PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Davey Linster (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Davey Linster will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Bennett
vs
Linster

225 cm
23
295 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
25
265 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Bennett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Davey Linster!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Jorge Garcia and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Linster tries to clinch but Bennett is having none of it.
It looked like Bennett was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Bennett looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Linster fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Linster shoots in looking for a takedown but Bennett manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Linster's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Linster closes the distance and clinches.
Bennett is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Bennett tries for a takedown but Linster manages to get underhooks.
Linster wants a takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennett can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Bennett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The referee calls for Linster to work.
Bennett wants a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linster throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Bennett blocks it with crossed arms.
Linster's coach down at School of Hard Knocks was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Linster's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Linster with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Linster gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Bennett.
Bennett has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Linster is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Linster prevents a takedown attempt there.
Linster is pressed up against the cage. Bennett has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Linster down to the mat. Linster avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Linster throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Linster shoots for a takedown but Bennett saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Bennett misses the target.
Bennett has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Bennett there as he acknowledges the shot.
Linster lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Bennett seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Linster shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bennett defends it nicely.
Linster tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bennett paws at him with a jab and circles away.
An attempted straight right counter from Bennett misses the target.
Linster fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Bennett is looking for a counter combo.
Linster misses with a double jab.
Bennett swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Linster tries to clinch up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linster is looking to clinch but Bennett is avoiding it.
Bennett seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Linster looks for a takedown but Bennett sprawls well.
Bennett appears to be looking for a big counter.

Linster closes the distance and clinches.
Linster slows down the pace here.
Linster is trying to force a seperation but Bennett has the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Bennett tries for a takedown but Linster manages to get underhooks.
Bennett tries to score a body lock takedown but Linster shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Linster wants to break free but Bennett has control.
Bennett prevents Linster from breaking the clinch.
Linster is trying to push Bennett away but Bennett has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Linster throws an elbow but it's blocked.
A frustrated look appears on Linster's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Bennett is looking to take this one to the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A frustrated look appears on Linster's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Bennett has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Linster avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Linster slows down the pace here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Davey Linster dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Linster throws a sloppy head kick and Bennett moves out of range easily.
Linster is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Linster throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bennett is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Linster shoots in and drives through. Bennett sprawls well.
It looked like Bennett was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Linster.
Linster shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bennett defends it nicely.
As Linster backs away, Bennett returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Linster misses with a low kick as Bennett jumps back.
A quick step to the side and Bennett tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Linster tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linster shoots in for a takedown but Bennett shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Michael Bennett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Davey Linster.
Linster tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bennett was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Bennett gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Linster moves into the clinch.
Linster wants to break the clinch but can't.
Bennett looking for a takedown.
Linster wants to break the clinch but can't.
Linster wants to break free but Bennett has control.

Bennett lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett wants to lay and pray for a moment but Linster keeps working.
Linster makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Linster.
Linster keeping moving, preventing Bennett from controlling successfully.
Linster is trying to keep Bennett in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Linster keeping full guard, as Bennett tries to pass.
Bennett missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Bennett will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Linster looking to control.
Bennett stands and throws Linster's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Bennett is looking to take a break and control but Linster is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bennett throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Bennett trying to control the position but Linster is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
An elbow from Bennett crashes against the mat.
Linster is trying to buck Bennett off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bennett is looking to take a break and control but Linster is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Linster misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Linster shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bennett as he avoids it easily.
Linster scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Bennett defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Linster.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Linster wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Bennett dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Bennett avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Linster misses with a two punch combination.
Bennett appears to be looking for a big counter.
Linster tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Bennett manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bennett tried to counter with a leg kick but Linster avoided it.

Linster has managed to clinch.
Bennett has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Linster is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bennett avoiding damage as Linster throws knees to the body.
Bennett can't get the takedown.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennett letting Linster take a breather here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Linster tries to break the clinch but Bennett is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linster tries to circle away but Bennett has him pinned against the cage.
Linster prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Bennett. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Linster stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Bennett has Linster pressed against the cage, preventing Linster from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Linster has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Linster wants to get back to striking at distance but Bennett won't allow it.
Bennett is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Linster gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A short right from Linster.
Linster lands with a light punch inside.
Bennett has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Linster after a bit of a struggle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Linster looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Still in the clinch, Linster scores with a nice short uppercut.
Linster wants to break the clinch but can't.

Linster jumps into guard, dragging Bennett to the mat.
Linster is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Linster keeping moving, preventing Bennett from controlling successfully.
Bennett looking to pass the guard.
Bennett is looking to advance position but Linster has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Linster throws some wild stikes that Bennett manages to avoid easily.
Linster looking to control but Bennett is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Linster throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Linster looking to ground and pound but Bennett is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Linster throwing strikes here but Bennett is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Bennett takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Linster unloading with bombs!
Linster can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bennett is looking to escape.

Linster is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Bennett can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

And that's the end of the fight!
Davey Linster comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Linster 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 Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 27:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 27:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Davey Linster!
After winning the bout, Davey Linster thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.