PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sam Benton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Denke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benton's entrance music is Kung Fu Fighting. A fine choice. Denke has chosen Runnin With The Devil as his entrance music. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Benton
vs
Denke

185 cm
27
185 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

186 cm
20
192 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 - 3 - 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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Karl Denke!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Daniel Franklin and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Both fighters circling a little - Benton finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Denke jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Benton looks to land a body kick but Denke moved away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Denke. Benton does a little dance to reset his feet.
Benton slips a straight right by Denke.
Benton is looking to chop away at Denke's legs.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Benton - that will leave a mark!
Denke misses with an uppercut.
Benton waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Denke.
Benton slips under a jab from Denke.
A big right from Denke misses.
Denke connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Jab from Denke.

Denke feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Denke wants to control from the top but Benton keeps moving.
Denke might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Benton kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Benton is trying to keep Denke in close.
Denke postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denke won't allow Benton to sweep him here.
Denke scoring with punches to the head and body.
Benton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Benton is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Denke seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benton manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Denke manages to get himself to full guard.
Benton won't allow Denke to get back to his feet.
Benton trying to control the position from guard on top but Denke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Denke trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Benton looking to sit in guard and control but Denke gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Denke makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Benton throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Denke looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton keeping moving, preventing Denke from controlling successfully.
Denke works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Benton wants to control but Denke is keeping busy.
Denke works his foot free and advances to mount.
Benton really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Benton in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Benton sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benton trying to get back to full guard but Denke takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Denke is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Denke controlling the pace for now.
Denke cracks Benton with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Denke is stalling here but it's allowed Benton to get half guard.
Benton wants to get back to full guard.
Benton won't allow Denke to pass to mount.
Denke prevents Benton from improving his position.
Benton is not content to let Denke control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Denke dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Denke misses with a wild body shot.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Benton.
Denke looks to land a left hand but Benton moved out of range nicely.

Benton gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Benton wants to sweep but no luck.
Benton trying to control the position.
Benton is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Denke postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Denke wants to control from the top but Benton keeps moving.
Benton keeping full guard, as Denke tries to pass.
Denke working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denke stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Benton swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Denke closes the distance and clinches up with Benton, looking for a takedown. Denke pushes Benton against the cage but Benton circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Denke lands with a right hand.
Benton tries to land a front kick but Denke steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Denke scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Denke changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Benton tries to avoid it but Denke manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Benton to the ground. Benton escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Denke closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Denke checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Denke will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Sam Benton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Karl Denke.
Benton throws and low kick but Denke moves out of range easily.
Denke on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Benton attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Benton throws a quick inside leg kick.
Benton throws a low kick but Denke avoids it.
Benton takes one on the chin but seems OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Denke moves away from the strike by Benton.
Denke fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Benton. Denke shrugs it off though.
Denke swats away the attempt to clinch by Benton.
Denke takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
A left lands for Denke.
Benton throws a nice inside leg kick.
Denke misses with a straight left.
Denke lands a slapping body shot.
Denke lands with a nice combination. Benton backs away looking to recover.
Benton uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Denke.
Denke connects with a crisp jab.
Denke uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Benton.
Nice shot by Denke.
A bone on bone clash there as Denke blocks the leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Denke darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton scoring well with a low kick there.
Denke is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Benton.
Benton scores with a nice body kick.
Benton dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Denke. That did some damage!
Denke shoots in and drives through. Benton sprawls well.
Benton misses with a body shot.
Benton gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Benton avoids a punch combination nicely.

Benton moves into range and clinches up with Denke.
Denke is looking to break free of the clinch but Benton has double underhooks.
Denke on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Denke is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Denke tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Benton smiles and moves away.
Denke misses with a leg kick

and Benton counters by moving into the clinch.
Benton looking to stall.
Denke wants a takedown but no success here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benton prevents Denke from breaking the clinch.
Denke wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A bit of stalling here from Denke.
Denke lands a hook that snaps the head of Benton backwards.
Denke managing to block the knees to the body from Benton.
Benton tries to land knees in the clinch but Denke avoids the damage to the body.
Benton looking to throw knees to the head but Denke is blocking nicely.
Benton looking to stall.
Denke wants to break free but Benton has control.
Benton trying to stall but Denke improves his position.
Benton missing with knees to the body.
Denke wants to get back to striking at distance but Benton won't allow it.
Benton is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Denke is keeping busy.
Denke has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Benton.
Benton keeps control of Denke as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Denke breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Denke keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benton drops his hands momentarily and Denke takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Benton throws a push kick but Denke slaps the foot to one side.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sam Benton 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. This is the final round!

Denke throws a series of punches but Benton avoids them all with ease.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Benton.
Benton lands a nice looking body shot.
Benton misses the shot to the body.
Benton takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Denke scores with a nice head shot.
Benton fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Denke.
Denke uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Benton has time to react.
Benton cracks Denke with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Denke misses with a low kick.
Denke misses with a combination
and Benton counters with a nice body kick.

Denke looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Benton!
Benton is trying desperately to improve position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denke looking to control and managing it successfully.
Benton is desperately trying to improve his position but Denke has a good base and remains in mount.
Benton is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Denke dominating with strikes here.
Denke trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Benton is looking to improve his position but Denke isn't that keen on the idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benton gets back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Denke in particular looking to stall.
Denke trying to control the action but Benton is working from the bottom.
Benton is pressing down on Denke's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Denke throws a big right hand that misses.
Denke loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Denke stands up over Benton, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Karl Denke has got the better of the ground game so far.
Denke stays in close to Benton's body and controls the position.
Benton working a defensive guard but Denke manages to pass into side control anyway.
Benton sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton is looking for a sweep. Denke is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Benton manages to get to full guard.
Denke preventing the sweep.

Benton looking for a guillotine here but Denke defends easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Benton looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Denke controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Denke scoring with some ground and pound.
Denke trying to control the position from guard on top but Benton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benton can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Denke controls the pace.
Denke trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Benton looking to hit a scissor sweep but Denke is one step ahead there.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Karl Denke.
I think Denke has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karl Denke!