PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bruce Banner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Benjamin Jr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Banner comes to the cage accompanied by xavier rudd - energy song. Benjamin Jr is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Sans Pression - Numéro 1. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Banner
vs
Benjamin Jr

180 cm
29
192 lbs
16 - 4 - 1

180 cm
24
185 lbs
11 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

xXx - Voodoo Labs - 159+ Energy - $45

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Bruce Banner!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Thomas Benjamin Jr!
The judges for this bout are Donatello Bradman, Winston Howard and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benjamin Jr uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Banner.
Benjamin Jr lands a nice looking body shot.
Banner misses with a looping right.
Benjamin Jr throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Benjamin Jr misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Banner.
Banner throws a body punch but Benjamin Jr moves out of range.
Banner misses with a body shot.
Banner lands a jab to Benjamin Jr's midsection.
Banner misses the shot to the body.
Benjamin Jr fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Banner ducks right into an uppercut from Benjamin Jr.
Banner rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Benjamin Jr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Banner moves out of range of the body kick from Benjamin Jr.
Benjamin Jr cracks Banner with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Benjamin Jr throws a series of punches but Banner moves out of range.
Banner swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin Jr takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Banner takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Banner blocks a leg kick.
Banner throws a looping overhand right but Benjamin Jr ducks down to avoid it.
Benjamin Jr throws a low kick, looking for Banner's leg but Banner calmly moves out of range.
Banner stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Benjamin Jr.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benjamin Jr. Banner does a little dance to reset his feet.

Banner gets the takedown into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Banner.
Banner trying to control the position but Benjamin Jr is working away.
Benjamin Jr is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin Jr avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Banner.
Banner tries to move into full mount but can't pass Benjamin Jr's legs.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Banner is trying to get an arm triangle but Benjamin Jr is defending well.
Banner has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Banner wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Benjamin Jr, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Banner is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Benjamin Jr's shoulder. That is not cool.
Banner tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Banner is looking to take a break and control but Benjamin Jr is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Benjamin Jr manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Banner looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Banner is staying active underneath Benjamin Jr, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Banner is looking to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Thomas Benjamin Jr will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Benjamin Jr throws a nice looking combination but Banner bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A jab from Benjamin Jr finds it's way through Banner's defenses.
Benjamin Jr moves away from the strike by Banner.
Banner sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Banner moves away from the strike by Benjamin Jr.
Benjamin Jr throws a lazy right hand but Banner sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A slow jab from Benjamin Jr misses its intended target.
Benjamin Jr keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Benjamin Jr. That's going to slow Banner down.
Banner throws a looping overhand right but Benjamin Jr ducks down to avoid it.
Banner throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Benjamin Jr sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Benjamin Jr lands with a nice body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Banner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin Jr throws a jab when Banner was well out of range.
A big right from Benjamin Jr misses.
Benjamin Jr misses with a kick to the body.
Thomas Benjamin Jr seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A jab from Banner finds it's way through Benjamin Jr's defenses.
Banner displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Benjamin Jr throws out the jab.
Banner checks a low kick from Benjamin Jr.
Benjamin Jr throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
That kick from Benjamin Jr tenderised Banner's leg. Banner is trying to keep his angry face on.
Benjamin Jr thumps Banner with a low kick.
Benjamin Jr chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Thomas Benjamin Jr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Benjamin Jr throws a body punch but Banner moves out of range.
Thomas Benjamin Jr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benjamin Jr tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Banner is able to avoid easily.
Banner on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Benjamin Jr. Benjamin Jr obviously looking to wear him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Banner walks forward, straight into a front kick from Benjamin Jr.
Benjamin Jr throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Banner throws a half hearted mid kick.
Banner avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Banner blocks a low kick nicely.
A big left from Banner misses.
Benjamin Jr looks to score with a jab to the body but Banner is just out of range.
A clash of legs there as Banner blocks the low kick.
Nice body kick there by Benjamin Jr.
Benjamin Jr throws a front kick aimed at Banner's knee but Banner avoids it well.
Banner takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Banner is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Benjamin Jr throws a leg kick which misses Banner's front leg but catches the back leg as Banner tries to avoid it.
Benjamin Jr works Banner's body with a nice hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamin Jr just misses with a punch to the body.
Benjamin Jr lands a jab to the head.
Benjamin Jr bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Benjamin Jr scoring well with a low kick there.
Benjamin Jr scores with a nice head shot.
A big right from Benjamin Jr misses.
Benjamin Jr tries to bum rush Banner with a series of wild strikes but Banner uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Banner misses with the combination.
Benjamin Jr misses with an attempted mid kick.
Banner tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Benjamin Jr was well out of range. Poor timing from Banner.
Benjamin Jr throws a low kick but it's checked well by Banner.
Benjamin Jr bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Banner walks into a straight right hand from Benjamin Jr.
Benjamin Jr is looking to score with low kicks.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Banner fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Benjamin Jr on the side of the head.
Benjamin Jr connects with the punch.
Banner takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Banner just misses with a punch to the body.
Benjamin Jr lands a nice looking body shot.
Benjamin Jr looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Benjamin Jr throws the kick towards the body but Banner avoids it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Benjamin Jr looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benjamin Jr. Banner does a little dance to reset his feet.
Banner has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Benjamin Jr.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thomas Benjamin Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Banner's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Benjamin Jr connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Banner scrambles back to his feet.
Banner will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Banner doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
An inside leg kick from Benjamin Jr misses.
Benjamin Jr moves out of range of the strikes.
Banner misses with a looping right.
Benjamin Jr keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Banner fails to land the takedown.
Benjamin Jr tries a low kick but Banner avoids it.
Benjamin Jr throws a leg kick but Banner sees it coming and moves out of range.
Banner throws an overhand right that lands on Benjamin Jr's shoulder, as Benjamin Jr tries to avoid the shot.
Banner dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamin Jr connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Benjamin Jr looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Benjamin Jr misses with a leg kick.
Banner walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Benjamin Jr stuns Banner with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Benjamin Jr misses with a kick to the body.
A bone on bone clash there as Benjamin Jr blocks the leg kick.
Banner is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Benjamin Jr.
Benjamin Jr cracks Banner with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Banner stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Benjamin Jr.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benjamin Jr lands a right hook to the body.
Banner throws a lazy uppercut
and Benjamin Jr counters with a solid body kick.
Benjamin Jr cracks Banner with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Banner takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Benjamin Jr lunges at Banner with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Banner's hand.

Banner is rocked!
Banner checks a leg kick.
Oh Banner is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
A combination from Benjamin Jr does no damage.
Banner slips a straight right by Benjamin Jr.
Banner seems to have got his legs back now.
Benjamin Jr throws a quick inside leg kick.
Benjamin Jr turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Benjamin Jr throws a lazy right hand but Banner sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Benjamin Jr lands a right hook to the body.
Benjamin Jr throws a perfectly timed hook that sends Banner crashing down! Banner tries to stagger back to his feet but Benjamin Jr just hammers him until the ref stops the fight! A confused Banner asks the ref what just happened. Poor fella.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Thomas Benjamin Jr!
Thomas Benjamin Jr is the new middleweight champion!
A less than humble Thomas Benjamin Jr misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.