PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Grant Benton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Norman Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Benton
vs
Diaz

180 cm
25
165 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

172 cm
22
165 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grant Benton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Norman Diaz!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice jab there from Benton.
Jab from Benton.

Diaz shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Benton napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Diaz is looking to take a break and control but Benton is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Benton wants to get back to his feet but Diaz drags him back down.

Diaz tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Diaz throws a strike aimed at the side of Benton's head but Benton avoids it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benton defending against the ground and pound.
Benton is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Diaz working the ground and pound but Benton is defending the strikes.
Diaz wants to lay and pray for a moment but Benton keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Benton is not content to let Diaz control the position.

Benton sneaks out the side door and pushes Diaz away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Diaz throws a combination that misses
and Diaz takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Diaz scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Benton kicks off Diaz and gets to his feet.
Benton bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Benton tries to keep at a distance but Diaz has taken the fight into the clinch.
Diaz working hard to break the clinch.
Benton gets through Diaz's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benton misses with some punches.
Benton has a couple of punches blocked by Diaz.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton lands a nice uppercut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Benton.
Diaz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Benton gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Benton is looking to break free of the clinch but Diaz has double underhooks.
Benton lands a right hand that snaps the head of Diaz backwards.
Benton has had enough of the clinch but Diaz keeps him there for the moment.
Diaz jumps guard but Benton turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Benton misses with the head strike.
Benton lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Diaz's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Diaz has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Diaz there as he acknowledges the shot.
Benton scores with a hook.
Diaz tries for a takedown but Benton sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Grant Benton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Norman Diaz.
Diaz shoots in for a double leg but Benton sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Diaz fails to land the takedown.
Diaz takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Grant Benton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Benton paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Benton tries to clinch but Diaz moves out of range.
Benton's corner calls for a 1-2. Benton obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Benton jabs at Diaz's body.
Benton is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Benton slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Oooooh!!! Benton has knocked Diaz down with a huge combo! Benton steps away and waves a wobbly Diaz back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Diaz is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Diaz is still on wobbly legs! Can Benton finish him?
A jab from Benton finds it's way through Diaz's defenses.

Diaz closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Diaz wants a takedown but no success here.
Diaz is looking to take this one to the mat.
Diaz tries to pull guard but Benton won't allow it.
Diaz looks winded!
A short uppercut from Benton.
Benton prevents the takedown attempt.
A nice right hand lands inside from Benton.
Benton throws a head punch that misses.
Diaz seems to have recovered his senses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benton working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Benton scores with a shoulder strike.
Benton lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

Diaz pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Diaz moves into the clinch.

Benton pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A telegraphed right hand from Diaz misses the target.
Benton is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Diaz shoots in looking for a takedown. Benton tries to sprawl out of it but Diaz keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Benton manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice uppercut there from Benton.

Benton closes the distance and clinches.
Benton makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Benton lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Diaz's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Diaz has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Benton avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Diaz is trying to push Benton away but Benton has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Diaz pulls Benton into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grant Benton dominated that round.
That's time! Benton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Diaz fails with a takedown attempt.

Benton moves into the clinch.
Benton swings wildly with an uppercut but Diaz uses good head movement to avoid it.
Benton lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Benton lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Benton.
Benton tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Diaz can't get the takedown.
Benton lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Benton scores with a shot to the side of Diaz's head.
Benton blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Benton lands with a right to the head.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Benton.
Benton scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Diaz is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Benton to keep the fight standing.
Grant Benton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Norman Diaz.
Diaz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Benton after a bit of a struggle.
Benton lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Diaz drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Benton gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A shot in the inside from Benton.
Benton lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Benton lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Diaz jumps guard but Benton stands there with Diaz around his waist. Diaz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Diaz blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Benton misses with a hook from the clinch.
Benton lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Benton misses with a punch on the inside.
Benton lands a shoulder strike.
Diaz tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Benton just stands there and leans against the cage.
Diaz swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Diaz on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Benton scores with a jab to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benton rushes Diaz and presses him up against the cage.

Diaz breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Benton moves in looking to clinch but Diaz pushes him off.
Diaz fails with a takedown attempt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Diaz throws a shot from downtown. Benton moves away and avoids it.
Benton lands with an overhand left.
Benton stuffs the takedown attempt from Diaz. Diaz gets slowly back to his feet.
Benton leaves Diaz with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Diaz throws a lazy uppercut
and Benton counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Diaz fails to land with a series of punches.
Decent striking displayed by Benton there.
Benton connects with a good straight punch right through the guard and follows up with a right hook and a left hook! That last one sent Diaz tumbling to the canvas! Benton pours on the pressure with more strikes and the referee has no hesitation diving in to stop the fight! Diaz was done - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Grant Benton!
Grant Benton seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.