landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Dillon prevents a takedown attempt there.
Stalling in the clinch from Dillon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Dillon turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Dillon manages to end up in side control.
Faioanaka seems a little lost for a moment, as Dillon dominates the positioning.
Dillon has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Faioanaka!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dillon content just to control the position here.
Dillon will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Faioanaka tries to lock up and control but Dillon gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Faioanaka is desperately trying to improve his position but Dillon has a good base and remains in mount.
Dillon controlling from the full mount.

Dillon working for a guillotine from mount but Faioanaka is in no mood to give up.
Dillon sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Faioanaka working to try and regain half guard.
Dillon controlling his opponent.
Bennie Dillon overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
More hug and hope from Dillon.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Faioanaka tries to lock up and control but Dillon gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bennie Dillon showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dillon has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Alyssa Summers scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bennie Dillon!