PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight kickboxing rules bout between Wolfgang Benson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cole Taggart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benson kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Alice Cooper - Schools Out. Wolfgang Benson has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Benson
vs
Taggart

181 cm
25
174 lbs
10 - 1 - 1

169 cm
27
160 lbs
14 - 9 - 0

World class boxer
Cardio machine

World class MT
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Wolfgang Benson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Cole Taggart!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Nard Betker and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benson tries a head kick but it misses.
Taggart looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Taggart takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Taggart lands a nice leg kick that just misses Benson's sensitive parts.
Benson definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Taggart bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Benson misses with an uppercut
and Taggart counters with a nice uppercut.
Taggart missing with a left hand there. Benson was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Benson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Taggart chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Taggart moves out of range of the body kick.
Taggart jabbing away but nothing is landing.
A counter left hand to the body from Benson misses its target.
Taggart uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Benson.
Taggart looks to score with a jab to the body but Benson is just out of range.
Taggart on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Benson checks a leg kick nicely.
Jab by Benson.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A slow jab from Benson misses its intended target.
Taggart steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Benson.
Taggart let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benson with a nice cross.
Benson ducks under a wild hook from Taggart.
Taggart throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Benson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Benson throws a body kick, spinning off balance
letting Taggart counter with a right hand.
Benson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Taggart.
A chopping leg kick lands by Benson.
Taggart moves out of range of the strikes.
Taggart fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Benson checks it well.
Benson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Taggart moves away.
Taggart takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Benson takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

It looks like Wolfgang Benson has been cut.
Taggart fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Benson checks it well.
An inside leg kick from Benson misses.
Taggart is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Benson with a body shot.
Benson blocks a head kick by Taggart.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Benson thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taggart fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Benson is out of range.
Benson throwing a counter right hand but Taggart manages to avoid it.
Benson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Benson misses with a looping left.
Jab from Benson.
Benson dodges the punch combination from Taggart.
Taggart pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Benson back to the ropes. Taggart follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Taggart tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Taggart takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Benson scores with a spinning back kick!
Benson throws out a loose jab but Taggart uses good head movement to avoid it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Benson.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benson scores with a spinning back kick!
A nice leg kick lands there from Taggart.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Wolfgang Benson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Wolfgang Benson's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Taggart throws a head kick but Benson moves out of range.
Benson misses with a wild body shot.
Taggart misses with a wild body shot.
Benson scores with a kick to the body.
Benson lands a nice leg kick that just misses Taggart's sensitive parts.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Benson, right into the meat.
Taggart dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Benson. That did some damage!
Benson does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Taggart tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Wolfgang Benson is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice body kick from Benson.
Benson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Taggart stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Taggart throws a solid leg kick but Benson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Taggart.
Taggart misses with a looping right.
Benson is looking to counter with head kicks.
Taggart swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Taggart misses with a low kick.
Taggart throws a low kick but Benson avoids it.
Benson appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taggart lands a right hook to the body.
Taggart dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nice body kick from Benson.
Benson throws a leg kick but Taggart checks it.
Taggart misses with a kick to the body.
Benson connects with the punch.
Taggart slips under a jab from Benson.
Benson has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Taggart.
A nice leg kick lands there from Taggart.
Taggart has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Benson.
Taggart misses with a low kick.
Benson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A punch lands to the side of Taggart 's head but he takes it in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benson scores with a hook.
Jab, jab by Taggart - just one landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taggart tries to clinch
and Benson counters with a low kick, right behind Taggart 's knee.
Benson misses with a low kick.
Benson checks a leg kick nicely.
Taggart misses with a right hand
and Benson counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Benson takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Taggart misses with a low kick.
Taggart finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Taggart.
Taggart has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Benson.
Benson throws a shot from downtown. Taggart moves away and avoids it.
Benson lands a right hook to the body.
Taggart throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Benson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taggart swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Benson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Benson throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Taggart stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wolfgang Benson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Wolfgang Benson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Taggart swings for the body but Benson moves out of range.
Benson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Taggart keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Taggart misses with a low kick as Benson jumps back.
Benson throws a quick counter kick to the body but Taggart avoids it.
Taggart slips a jab and a cross from Benson.
Taggart was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Taggart throws a lazy body kick
and Benson counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Benson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Taggart.
Benson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Taggart goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Taggart avoids the head kick by Benson.
Taggart will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benson fails to land with a series of punches.
Benson stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Taggart.
Taggart blocks a head kick by Benson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taggart lands with a shot to the body.
Taggart misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benson.
Benson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benson lands with a shot to the body.
Benson throws a low kick but Taggart moves out of range easily.
Taggart only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Benson throws a lazy right hand but Taggart sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Taggart blocks a leg kick.
Benson scores with a spinning back kick!
Taggart tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Taggart blocks a head kick by Benson.
Taggart slips a jab from Benson.
Taggart has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Benson.
Benson misses with an uppercut. Taggart saw that one coming.
Taggart is looking to land body kicks.
Benson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Taggart throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice straight punches there by Benson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Benson.
Benson tried to score with a low kick but Taggart checks it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Benson throws a leg kick but Taggart checks it.
Decent striking displayed by Taggart there.
Benson lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Taggart plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Benson throws a jab when Taggart was well out of range.
Benson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Taggart, right into the meat.
Taggart attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Taggart connects with a single shot there.
A punch combination from Benson misses.
Taggart lands a right hook to the body.
Benson misses with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Wolfgang Benson did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The cut man is working on Wolfgang Benson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Benson is looking to land body kicks.
No joy there for Benson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Taggart ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Benson thows a left - swing and a miss!
Taggart thuds his shin into the meat of Benson's side.
Taggart blocks a low kick nicely.
Taggart pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Taggart looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Benson tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Taggart goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Benson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Benson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Benson throws a hook but Taggart blocks it.
Taggart flicks out a counter leg kick but Benson steps away.
Benson feints and then cracks Taggart's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Taggart down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Taggart.
Benson is looking to slow Taggart down with leg kicks.
Taggart paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Benson, right into the meat.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Benson lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Taggart has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Taggart and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
A big left from Benson misses.
Taggart throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Benson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Taggart scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Benson walks into a stiff left hand from Taggart.
Benson chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Taggart can pounce on him.
Taggart throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Benson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Benson connects with the punch.
Taggart walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benson misses with a body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taggart scores with a spinning back kick!
Benson throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Benson throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Taggart counters with a leg kick.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Benson lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Taggart has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Taggart and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Taggart lands with a shot to the body.
Taggart tests Benson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Some bone on bone action there as Benson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Taggart throws a lazy head kick
and Benson counters with an outside leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Taggart.
Benson misses the jab.
Taggart lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Benson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Benson fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Taggart slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cole Taggart dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Wolfgang Benson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Benson throws a jab when Taggart was well out of range.
Benson delivers a nice body kick.
Taggart throws a leg kick which misses Benson's front leg but catches the back leg as Benson tries to avoid it.
Benson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Benson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Taggart chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Benson can pounce on him.
Taggart avoids the head kick by Benson.
Benson throws a nice looking combination but Taggart bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Taggart lets loose with a powerful body kick. Benson will feel that in the morning.
A slow jab from Taggart misses its intended target.
Wolfgang Benson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taggart will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Benson tried to counter with a leg kick but Taggart avoided it.
A slapping leg kick lands for Taggart.
A head kick misses from Benson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taggart swings away with a body shot that misses
and Benson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Benson takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Taggart is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Taggart throws a jab when Benson was well out of range.
Taggart takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Cole Taggart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Taggart.
Taggart slips a jab from Benson.
Benson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Taggart.
Benson cracks the inside of Taggart's front leg.
Benson throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Taggart makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A clash of legs there as Taggart blocks the low kick.
Taggart walks forward, straight into a front kick from Benson.
Benson cracks Taggart with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Taggart misses with a kick to the body.
As Taggart backs away, Benson returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benson scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Taggart doesn't seem bothered though.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benson throws a jab but it's blocked by Taggart.
Taggart misses the shot to the body.
Benson blocks a head kick by Taggart.
Benson slips a jab and a cross from Taggart.
Taggart throws a low kick but Benson avoids it.
Taggart finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Benson was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Taggart looks to throw a body kick
and Benson counters with a nice leg kick.
Taggart jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Benson feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Benson will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Benson lands the left hand.
Taggart misses with a wild body shot.
Taggart throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Wolfgang Benson.
Well Benson 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Paul Aken scores the fight 49:46
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 49:46
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Wolfgang Benson!
Wolfgang Benson seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
Cole Taggart was interviewed post fight and said 'Well it seems it wasn't my day today, sorry folks!'.