PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gene Bennett (ranked 24765 p4p, 0 weight class) and Solis Laan (ranked 3779 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Bennett
vs
Laan

222 cm
19
193 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

185 cm
25
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 3 - 3 - 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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Solis Laan!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shirou Masuda and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bennett drives through and clinches with Laan against the cage.

Bennett breaks from the clinch.

Bennett fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Laan to the ground. Bennett is now in Laan's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laan doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Laan has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Bennett loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bennett connects with a couple of short punches.
Laan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bennett throwing strikes from guard but Laan blocks nicely.
Laan trying to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennett working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bennett working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Laan's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bennett with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bennett loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bennett throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laan working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bennett.
Bennett is looking to work some ground and pound but Laan has wrist control.
Laan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Laan wants to sweep here but Bennett controlling him for the moment.
Bennett missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bennett distracts Laan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bennett throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Laan throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Laan working a defensive guard here.
Laan seems keen to control Bennett's posture.
Laan trying to control the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Bennett has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bennett postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett throwing strikes but missing.
Laan trying to control the position.
Bennett scoring with punches to the head and body.
Laan will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Bennett is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bennett will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Bennett postures up in Laan's guard and throws a big left but Laan blocks it.
Bennett in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bennett postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Laan lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bennett lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Laan is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bennett looking to hit a scissor sweep but Laan is one step ahead there.
Bennett tries to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laan wants to get up but he can't break Bennett's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Bennett utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bennett throws a couple of heel strikes.
Bennett trying to strike off his back.
Bennett throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Bennett trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Bennett lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bennett is looking to work some ground and pound but Laan has wrist control.
Bennett with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bennett is looking to work some ground and pound but Laan has wrist control.
Laan looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bennett working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bennett lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bennett content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bennett working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Laan's head.
Bennett is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bennett in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bennett chips away with some ground and pound.
Bennett postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bennett is looking to work some ground and pound but Laan has wrist control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bennett scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bennett lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bennett working some strikes from top position.
Laan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gene Bennett dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bennett keeps the fight on the outside.
Laan is looking to clinch.
Bennett dives in for a single leg takedown but Laan sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Bennett really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Laan closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bennett to the mat! Bennett manages to get full guard.
Laan stands up over Bennett, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Laan trying to control the position from guard on top but Bennett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gene Bennett overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bennett bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Laan's guard.

Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bennett's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennett is looking to work some ground and pound but Laan has wrist control.
Bennett distracts Laan with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bennett cracks Laan with a solid left hand.
Bennett trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Laan looking for a guillotine here but Bennett defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett working some strikes from top position.
Bennett is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Laan can do to turn this around?
Laan is breathing heavily.
Bennett chips away with some ground and pound.
Bennett is working Laan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bennett working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bennett is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Laan trying to control the position.
Bennett is working Laan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bennett throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Laan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bennett content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Laan has momentary wrist control but Bennett slips an elbow through the middle.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bennett's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laan is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bennett postures up and lands a big shot to Laan's brow.
Bennett scoring with some ground and pound.
Bennett scoring with some ground and pound.
Bennett landing with the ground and pound.
Bennett is in close to Laan's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bennett scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bennett keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Laan's head.
Bennett lands a couple of digs.
Laan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bennett postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bennett with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laan has momentary wrist control but Bennett slips an elbow through the middle.
Bennett working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bennett with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bennett cracks Laan with a solid left hand.
Bennett lands a couple of digs.
Laan has momentary wrist control but Bennett slips an elbow through the middle.
Laan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Bennett is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bennett working some strikes from top position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bennett's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bennett is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bennett makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Bennett is in close to Laan's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bennett lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Laan's head.
Bennett scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bennett's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bennett is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Laan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Laan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Laan has momentary wrist control but Bennett slips an elbow through the middle.
Bennett working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Laan's head.
Bennett scoring with punches to the head and body.
Bennett postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Bennett lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Laan trying to keep a closed guard but Bennett is proving a slippery customer.
Bennett keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Laan's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gene Bennett dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Bennett changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Laan looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Bennett working the ground and pound.
Bennett working the ground and pound.
Laan manages to get back to half guard.

Bennett is looking for a kimura but Laan is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Bennett to get the leverage.
Laan is trying to control but can't.
Laan is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Laan slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bennett lands a couple of elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennett is working Laan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bennett throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bennett scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bennett throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laan trying to keep a closed guard but Bennett is proving a slippery customer.
Bennett with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Laan avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Laan has momentary wrist control but Bennett slips an elbow through the middle.
Bennett is working Laan over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Bennett postures up and lands a big shot to Laan's brow.
Laan striking off his back but it's not causing Bennett any problems.
Bennett keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Laan's head.
Bennett content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bennett chips away with some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bennett's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bennett with a nice head shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett working some strikes from top position.
Laan 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 connects with a couple of short punches.
Bennett landing some decent shots from guard.
Bennett is in close to Laan's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bennett stands up over Laan, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Laan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bennett landing with the ground and pound.
Bennett is in close to Laan's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bennett content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bennett lands a couple of digs.
Bennett connects with a couple of short punches.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bennett's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bennett connects with a couple of short punches.
Bennett working some strikes from top position.
Bennett landing some decent shots from guard.
Bennett is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bennett connects with a couple of short punches.
Bennett working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Laan is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Laan is looking to stall here but Bennett recovers full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laan has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Bennett is proving hard to escape from.
Laan trying to control but Bennett is working from the bottom.
Bennett lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Laan wants to control from the top but Bennett keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bennett throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Solis Laan has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gene Bennett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Laan being controlled here momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gene Bennett showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bennett has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gene Bennett!