PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Damien Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Matsuki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benoit comes to the cage accompanied by Quarashi- Stick em up. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Benoit
vs
Matsuki

190 cm
22
254 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

220 cm
22
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Damien Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Igor Matsuki!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benoit stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Benoit wants it to stay on the feet.
Benoit tries to clinch up but Matsuki circles away and keeps his distance.
Benoit tries to clinch there but Matsuki circles away.
Matsuki shoots for a double leg takedown but Benoit sprawls well. He's pushed Matsuki's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Benoit tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Matsuki displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Benoit.
Benoit tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Matsuki swivels and escapes.
Benoit shoots for a takedown but Matsuki saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Damien Benoit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Matsuki swats away the attempt to clinch by Benoit.
Matsuki shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Benoit but Benoit pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benoit fails with a takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Benoit or perhaps it was just good defense by Matsuki which made him look bad.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Matsuki.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Benoit or perhaps it was just good defense by Matsuki which made him look bad.
Matsuki tries to clinch

and Benoit counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Benoit pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Matsuki is keeping the position for now.
Matsuki is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Benoit drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Benoit jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Benoit is breathing heavily.

Benoit thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Matsuki wants to sweep here but Benoit controlling him for the moment.

Benoit drops back, looking for a kneebar! Matsuki looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Matsuki looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Matsuki!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matsuki is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Benoit will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Matsuki is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Benoit is looking to regain half guard here but Matsuki keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Matsuki sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Benoit is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Matsuki throws a strike aimed at the side of Benoit's head but Benoit avoids it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Matsuki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Benoit is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Matsuki wants to stand but Benoit is controlling his arm.
Benoit is not content to let Matsuki control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Matsuki dives in and grabs Benoit's left leg, looking for a takedown. Benoit pushes down on Matsuki's head and hops out.
Matsuki has a takedown stuffed.
Benoit fails with a takedown attempt.
Benoit shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Matsuki pinned against the cage. Matsuki gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Benoit slaps away a takedown attempt from Matsuki, before circling back to the center of the mat.

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.
Benoit tries for a takedown but Matsuki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Benoit could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Matsuki misses with a takedown attempt

and Benoit moves into the clinch.
Benoit fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Benoit looking to throw knees to the head but Matsuki is blocking nicely.
Matsuki wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Matsuki works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Matsuki drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Benoit pulls Matsuki into guard.

Benoit has his foot on Matsuki's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Matsuki works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Matsuki clinches but Benoit breaks the clinch

and Benoit counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Matsuki drops down looking for an ankle pick but Benoit pulls his leg out and moves away.
Matsuki shoots in but Benoit avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Matsuki moves out of range as Benoit throws a body kick.
Matsuki moves out of range of the leg kick from Benoit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Matsuki misses with a takedown attempt - Benoit sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Damien Benoit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Igor Matsuki.
Benoit fails with an attempt to clinch.
Benoit looks to clinch
and Matsuki counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matsuki looks for a takedown but Benoit sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Matsuki showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Benoit.
Benoit throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Matsuki.
Benoit tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matsuki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Benoit tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Matsuki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
No luck for Benoit with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Benoit has a takedown stuffed.
Matsuki is looking to clinch.
Benoit throws a chopping leg kick but Matsuki manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Matsuki lunges at Benoit with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Benoit's hand.
Matsuki fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Benoit avoids it really well and circles away.
Benoit tries to close the distance and clinch up but Matsuki swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Matsuki moves out of range of the body kick from Benoit.
Matsuki leaves Benoit with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matsuki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Matsuki lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Matsuki.
Matsuki throws out a leg kick but Benoit moves out of range and Matsuki only half commits.
Benoit shoots in for a takedown but Matsuki shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Matsuki misses with a takedown attempt

and Benoit counters with a nice double leg into side control. Matsuki won't be happy with that.

Benoit tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Matsuki pushes Benoit away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Benoit gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Benoit is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Matsuki is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benoit wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Matsuki, who protects the arm well.
Matsuki is looking for a sweep.

Benoit has hold of Matsuki's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Matsuki tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Benoit cranks the arm and Matsuki screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Matsuki, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Damien Benoit!