PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Francesco Benvenuti (ranked 4605 p4p, 6622 weight class) and Ahmed Sheikh (ranked 552 p4p, 676 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Benvenuti
vs
Sheikh

172 cm
25
180
0 - 2 - 0

181 cm
18
180
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Heavy handed

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Francesco Benvenuti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ahmed Sheikh!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, David Hoff and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Sheikh.
Benvenuti moves in looking to clinch but Sheikh pushes him off.

Sheikh closes the distance and clinches.
Benvenuti wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sheikh has him pressed against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sheikh.
Sheikh throws a punch but it's blocked by Benvenuti.
Benvenuti has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Sheikh looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Sheikh stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Benvenuti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sheikh misses with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot in the inside from Sheikh.
Sheikh digs a right hand underneath Benvenuti's ribcage. Benvenuti let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Sheikh throws a head punch that misses.
Sheikh scores with a shoulder strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheikh lands a nice uppercut.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benvenuti.
Benvenuti has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Nice body punch from Sheikh.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sheikh.
Sheikh lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Benvenuti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sheikh working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Benvenuti misses with a hook from the clinch.
Benvenuti blocks an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Sheikh fails to land.
Benvenuti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Sheikh misses with some punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheikh throws a head punch that misses.
Benvenuti using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Sheikh has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Sheikh throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Still in the clinch, Sheikh scores with a nice short uppercut.
Sheikh misses with a hook to the ribs.
Benvenuti blocks an uppercut.
Sheikh cracks Benvenuti with a nice body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sheikh lands a hook that snaps the head of Benvenuti backwards.
A head punch on the inside from Benvenuti fails to land.
Benvenuti swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Sheikh.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sheikh creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Sheikh fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheikh stalling the fight.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sheikh.
Sheikh misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sheikh is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Sheikh misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sheikh blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sheikh stalling in the clinch.
Sheikh leaning against his opponent.
Sheikh continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
A short right from Sheikh.
Sheikh misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A short body shot lands from Sheikh as the two fighters clinch.
Benvenuti throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benvenuti.
Sheikh dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Benvenuti can't break the clinch.
Benvenuti swings wildly with an uppercut but Sheikh uses good head movement to avoid it.
Benvenuti blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Benvenuti misses with some punches.
Sheikh tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sheikh scores with a shot to the side of Benvenuti's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmed Sheikh dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Benvenuti moves out of range of the strikes.
Sheikh throws a body shot but no joy.
Benvenuti tries to close the distance and clinch but Sheikh swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Sheikh pushes Benvenuti up against the cage in a clinch.
Benvenuti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sheikh swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Sheikh in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Benvenuti has a couple of punches blocked by Sheikh.
Sheikh misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sheikh swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Sheikh has Benvenuti pressed against the cage.
Sheikh stalling in the clinch.
The crowd are getting on Sheikh's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sheikh misses with a hook from the clinch.

Benvenuti breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Benvenuti clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheikh misses with a short punch on the inside.
Sheikh is pushing Benvenuti up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Benvenuti blocks an uppercut.
Benvenuti's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benvenuti.
Sheikh fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sheikh stalling.
Sheikh doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sheikh tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benvenuti takes a shot to the head.
Sheikh tries to throw a body punch but Benvenuti avoids it by throwing Sheikh back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheikh dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Sheikh leaning his opponent against the cage.
Ahmed Sheikh seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Sheikh digs a right hand into Benvenuti's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Benvenuti's gas tank.
Sheikh throws a punch but it's blocked by Benvenuti.
Sheikh struggles to land a body shot inside as Benvenuti controls his hands.
Sheikh fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sheikh lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Sheikh working aggressively here.
A nice left hand lands by Sheikh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheikh taking a breather.
Sheikh doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sheikh tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benvenuti blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Benvenuti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Sheikh creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Sheikh lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Sheikh lands a left hand that snaps the head of Benvenuti backwards.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benvenuti wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sheikh has him pressed against the cage.
Sheikh has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Sheikh working aggressively here.
Sheikh lands an uppercut.
Benvenuti being controlled against the cage.
Sheikh pressing his opponent against the cage.
Sheikh stalling.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sheikh misses with some punches.
Sheikh lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Benvenuti backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahmed Sheikh showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Benvenuti's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Benvenuti tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sheikh manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Benvenuti tries to clinch up.
Benvenuti tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sheikh paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Benvenuti steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Sheikh.
Benvenuti tries to clinch but Sheikh is having none of it.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Sheikh tries to keep at a distance but Benvenuti has taken the fight into the clinch.
Sheikh misses with the head strike.
Sheikh stalling.
Sheikh misses with the head strike.
Sheikh is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benvenuti throws a head punch that misses.
Benvenuti throws a punch but it's blocked by Sheikh.
Sheikh working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sheikh lands a left hand.
Sheikh is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Benvenuti blocks an uppercut.
Benvenuti misses with some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sheikh.
Sheikh throws a punch but it's blocked by Benvenuti.
A shot in the inside from Sheikh.
Benvenuti blocks an uppercut.
Sheikh avoiding damage.
Sheikh swings wildly with an uppercut but Benvenuti uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sheikh has a couple of punches blocked by Benvenuti.
Benvenuti misses with a punch on the inside.
Benvenuti misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sheikh can't find room to land a body shot as Benvenuti controls the action.
Sheikh lands with a right to the head.
Sheikh lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Sheikh pushes Benvenuti back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sheikh tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Benvenuti's elbow.
Sheikh swings wildly with an uppercut but Benvenuti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sheikh misses with a shot to the kidneys.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sheikh misses with a hook from the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sheikh.
Sheikh misses with a punch on the inside.
Sheikh misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sheikh misses with the head strike.
Sheikh misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sheikh can't find room to land a body shot as Benvenuti controls the action.
Sheikh misses with the head strike.
Benvenuti blocking some punches.
Sheikh tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sheikh.
Sheikh misses with a hook from the clinch.
Benvenuti takes a shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Benvenuti's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Sheikh taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Sheikh tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benvenuti is trying to break free.
Sheikh tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Benvenuti's elbow.
Sheikh misses with a punch on the inside.
Sheikh leaning his opponent against the cage.
Sheikh throws a punch but it's blocked by Benvenuti.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sheikh lands a left hand.
Francesco Benvenuti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benvenuti swings wildly with an uppercut but Sheikh uses good head movement to avoid it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ahmed Sheikh comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sheikh 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 Michael Johnstone scores the fight 26:30
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 26:30
Judge Peter Branson scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ahmed Sheikh!