PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gage Bennett (ranked 2824 p4p, 2232 weight class) and Zekariays Solomon (ranked 340 p4p, 277 weight class). Bennett comes to the cage accompanied by High Cotton by Alabama. This should be a great matchup!

Bennett
vs
Solomon

189 cm
35
206
15 - 19 - 0

190 cm
30
220
19 - 9 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Wrestler Wayfare
Furnace Performance ðŸ”¥

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 19 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gage Bennett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Zekariays Solomon!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Paul Tew and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Solomon bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Bennett on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bennett tries to get out of the position.
Solomon tries to move into full mount but can't pass Bennett's legs.
Bennett knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Solomon on the ground.
Solomon looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Bennett is avoiding damage well.
Solomon has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Solomon controls the position from side control.
Let's hope that Solomon has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Bennett is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
You can see the frustration on Bennett's face as Solomon controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Bennett is trying to get back to his feet.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Bennett is trying to escape the position but Solomon is controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Gage Bennett is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Solomon tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bennett paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Solomon digs a good body shot into Bennett's ribs.
Bennett attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Solomon avoids the body shot from Bennett.
Bennett has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Blood and Iron Training in the buildup to the fight.
Solomon tries to clinch up but Bennett circles away and keeps his distance.
Bennett is looking to counter punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Solomon thumps Bennett with a low kick.
Bennett throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bennett throws a jab but it's blocked by Solomon.
Bennett throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Solomon gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Solomon blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Bennett scores with a shot to the side of Solomon's head.

Solomon wants the takedown. Bennett is fighting it off but Solomon persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Bennett's guard against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Solomon stays in close to Bennett's body and controls the position.
Solomon is pushing down on Bennett's leg trying to pass to half guard. Bennett is fighting to maintain full guard but Solomon has managed to sneak the leg through.
Solomon working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Solomon drops an elbow to the side of Bennett's head.
Solomon performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Solomon.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
More stalling from Solomon.
Solomon winds up and cracks Bennett with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Solomon with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Solomon throwing shots but Bennett is blocking nicely.
Solomon takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Yet more stalling tactics from Solomon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Solomon prevents Bennett from standing back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Solomon content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Solomon blocks a jab.
Bennett misses with a left hand

and Solomon counters with a takedown into side control.

Solomon is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Bennett knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zekariays Solomon dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Solomon moves into the clinch successfully.
Bennett lands a left hand that snaps the head of Solomon backwards.
Solomon lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Bennett backwards.

It looks like Gage Bennett has been cut.

Solomon has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Bennett is trying to keep an underhook but Solomon manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Bennett is defending against the submission attempts here by Solomon.
Solomon looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Solomon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Solomon in particular looking to stall.
Solomon throwing shots but Bennett is blocking nicely.
Bennett is looking to escape.
Still in half guard, Solomon seems content to control.

Solomon looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Solomon performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Bennett is looking to escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.

Solomon moves into the clinch.

Solomon pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bennett misses with a body kick.
Gage Bennett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A slapping leg kick lands for Solomon.

Solomon shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Bennett manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Solomon is stalling in the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Solomon in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Solomon looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Solomon with more of the same as he continues to hold on.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zekariays Solomon showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Gage Bennett's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Bennett looks to land a right hand but Solomon moved out of range.
Bennett walks into a left hand.
Bennett connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Bennett gets caught napping as Solomon dives in and scores a takedown. Bennett manages to retain guard.
Bennett can't keep his opponent in guard - Solomon advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Solomon is pressing down on Bennett's thigh, looking to free his foot. Bennett is holding on for now.
Solomon prevents Bennett from standing back up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Solomon is working for a kimura but Bennett is defending it quite comfortably.

Solomon is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Bennett defends it well.
Zekariays Solomon has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Solomon is controlling the pace.
Solomon throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Solomon is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Bennett doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Solomon.
Bennett on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
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. Solomon connects with a nice short shot to Bennett's temple.
Well, if Solomon is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Bennett looks like he's trying to stand up.
Solomon content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomon throwing shots but Bennett is blocking nicely.
Gage Bennett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Solomon content to control rather than advance.
Zekariays Solomon is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Solomon closes the distance and pushes Bennett back into the cage.
Solomon jumps guard but Bennett turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bennett misses with some punches.
Bennett stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Bennett misses with a hook from the clinch.
Bennett tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Bennett tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Solomon's elbow.
Bennett swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A head punch on the inside from Bennett fails to land.
Solomon has had enough of the clinch but Bennett keeps him there for the moment.
Bennett throws a head punch that misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zekariays Solomon comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Solomon winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Glass scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zekariays Solomon!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Zekariays Solomon waved his t-shirt featuring Wrestler Wayfare's logo in front of the cameras.