PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jp Benn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rich Pena (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benn comes to the cage accompanied by Icarus by Hopesfall. Pena is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by RAWR. Rich Pena will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Benn
vs
Pena

173 cm
22
163 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

189 cm
26
187 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Knockout power

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire
Bloodsport Nutrition

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of London, Jp Benn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Rich Pena!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Donald Grub and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pena waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Benn.
Benn slips under a jab.
Pena throws a hook to the side of Benn's head but Benn sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Benn avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
A low kick from Pena misses
and Benn counters with a one-two to the body.

Benn scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Benn misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Benn is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Pena knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
You can see the frustration on Pena's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benn passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Pena!
Pena is working to get back to half guard.
Pena wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Benn.

Benn working for a submission but Pena is keeping him at bay.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benn is looking to stand but Benn has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.
Benn prevents Pena from getting the reversal.
Pena wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pena covering up well under a series of strikes from Benn.
Benn keeps control of the position as Pena tries to break free.
Pena is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Benn is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Pena defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Benn working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Benn working for a choke but Pena is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benn doesn't have the hooks in and Pena manages to turn into his guard.
Pena landing with the ground and pound.
Pena postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Pena trying to control but Benn is working from the bottom.
Pena with a flurry of punches that miss.
Benn trying to control the position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benn is trying to hold Pena in close to prevent damage but Pena has managed to pass into half guard.
Benn avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pena.
Pena tries to pass to full mount but Benn defends it.
Pena wants to control but Benn is keeping him busy.
Pena missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Pena is looking to stall here but Benn recovers full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Benn is on top in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Benn lands with a nice body kick.
Pena walks forward, straight into a front kick from Benn.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pena looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Benn jabs Pena right on the nose. Pena blinks but takes it well.
Benn shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Pena defends it nicely.
Jp Benn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Benn lands a head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pena throws a lazy uppercut
and Benn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Benn misses with a two punch combination.
Benn scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Pena throws an off balance right hand
and Benn counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pena wants to slow Benn down by chopping away at his legs.
Benn shoots in but no luck this time.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Benn here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Benn connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pena throws a solid leg kick but Benn takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Pena.
Pena thows a leg kick but Benn checks it

and Benn counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Benn scores with a nice hook to the head.

Benn gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Benn wants to get back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Benn is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pena defends it well.

Benn is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Pena has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pena trying to control here.

Benn is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Pena defends it well.
Pena trying to control from the bottom.
Pena is looking for a sweep. Benn is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benn is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Pena really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Benn. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Benn is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Pena!
Pena is squirming around, avoiding Benn's attempts to control the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benn lands a big elbow.
Benn looking to control but Pena is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jp Benn dominated that second round.
That's time! Benn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Pena shoots in for a takedown but Benn shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Benn.
Benn misses the shot to the body.
Benn scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pena stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Pena wants it to stay on the feet.
Benn looks for a takedown but Pena sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jp Benn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pena takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benn ducks under a wild hook from Pena.
A telegraphed right hand from Pena misses the target.
Benn doesn't manage to clinch there - Pena circles away.

Benn rushes Pena and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Pena tries to score a body lock takedown but Benn shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Benn jumps guard.
Pena throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benn keeping full guard, as Pena tries to pass.
Pena throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Benn not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Benn seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Pena is in close to Benn's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pena content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pena preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pena trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benn keeping moving, preventing Pena from controlling successfully.
Pena won't allow Benn to get back to his feet.
Pena throws a strike but Benn rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Benn preventing the sweep.
Benn is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Benn loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pena seems keen to control Benn's posture.
Pena looking for a sweep. Not yet Pena, not yet.
Pena pulls Benn in to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Benn shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Pena as he jumps to the side.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Benn is defended easily by Pena.
Rich Pena has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jp Benn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benn displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Pena throws out the jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rich Pena.
Well Benn 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 James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jp Benn!