PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Tommy Bennett (ranked 4603 p4p, 4351 weight class) and Alex Bactya (ranked 385 p4p, 375 weight class). Alex Bactya struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 146.3lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Bennett
vs
Bactya

178 cm
18
154
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
150
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Tommy Bennett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alex Bactya!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Tiny Johnson and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bennett clinches up against the cage.
Bennett controlling the action here for a moment.

Bactya works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Bennett is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bactya trying to control the position from guard on top but Bennett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennett is wriggling around but Bactya manages to pass to half guard.
Bactya stops Bennett from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
My spies in Cozad MMA New York inform me that Bactya has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Bactya is stalling here. Bennett is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Bactya seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Bennett has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Bennett tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Bactya is looking to regain half guard here but Bennett keeps moving and retains side control.
Bactya looks winded!
Bactya can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bactya is trying to get back to half guard.
Bennett wants to stand but Bactya has his arm trapped.

Bennett decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Bennett clinches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bactya wants a takedown.
Bactya is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bennett to keep the fight standing.
Bactya tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bennett just stands there and leans against the cage.
Tommy Bennett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Bactya.
Bennett lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Bactya or not.
Bennett throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bactyas head.
Bennett pushes Bactya back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Bennett leaning against his opponent.

Bennett's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett throws a nice looking combination but Bactya bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Bactya lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Bennett fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Despite the aggression on Bactya's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Bennett throws a right hand that Bactya ducks under and follows up with a left that Bactya also avoids with ease.
Bactya wants to counter the offense by Bennett and move into the clinch position.
Bennett rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bactya moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bennett will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bactya tries to counter by closing the distance.

Bennett clinches up with Bactya and pushes him back against the cage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bennett lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Bennett looking to throw knees to the head but Bactya is blocking nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Bennett dominated that round.
That's time! Bennett's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Bennett misses with a double jab.
Bactya is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Bennett misses with a double jab

and Bactya counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Bennett is staying active underneath Bactya, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Bactya in particular looking to stall.

Bactya decides to return to a standing position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennett misses with a two punch combination.
Bactya is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Bennett with a body shot.
Bactya is breathing heavily.
Bennett connects with the punch.
Bennett fails to land with a series of punches.
Bactya wants to counter the offense by Bennett and move into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bactya is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Bennett throws a right and a left that Bactya avoids nicely.
Bactya let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Bennett pushes Bactya up against the cage in a clinch.
Bactya tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bactya tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Bennett tries to land knees in the clinch but Bactya avoids the damage to the body.
Bennett wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bennett is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Tommy Bennett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Bactya.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Bennett breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Bennett gets a clinch.
Bennett pushes off an throws an elbow but Bactya leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Bactya tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bennett smiles and moves away.

Bennett fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bactya, pushing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bennett breaks the clinch.
Bennett throws a right and a left that both miss.
Bennett sets himself, and Bactya steps forward looking for the clinch! Bennett avoids it this time.
Bennett misses with a wild combination.
Bactya changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Tommy Bennett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bennett moves into the clinch.
Bennett tries to land knees in the clinch but Bactya avoids the damage to the body.
Bactya tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bennett smiles and moves away.

Bennett pushes Bactya up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Bactya drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bennett is trying to break free.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bennett breaks the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Tommy Bennett dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Bennett throws a series of punches but Bactya moves out of range.
Bennett will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Bennett rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bactya moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bactya looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Bactya misses with a takedown attempt - Bennett sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bennett throws a good cross that connects.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennett rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Bactya moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bactya drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Bennett defends it well.
Bennett throws a right and a left that Bactya avoids nicely.
A nice side step and Bactya releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.

Bennett has Bactya up against the cage in a clinch.
Bennett lands a left hand that snaps the head of Bactya backwards.
Bactya takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett tries to work over Bactya's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tommy Bennett has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Bactya keeps control of Bennett as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Bennett tries to land a knee to the head but Bactya blocks with his arms.
The referee calls for Bennett to work.
Bactya prevents Bennett from breaking the clinch.

That's two 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.
Bennett pushes off an throws an elbow but Bactya leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Bactya has picked Bennett up - he's going for a ride! Bactya dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

Bennett kicks off Bactya and gets to his feet.
Bennett is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bactya can do to turn this around?
A punch combination from Bennett misses.
Bactya showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bennett.
Bennett works Bactya's body with a nice hook.
Bennett misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Bennett both land. Nice combination.
Bennett misses with a series of wild punches.

Bennett fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Bactya, pushing him back against the cage.
Bennett missing with knees to the body.
Bennett gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bactya.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bennett.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Bennett lands a shoulder strike.
Bennett just leaning against Bactya, taking a breather.
Bactya is working for takedown but Bennett is calmly controlling the position for now.
Alex Bactya has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tommy Bennett is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tommy Bennett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Bactya.

Bennett's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommy 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 30:26
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:26

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