PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benji Torres (ranked 1077 p4p, 1397 weight class) and Rich Voss (ranked 148 p4p, 193 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.

Torres
vs
Voss

188 cm
22
171
6 - 5 - 0

181 cm
23
176
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Conviction
Redemption ink

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Benji Torres!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rich Voss!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, William Gold and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Voss loads up on a big right hand but Torres slips the punch.
Torres swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Voss misses the body punch
and Torres counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Voss slips under a jab.
Voss with a lazy takedown attempt
and Torres connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Voss waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Torres.
Voss throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Voss moves forwards but Torres connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Voss misses with a left hand
and Voss takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've been informed that Voss has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Torres on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Voss thuds his right hand into Torres's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Torres throws a poor cross that misses
and Voss counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voss on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Rich Voss seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Voss keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Voss misses with a shot to the body
and Torres counters with a nice uppercut.
A shot to the body from Voss misses
and Torres counters with a left to the body.

Voss gets the takedown into side control.

Voss working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Voss is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Torres will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Voss in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Torres's coaches at Alfred Top Team have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Torres is trying to control Voss's posture but Voss avoids it.
Voss working the strikes but Torres uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Voss is looking to stall here but Torres recovers full guard.
Voss sitting in guard here, content to control.
Voss trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Voss accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voss is looking to work some ground and pound but Torres has wrist control.
Voss wants to control from the top but Torres keeps moving.
Voss throws a big right hand that misses.
Voss postures up in Torres's guard and throws a big left but Torres blocks it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Voss trying to control but Torres is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Voss looks to score with a jab to the body but Torres is just out of range.
Voss is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Torres rather than just go for the knockout.
Torres takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Torres misses with a hook

and Voss counters with a single leg into guard. Torres didn't expect that.
Voss trying to control the position from guard on top but Torres is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Voss postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Voss has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Voss trying to control the position from guard on top but Torres is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Voss postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Voss is looking to work some ground and pound but Torres has wrist control.
Voss trying to control the position from guard on top but Torres is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Torres is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Voss looking to pass the guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rich Voss will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Voss gets the takedown into side control.

Voss looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Voss thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Voss throws an elbow but Torres slips to the side and avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Voss wants to control but Torres is keeping him busy.
Torres can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Voss is staying tight to Torres's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Voss goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Torres has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Voss but great work by Torres.
Voss can't do much from the bottom here.
Voss trying to remain calm as Torres controls from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Voss is looking for a sweep.
Voss is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Torres is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Voss is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Torres content just to control the position here.
Rich Voss has got the better of the ground game so far.
Voss wants to hold on but Torres pushes him away.
Voss sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Voss wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Torres content to control rather than advance.
Voss trying to hold on to Torres's head to control him but Torres postures up.
Torres wants to take a breather but Voss is having none of it.
Voss trying to control but Torres postures up.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Voss wants to get back to full guard but Torres has passed into side control.
Voss is being controlled here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Voss manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Torres is trying to maintain the position but Voss is very close to passing his half guard.
Voss is trying to control the action in half guard but Torres is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Voss trying to control from Torres's half guard. Torres has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Voss stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Torres swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Voss trying to control but Torres is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Benji Torres will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Voss darts in looking for a takedown but Torres gets double underhooks and turns Voss into the cage.
Torres seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Torres throws the left hand but Voss avoids the punch easily.
Voss throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Torres counters with a straight right hand.
Torres is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Voss looks to throw the jab but Torres is out of range.
Torres looks to land a left hand but Voss moved out of range nicely.
And Voss tries to counter it with a takedown but Torres pushes his down on his head and steps out.
A jab from Voss misses.
Torres was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
A shot to the body from Voss misses
and Torres counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Torres keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
It looked like Torres was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Torres stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Torres wants it to stay on the feet.
Torres appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Voss throws an off balance right hand

and Torres counters with a nice right hand that sends Voss toppling to the canvas! Voss scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Torres finish him?!

Voss is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A shot to the body from Voss misses
and Torres counters with a right hand to the body.
Voss is still on wobbly legs! Can Torres finish him?
A big right from Torres misses.
Voss slips under a jab.
Voss seems to have recovered his senses.
Torres avoids the body shot from Voss.
Torres fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Voss swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Torres was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Voss tries for a takedown but Torres circles away easily
and Torres makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Benji Torres has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rich Voss.
Voss throws a shot from downtown. Torres moves away and avoids it.
Torres is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Voss can do to turn this around?
Voss shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Voss throws a sloppy body shot
and Torres connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Voss misses with a body shot
and Torres connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Torres connects with a good straight punch right through the guard and follows up with a right hook and a left hook! That last one sent Voss tumbling to the canvas! Torres pours on the pressure with more strikes and the referee has no hesitation diving in to stop the fight! Voss was done - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Benji Torres!