PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sam Benton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Headden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benton's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Kung Fu Fighting. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Benton
vs
Headden

185 cm
26
185 lbs
11 - 2 - 0

183 cm
24
195 lbs
14 - 6 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Powerful

Bushido Clothing
Bushido Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Sam Benton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Steve Headden!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Gwen Towbar and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benton throws a nice head kick!
Benton is looking to score with low kicks.
Headden goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

It looks like Sam Benton has been cut.
Headden checks the leg kick.
Headden checks a low kick from Benton.
A head kick by Headden misses
and Benton makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Benton attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Headden scores with a shot to the body.
Benton throws out a leg kick but Headden moves out of range and Benton only half commits.
Benton misses with a low kick.
Headden checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Benton misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Headden.
A head kick misses from Headden.
Benton misses with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Headden throws a head kick but Benton moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Headden.
Benton throws and low kick but Headden moves out of range easily.
Headden tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Benton feints and then cracks Headden's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Headden down.

Benton drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Benton working the ground and pound but Headden is defending the strikes.
Benton working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Headden tries to bench press Benton off him but Benton keeps the position.
Benton sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Headden is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Headden tries to improve position but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Headden gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Benton seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Headden does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Benton missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Benton is looking to score with low kicks.
Headden throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Benton counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Benton.
Headden keeping moving, preventing Benton from controlling successfully.
Benton passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Benton wants to control but Headden is keeping him busy.
Benton misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Headden is looking to regain half guard here but Benton keeps moving and retains side control.
Benton in side control, throwing shots but Headden defends.
Headden is trying to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Benton feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Headden's calf.
A nice inside leg kick there by Benton. That's going to slow Headden down.
Headden shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Benton as he jumps to the side.
Headden moves out of range of the body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Benton looks to land a body kick but Headden moved away.
Headden lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
An inside leg kick lands from Benton.
Benton fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Headden blocks a leg kick.
Benton throws a leg kick but Headden moved away.
Headden lands a head kick. Benton smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A solid leg kick lands there for Benton.
Benton throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Headden counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Benton is trying hard to land a takedown here. Headden sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Headden dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sam Benton'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.

Headden is trying hard to land a takedown here. Benton sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Headden throws a head kick that misses.
Good exchange - Benton coming out on top.
Benton tries to work over Headden's front leg with a kick but Headden checks it.
Headden throws a lazy head kick
and Benton counters with a leg kick.
Benton looks to throw the jab but Headden is out of range.
Headden throws a front kick aimed at Benton's knee but Benton avoids it well.

Benton scores a takedown into full mount!
Benton content just to control the position here.
Benton sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton prevents Headden from getting the reversal.
Benton unloading with bombs!

Benton jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Headden is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Headden and Benton has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Benton goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Headden rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Benton's guard! Nice work there by Headden!
Benton controls Headden momentarily but Headden frees himself.
Benton working a defensive guard but Headden manages to pass into side control anyway.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton wants to control but Headden postures up.
Headden controlling the position.
Benton can't do much from the bottom here.
Benton is looking to reverse the position.
Benton is working hard here to advance position.
Headden controlling the position from side mount.
Benton is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Headden wants to control but Benton is keeping him busy.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Benton misses with a leg kick
and Headden counters with a series of strikes. Benton will be more careful next time no doubt.
Headden loads up on a big right hand but Benton slips the punch.
Headden connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Benton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Headden is looking to clinch but Benton is avoiding it.
Benton is looking to chop away at Headden's legs.
A combination from Headden does no damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benton staying out of range there.
Headden throws the kick towards the body but Benton avoids it.
Benton takes a swing at Headden's ribcage but misses.
A low kick from Benton is predictable there
and Headden counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A good leg kick by Benton.
Headden throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A bone on bone clash there as Headden blocks the leg kick.
Benton thows a leg kick but Headden checks it

and Headden counters with a flying knee that drops Benton!

Benton is rocked!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benton keeping moving, preventing Headden from controlling successfully.
Oh Benton is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Headden is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Headden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sam Benton'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. This is the final round!

Benton dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Headden. That did some damage!
Benton seems to have got his legs back now.
Headden jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Headden lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Benton misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Benton avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Benton throws a lazy head kick
and Headden counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Benton is rocked!
A head kick misses from Headden.
A head kick misses from Headden.
Headden lands a head kick. Benton smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Headden fails to land with a series of punches.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Benton.
Sam Benton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Benton throws a sloppy head kick and Headden moves out of range easily.
Benton avoids the head kick by Headden.
Headden lands a high kick!
Oh Benton is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Benton scores with a leg kick.
Benton seems to have got his legs back now.

Benton drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Headden gets back to half guard.
Benton is trying to control. Headden wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Headden works his way to full guard. Good work.
Headden looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Headden trying to control the position.
Steve Headden is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Benton stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Headden swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Headden is trying to keep Benton in close.
Headden lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Benton!
Benton is looking to improve his position but Headden isn't that keen on the idea.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton tries to lock up and control but Headden gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Benton really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Headden controlling his opponent.

That's four 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 wants to control but Headden is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steve Headden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Headden 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 27:30
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steve Headden!