PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Chase Benjamins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kira Kato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Benjamins
vs
Kato

191 cm
19
183 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

159 cm
18
168 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Solid chin

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

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kato fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Benjamins to the ground. Kato is now in Benjamins's guard.
Benjamins trying to keep a closed guard but Kato is proving a slippery customer.
Kato stopping the sweep attempt from Benjamins.
Benjamins is trying to keep Kato in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chase Benjamins wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Kato darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Benjamins is trying to control but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato is stalling here. Benjamins is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kato seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Benjamins has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Kato manages to work his way to half guard, despite Benjamins's best efforts.
Benjamins trying to control from half guard but Kato is working away.
Kato trying to control but Benjamins postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kato is not content to let Benjamins control the position.
Kato should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Benjamins looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Benjamins is thwarting Kato's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Benjamins is looking to take a break and control but Kato is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kato shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Benjamins trying to control from the bottom.
Kato trying to control the pace.
Benjamins trying to control from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamins makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Benjamins.
Benjamins wants to sweep but no luck.
Kato trying to control the position from guard on top but Benjamins is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benjamins controls Kato momentarily but Kato frees himself.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Kato scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kato is thwarting Benjamins's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kato is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Kato wants to work for an arm triangle but Benjamins is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Kato is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Benjamins defends it well.
Benjamins is looking to control Kato's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Benjamins avoid being mounted?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kato closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kato lands in his opponent's guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Benjamins is on top in guard.
Kato keeping moving, preventing Benjamins from controlling successfully.
Kato wants to control the position but Benjamins says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Benjamins is looking to take a break and control but Kato is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kato tries to get to full guard but Benjamins has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benjamins is looking to take a break and control but Kato is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Benjamins passes the guard and advances to mount!
Benjamins can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kato is looking to escape.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Kato has eaten all the pies!
Kato is looking to improve his position but Benjamins isn't that keen on the idea.
Benjamins will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kato regains half guard.
Benjamins works his way into full mount!
Kato tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Benjamins tries to control but Kato wriggling away.
Kato sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Benjamins wants to take a breather but Kato is having none of it.
Kira Kato has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kato is looking for a sweep. Benjamins is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Benjamins passes the guard and advances to mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kato is wriggling around trying to escape.
Benjamins can't control as he wanted to and Kato manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Benjamins is keen to just control but Kato is a slippery customer.
Benjamins trying to control the pace.
Kato wants to improve his position but Benjamins is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benjamins trying to control the action but Kato is working from the bottom.
Kato wants to improve his position but Benjamins is controlling well.
Benjamins is trying to control the action in half guard but Kato is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Chase Benjamins.

Benjamins gets caught flat footed, as Kato shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Benjamins is trying to keep Kato in close.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kato throwing strikes from guard but Benjamins blocks nicely.
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 Chase Benjamins will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Kato closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Benjamins takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

Kato goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Benjamins has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kato but great work by Benjamins.
Benjamins trying to control the position but Kato is working away.
Kato struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kato is looking for a sweep.
Benjamins wants to control but Kato is keeping him busy.
Benjamins is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kato is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Chase Benjamins has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Kato shoots in and gets a takedown into Benjamins's guard.
Benjamins trying to control the position.
Kato postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kato in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kato pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benjamins is keeping the position for now.
Kato stopping the sweep attempt from Benjamins.
Benjamins working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benjamins looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Benjamins keeping moving, preventing Kato from controlling successfully.
Benjamins is trying to control the position but Kato postures up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Kato changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Benjamins looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kato taking a break here but Benjamins is having none of it and regains half guard.
Benjamins is trying to maintain the position but Kato is very close to passing his half guard.

Kato is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Benjamins doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kato.
Benjamins is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kato is looking to advance position but Benjamins won't allow it.
Benjamins slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Benjamins trying to control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kato won't allow Benjamins to sweep him here.
Kato postures up and lands a big shot to Benjamins's brow.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kira Kato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kato has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kira Kato!
Kira Kato seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.