QFC Tournament 833 Round 3 PBP Commentary

Co-main event

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Philippoussis (ranked 5714 p4p, 192 weight class) and Aleksander Benton (ranked 5828 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Philippoussis
vs
Benton

170 cm
23
280 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

200 cm
23
270 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anthony Philippoussis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksander Benton!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Philippoussis scores with a jab to the body.

Philippoussis closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Benton jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Philippoussis walks away with a smile on his face. Benton gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Benton tries to clinch up but Philippoussis circles away and keeps his distance.
Benton gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Philippoussis counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Aleksander Benton has been cut.
Philippoussis is looking to clinch.
Benton steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Philippoussis.
Benton fails with the takedown
and Philippoussis counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Anthony Philippoussis has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksander Benton.

Philippoussis closes the distance and clinches.
Philippoussis lands an uppercut.
Philippoussis lands on the inside with an uppercut.

That has opened up Aleksander Benton's cut even more.
Benton tries to score a body lock takedown but Philippoussis shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Philippoussis pushes Benton back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Philippoussis lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Benton has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Philippoussis is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Benton tries to pull guard but Philippoussis forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton takes a shot to the head.

Benton has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Philippoussis clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Philippoussis trying to control the hands but Benton breaks the grip.
Philippoussis tries to roll but Benton sticks to his back.
Philippoussis knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Benton on the ground.
Benton lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Philippoussis.
Philippoussis takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Benton throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Philippoussis!
Benton is punishing Philippoussis with strikes - can he finish him?!
Philippoussis trying to control but not successfully.
Benton lands a shot to the head.

It looks like Anthony Philippoussis has been cut.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
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!
Philippoussis is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton scores with punches and elbows.
Benton loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Philippoussis hold on?

Anthony Philippoussis's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Philippoussis trying to control the position but Benton manages to sink in the hooks.
Philippoussis is keeping busy.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Benton.

Jeez, Anthony Philippoussis's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Anthony Philippoussis's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:51 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Aleksander Benton!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
34%

Main event

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Noah Avery (ranked 6133 p4p, 599 weight class) and Shawn Barnheart (ranked 5718 p4p, 0 weight class). Shawn Barnheart has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Avery
vs
Barnheart

191 cm
20
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

214 cm
23
277 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Determined

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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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Noah Avery!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shawn Barnheart!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Sergei Dronov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Avery stuffs the takedown.
Avery attempts a counter takedown but Barnheart avoids it well and moves away.
Barnheart just misses with a punch to the body.
Avery drops down looking for a counter takedown but Barnheart sprawls and moves away.
Barnheart shoots in for a double leg but Avery sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Barnheart fails with the takedown.
Avery seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Noah Avery has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shawn Barnheart.
Barnheart shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Barnheart shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Avery counters by moving into the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Avery taking a breather.
Barnheart controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnheart is looking to break free of the clinch but Avery has double underhooks.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Avery blocks an uppercut.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Barnheart takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Barnheart throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Barnheart is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Barnheart has had enough of the clinch but Avery keeps him there for the moment.
Barnheart is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Avery effectively controlling the action here.
Avery dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Avery for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Barnheart is trying to force a seperation but Avery has the dominant position.
Barnheart is working for takedown but Avery is calmly controlling the position for now.
Avery slows down the pace here.
Avery misses with a knee strike.
Barnheart wants to get back to striking at distance but Avery won't allow it.
A frustrated look appears on Barnheart's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Barnheart has Avery pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Avery manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Barnheart breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Barnheart looks to land a right hand but Avery moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnheart misses with a hook to the body

and Avery decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Barnheart's guard.
Barnheart throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Barnheart is trying to keep Avery in close.
Barnheart might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Avery haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Avery won't allow Barnheart to sweep him here.
Avery's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Avery wants to pass the guard but Barnheart is keeping the position.

Barnheart working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Avery doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Avery manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Avery sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Shawn Barnheart seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnheart throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Barnheart takes a swing at Avery's ribcage but misses.
Avery avoids the body shot from Barnheart.
Barnheart misses with a hook. Avery ducked under it nicely.
Barnheart fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Avery avoids it really well and circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noah Avery dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Avery slaps away a takedown attempt from Barnheart, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Noah Avery is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Barnheart misses with a series of wild punches.
Barnheart is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Avery rather than just go for the knockout.
Barnheart looks to land a right hand but Avery moved out of range.
Barnheart swings away with a body shot that misses

and Avery counters with a nice double leg into side control. Barnheart won't be happy with that.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnheart regains half guard.
Barnheart punching from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Avery with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Avery continues to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barnheart is looking for a sweep. Avery is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Barnheart is looking to control Avery's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Barnheart avoid being mounted?
Avery content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Avery is trying to control the action in half guard but Barnheart is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Barnheart has his takedown stuffed

and Avery moves into the clinch.
Barnheart is trying to push Avery away but Avery has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Avery misses with an elbow strike.
Barnheart being controlled against the cage.
Avery stops a takedown attempt from Barnheart.
Noah Avery has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Shawn Barnheart.
Barnheart fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Barnheart is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnheart can't get the takedown.
Barnheart drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Barnheart decides to pull guard.
Barnheart is breathing heavily.
Avery slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Avery is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Barnheart can do to turn this around?
Avery controlling the position.
Avery wants to control but Barnheart is keeping him busy.
Avery in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Barnheart gets back to half guard.
Avery with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Avery is keen to just control but Barnheart is a slippery customer.
Avery knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Barnheart on the ground.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barnheart wants to control but Avery is keeping busy.
Barnheart tries to roll over but Avery keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Noah Avery dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Barnheart has his takedown stuffed

and Avery counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Barnheart tries to get to full guard but Avery has control of the leg.
Avery wants to pass to mount but Barnheart is defending the position.
Avery content to control rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Barnheart landing strikes from the bottom.
Barnheart wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avery wants to lay and pray for a moment but Barnheart keeps working.
Avery performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Barnheart tries to get to full guard but Avery has control of the leg.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Barnheart goes for a double leg but Avery avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Avery continues to drive forward.
Avery attempts a counter takedown but Barnheart avoids it well and moves away.
Barnheart just misses with a punch to the body.
Shawn Barnheart has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
Barnheart misses with a hook to the body

and Avery counters with a takedown into side control.
Barnheart is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Avery is looking to take a break and control but Barnheart is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Barnheart is looking for a sweep.
Barnheart is still trying to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barnheart is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Avery trying to control the position but Barnheart is working away.
Barnheart is looking to regain half guard here but Avery keeps moving and retains side control.
Barnheart gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Avery content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Noah Avery overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Avery prevents Barnheart from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Avery in particular looking to stall.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Barnheart throws a jab when Avery was well out of range.
Barnheart pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Barnheart lands a nice looking body shot.
Avery leaves Barnheart with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Avery seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

And that's the end of the fight!
Noah Avery showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Avery, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Noah Avery!
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight for Noah Avery!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Noah Avery!

Noah Avery wins by unanimous decision!
During a confident post fight interview, Noah Avery thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.