PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Edmundo Benton (ranked 24483 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conor McGregor (ranked 4604 p4p, 40 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Benton
vs
McGregor

209 cm
19
278 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

225 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Edmundo Benton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Conor McGregor!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Shigeki Fujiwara and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benton tries to clinch up but McGregor circles away and keeps his distance.

McGregor shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Benton napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Benton sneaks out the side door and pushes McGregor away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Benton swinging wildly here.

McGregor shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
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!
McGregor trying to control the position from guard on top but Benton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McGregor has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Benton is proving hard to escape from.
McGregor throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Benton trying to control the position.
McGregor is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Benton is trying to keep McGregor in close.

That's two 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 keeping full guard, as McGregor tries to pass.
McGregor pushing down on Benton's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
McGregor wants to control but Benton is keeping him busy.
Benton regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from McGregor.
McGregor is looking to work some ground and pound but Benton has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGregor controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Benton working a defensive guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

McGregor dives in and scores a takedown into Benton's guard.
McGregor advances to half guard.
Benton is refusing to be controlled, as McGregor sits in half guard.
Benton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Benton pushes McGregor off looking to stand but McGregor dives back in and keeps control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGregor keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
McGregor is keen to just control but Benton is a slippery customer.
Benton is looking to escape.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Benton is trying to get back to full guard.
Benton trying to hold on to McGregor's head to control him but McGregor postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

McGregor drives through with a takedown into Benton's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McGregor looking to sit in guard and control but Benton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Benton postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Conor McGregor will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

McGregor swats away the attempt to clinch by Benton.
McGregor drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Benton defends it well.

Benton scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Benton sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. McGregor defending well though.

Benton is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Conor McGregor has got the better of the ground game so far.
McGregor wants to control but Benton is keeping busy and won't allow it.
McGregor tries to get to full guard but Benton has control of the leg.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor regains full guard. Nicely done.
McGregor wants to stand and escape but Benton is having none of it.
Benton is stalling in the full guard.
McGregor keeping moving, preventing Benton from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

McGregor looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benton in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Benton working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
McGregor working a defensive guard here.

McGregor is looking for a triangle but Benton pushes his legs off easily.
McGregor is breathing heavily.
Benton scoring with some ground and pound.
Benton wants to stand but McGregor is controlling his posture from full guard.

Benton decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on McGregor, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
McGregor misses with the body kick

and Benton decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in McGregor's guard.
Benton landing some decent shots from guard.
Benton throws a strike but McGregor rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

McGregor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benton is keeping the position for now.
Benton wants to get back to his feet but McGregor is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
McGregor tries to stand but Benton is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton pulls McGregor in close to prevent any damage.
Benton wants to sweep but no luck.
McGregor prevents Benton from getting back to his feet.
Benton is looking to stand back up but McGregor counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Benton.
Benton trying to hold on to McGregor's head to control him but McGregor postures up.
McGregor performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
McGregor missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Benton is holding on to half guard well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Edmundo Benton is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

McGregor decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McGregor lands strikes from half guard.
Benton wants to control but McGregor is keeping busy.

Benton has one foot on McGregor's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Edmundo Benton will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

McGregor closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Benton pressing his opponent against the cage.
McGregor is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
McGregor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Benton.
McGregor misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Benton.

Benton is fighting off a takedown attempt but McGregor is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Benton to the mat. Benton regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGregor pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benton is keeping the position for now.
McGregor is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGregor trying to stand up but can't free himself from Benton's guard.
McGregor's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Benton looking to control but McGregor passes into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. McGregor connects with a nice short shot to Benton's temple.
Benton tries to regain full guard. Instead though, McGregor has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

McGregor goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Benton turns into him and now he's in McGregor's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton is stalling in the full guard.

Benton stands up from guard. Let's bang!

McGregor decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Benton pushes McGregor off and gets back to his feet.
McGregor takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McGregor avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Benton clinches with his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benton manages to pull guard.
Benton is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
McGregor is stalling in the full guard.
Benton keeping moving, preventing McGregor from controlling successfully.
Benton is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Benton keeping moving, preventing McGregor from controlling successfully.
Benton controlling McGregor's posture.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
McGregor wants to stand but Benton has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

McGregor closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - McGregor lands in his opponent's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Conor McGregor.
I think McGregor 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 29:29
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ren Mimura scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!