PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Harry McQuirre (ranked 515 p4p, 1858 weight class) and Henson Benderson (ranked 67 p4p, 196 weight class). Benderson comes into a darkened arena with his song building. The Time is Now kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

McQuirre
vs
Benderson

178 cm
26
160
14 - 4 - 0

168 cm
38
145
26 - 23 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Brooklyn Apothecary
BuriedAlive// Fight Gear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Harry McQuirre!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Henson Benderson!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Steven Brown and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McQuirre throws an overhand right that lands on Benderson's shoulder, as Benderson tries to avoid the shot.
McQuirre closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Benderson throws a jab but it's blocked by McQuirre.
McQuirre displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Benderson throws out the jab.
Benderson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McQuirre sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Benderson cracks McQuirre with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
McQuirre connects with a looping right hand.
Benderson throws a right and a left that both miss.
McQuirre cracks Benderson with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A cross from Benderson lands.
Benderson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McQuirre.
Benderson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but McQuirre moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nice defenses there by McQuirre.
McQuirre appears to be looking for a big counter.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McQuirre throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Benderson counter with a right hand.

McQuirre moves into the clinch.
Benderson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down McQuirre.
McQuirre lands with a left to the head.
Benderson throws a head punch that misses.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from McQuirre.
McQuirre misses with a hook from the clinch.
McQuirre lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Still in the clinch, McQuirre scores with a nice short uppercut.
Benderson is looking to control McQuirre's arms but McQuirre gets an underhook and turns him. Now Benderson has his back to the cage.
McQuirre misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McQuirre scores with a nice hook to the head.
McQuirre lands a body shot in the clinch.
Benderson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with McQuirre's elbow.
Benderson misses with a punch to the body.

McQuirre breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McQuirre tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Benderson swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Benderson slips under a jab.
Benderson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Benderson takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
McQuirre misses with a hook.
A countering left hand to the body from Benderson misses.
Benderson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McQuirre.
Benderson tries to close the distance and clinch up but McQuirre swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Benderson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Benderson throws a series of punches but McQuirre avoids them all with ease.

McQuirre clinches up against the cage.
McQuirre is working Benderson over against the cage.
Benderson blocks an uppercut.
McQuirre digs a right hand into Benderson's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Benderson's gas tank.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McQuirre lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short uppercut from McQuirre.
McQuirre working aggressively here.
Benderson misses with the head strike.
McQuirre lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
McQuirre lands a body punch in the clinch.
A right hand to the body from McQuirre.
McQuirre lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
A head punch on the inside from McQuirre fails to land.
A head punch on the inside from McQuirre fails to land.
Good body shot from McQuirre.
A shot in the inside from McQuirre.
A short left from McQuirre.
McQuirre throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bendersons head.
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!
McQuirre lands with a right to the head.
Benderson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McQuirre blocking some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McQuirre lands with a short head shot on the inside.
McQuirre swings away with an uppercut that misses.
McQuirre working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Benderson's coach down at Westside Martial Arts was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Benderson's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
McQuirre goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

McQuirre breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Benderson throws a body punch but McQuirre moves out of range.
It looked like McQuirre wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
McQuirre throws a right and a left that Benderson avoids nicely.
Benderson doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
McQuirre swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Benderson! But no joy.
The fight stays on the outside here - Benderson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
McQuirre loads up on a big right hand but Benderson slips the punch.
Benderson connects with a leg kick.
McQuirre fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Benderson on the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harry McQuirre dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

The fighters circling - McQuirre throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McQuirre scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Benderson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Benderson misses with a double jab
and McQuirre counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
McQuirre thows a left - swing and a miss!
Benderson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McQuirre was well out of range. Poor timing from Benderson.
Benderson dodges the punch combination from McQuirre.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benderson throws a jab when McQuirre was well out of range.
Jab, jab by McQuirre - just one landing.
Donk. McQuirre catches Benderson right on the button with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McQuirre stalks Benderson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Benderson's face. Benderson staggers backwards, shaken.

Benderson is rocked!
McQuirre definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Benderson misses with an uppercut.
McQuirre ducks under a wild hook from Benderson.
McQuirre throws a good cross that connects.
Benderson is still on wobbly legs! Can McQuirre finish him?
McQuirre is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
McQuirre with a jab.
McQuirre pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Benderson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
McQuirre is looking to counter punch.
McQuirre tries to clinch up.
Benderson seems to have recovered his senses.
McQuirre misses with a two punch combination.
Benderson gets cracked with a nice right hand there by McQuirre.
Benderson shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. McQuirre eats them both and turns towards Benderson to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
McQuirre slips under a jab from Benderson.
Harry McQuirre is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benderson misses with a leg kick
and McQuirre counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Benderson avoids a punch combination nicely.
McQuirre misses with a looping left.
No joy there for McQuirre, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
McQuirre on the wrong end of a nice jab.
A big right from Benderson misses.
McQuirre ducks under a wild hook from Benderson.
McQuirre misses with a left hand
and Benderson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
McQuirre avoids the body shot from Benderson.
Benderson moves out of range as McQuirre strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benderson avoids the body shot from McQuirre.
McQuirre gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Benderson.
McQuirre avoids the head kick by Benderson.
A swing and a miss from Benderson.
It looked like McQuirre wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Benderson misses with an uppercut.
Benderson dodges the punch combination from McQuirre.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Benderson! But no joy.
McQuirre tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
McQuirre is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Benderson can do to turn this around?
McQuirre misses with a right hand
and Benderson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Benderson tries to keep at a distance but McQuirre has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McQuirre avoiding damage as Benderson throws knees to the body.

McQuirre's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Benderson throws an overhand right that lands on McQuirre's shoulder, as McQuirre tries to avoid the shot.
McQuirre uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Benderson.
Harry McQuirre is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed right hand from Benderson misses the target.
Benderson steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McQuirre.
McQuirre ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
McQuirre misses with an uppercut. Benderson saw that one coming.
McQuirre lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Benderson circles away quickly and effectively.
McQuirre is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big left from Benderson misses.
McQuirre pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harry McQuirre dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Benderson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McQuirre.
McQuirre lands a lovely overhand right.

McQuirre pushes Benderson up against the cage in a clinch.
McQuirre blocks a body shot from Benderson.
Benderson's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
McQuirre is leaning against Benderson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Benderson blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
McQuirre makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
McQuirre throws a head punch that misses.
Benderson lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benderson throws an elbow that misses.
Benderson blocks an uppercut.
Benderson has a couple of punches blocked by McQuirre.
A quick uppercut on the inside from McQuirre.
McQuirre working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benderson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. McQuirre is defending well for now.
Benderson avoiding damage.
McQuirre managing to block the knees to the body from Benderson.
A bit of stalling here from Benderson.

McQuirre breaks the clinch.
Benderson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McQuirre.
McQuirre is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Benderson.
McQuirre scores with a body shot.
McQuirre misses with a body shot.
Benderson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
McQuirre connects with the punch.
Benderson fails in his attempt to clinch.
Benderson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
McQuirre tries to clinch but Benderson moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from McQuirre misses the target.
McQuirre defending well as Benderson loads up on a big left hand.

McQuirre gets a clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benderson controlling the action here for a moment.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Benderson lands a right hand that snaps the head of McQuirre backwards.
Benderson lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Benderson has McQuirre pressed against the cage.

McQuirre breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Benderson throws a hook but McQuirre blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benderson avoids a punch combination nicely.
A big right from McQuirre misses.
McQuirre misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Benderson darts in and clinches McQuirre up against the cage.
McQuirre managing to block the knees to the body from Benderson.
Benderson trying to land knees to the body.
McQuirre can't find room to land a body shot as Benderson controls the action.
A short right from McQuirre on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benderson.

McQuirre breaks from the clinch.
Benderson throws a lazy right hand but McQuirre sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Benderson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left lands for McQuirre.
McQuirre slips under a jab.
Benderson misses with an uppercut.
It looked like McQuirre wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Benderson falls off balance throwing a combination
and McQuirre counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McQuirre ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Benderson moves away.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benderson throws a big shot that misses.
McQuirre fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benderson manages to avoid it.
McQuirre connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Benderson momentarily.
Harry McQuirre seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McQuirre fails with an attempt to clinch.
Benderson stalks McQuirre and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into McQuirre's face. McQuirre staggers backwards, shaken.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harry McQuirre clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A jab from Benderson misses.
A jab from Benderson finds it's way through McQuirre's defenses.
Benderson lands an overhand right.
McQuirre takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Benderson works McQuirre's body with a nice hook.
Benderson misses with an uppercut
and McQuirre counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Benderson swings and misses with a shot to the body
and McQuirre connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Benderson clobbers McQuirre with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Benderson gets tackled into the cage by McQuirre. McQuirre maintains the clinch.
McQuirre misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Benderson lands an elbow inside that McQuirre shrugs off.

It looks like Harry McQuirre has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McQuirre misses with a short punch on the inside.
McQuirre misses with a hook to the ribs.
McQuirre letting Benderson take a breather here.
McQuirre throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bendersons head.
A head punch on the inside from Benderson fails to land.
A quick uppercut on the inside from McQuirre.

McQuirre breaks the clinch.
A big left from Benderson misses.
McQuirre on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Benderson tries to bum rush McQuirre with a series of wild strikes but McQuirre uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
McQuirre was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
McQuirre digs a good body shot into Benderson's ribs.
Benderson throws a low kick but McQuirre moves out of range easily.
McQuirre throws a lazy uppercut
and Benderson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McQuirre throws an overhand right that lands on Benderson's shoulder, as Benderson tries to avoid the shot.
Benderson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

McQuirre rushes Benderson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
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!
A shot in the inside from McQuirre.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Benderson takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Benderson stalls.
Benderson receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Benderson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Benderson lands an elbow that stopped McQuirre in his tracks for a moment.
McQuirre throws a punch but it's blocked by Benderson.
A short left from McQuirre.
Benderson blocks an uppercut.
Benderson lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McQuirre makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
McQuirre avoids the elbow strike from Benderson, against the cage.

McQuirre's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nice uppercut there from McQuirre.
McQuirre misses with an uppercut. Benderson saw that one coming.
Benderson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
McQuirre fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benderson manages to avoid it.

McQuirre gets in close and instigates a clinch.
McQuirre has a couple of punches blocked by Benderson.
Benderson blocks a body shot from McQuirre.
Come on Benderson - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

McQuirre pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
McQuirre throws a series of punches but Benderson avoids them all with ease.
Benderson was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Benderson misses its intended target.
McQuirre went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Benderson misses with a wild combination.
McQuirre tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Benderson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Benderson unleashes a big counter combination but McQuirre bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

McQuirre has taken the fight to the clinch.
McQuirre scores with an uppercut up the middle.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McQuirre tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benderson blocking some punches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Benderson looking to slow down the pace here.

McQuirre breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Benderson misses with an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Harry McQuirre will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Harry McQuirre's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Benderson misses with a wild body shot.
Nice shot lands for McQuirre.
Benderson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
McQuirre looks to land a combination. Benderson sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

McQuirre closes the distance and clinches.
Harry McQuirre has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Benderson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Benderson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite McQuirre's efforts to push away.
Benderson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A short right from McQuirre on the inside.

McQuirre breaks the clinch.
Benderson looks up at the clock. Bad move! McQuirre lands a right hand from hell, dropping Benderson. McQuirre pounces and finishes the fight with a flurry of punches and elbows.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:57 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Harry McQuirre!
Harry McQuirre retains his featherweight title!
Harry McQuirre decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.
In defeat, Henson Benderson stepped up to the mic, saying 'Damn...'.