PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edi El Mafoodi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benoit comes to the cage accompanied by Whatever - Our Lady Peace. El Mafoodi is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: walk like an egyptian... Edi El Mafoodi is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Benoit
vs
El Mafoodi

180 cm
25
234 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

222 cm
24
265 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

Terror-Trition: Video Proven 155Q for $49 [†CoE†]
Terror-Trition: Video Proven 155Q for $49 [†CoE†]

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chris Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Edi El Mafoodi!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, William Peck and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Benoit shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Benoit sitting and controlling from the half guard.
El Mafoodi pushes Benoit off looking to stand but Benoit dives back in and keeps control.
Benoit looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Benoit looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
El Mafoodi is looking to improve his position.
El Mafoodi is trying to stand.
El Mafoodi is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
El Mafoodi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Benoit trying to control the position from guard on top but El Mafoodi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
El Mafoodi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Benoit is one step ahead there.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

El Mafoodi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Benoit might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
El Mafoodi keeping full guard, as Benoit tries to pass.
El Mafoodi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Benoit is controlling him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benoit is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
El Mafoodi is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Benoit is controlling him.

Benoit gets to his feet - El Mafoodi follows without any prompting.
El Mafoodi tries to close the distance and clinch but Benoit swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
El Mafoodi just misses with a punch to the body.
El Mafoodi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Benoit counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Benoit.
El Mafoodi looks gassed!
Benoit looking to pass the guard.

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 trying to control but El Mafoodi is working from the bottom.
Benoit seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
El Mafoodi keeping moving, preventing Benoit from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benoit thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benoit trying to control but El Mafoodi is working from the bottom.
El Mafoodi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
El Mafoodi swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Benoit.
El Mafoodi tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Benoit counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Benoit advances to half guard.
Benoit is keen to just control but El Mafoodi is a slippery customer.
El Mafoodi tries to kick Benoit off but Benoit keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit tries to pass the half guard into mount. El Mafoodi knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Benoit prevents El Mafoodi from standing back up.

El Mafoodi pushes Benoit off and gets back to his feet.
Benoit tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but El Mafoodi swivels and escapes.
Benoit tries to land a front kick but El Mafoodi steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
El Mafoodi fails with the takedown

and Benoit counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in El Mafoodi's guard now.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
El Mafoodi wants to stand up but Benoit is controlling him.
Benoit is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benoit's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Benoit is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Benoit dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

El Mafoodi tries to clinch up

so Benoit counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Benoit trying to control the position from guard on top but El Mafoodi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

El Mafoodi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Benoit doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Benoit manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Benoit wants to control from the top but El Mafoodi keeps moving.
El Mafoodi is striking but Benoit is not phased and passes to half guard.
Chris Benoit overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Benoit is looking to advance position but El Mafoodi won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit stops El Mafoodi from getting back to his feet.
El Mafoodi is breathing heavily.

Benoit is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so El Mafoodi is just riding it out for now. Benoit eventually gives up the hold.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
El Mafoodi tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Benoit counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Benoit content to stall in guard here.
El Mafoodi wants to stand but Benoit is controlling the position.
Benoit missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Benoit trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Benoit trying to control the position from guard on top but El Mafoodi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit won't allow El Mafoodi to get back to his feet.

El Mafoodi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Benoit can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
El Mafoodi clinches but Benoit breaks the clinch

and Benoit counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
El Mafoodi wants to get back to his feet.
Benoit trying to control from half guard but El Mafoodi is working away.
Benoit thows a huge punch but El Mafoodi dodges it nicely.

Benoit is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and El Mafoodi defends it well.
Benoit is looking to take a break and control but El Mafoodi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
El Mafoodi tries to kick Benoit off but Benoit keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit wants to control but El Mafoodi is keeping him busy.
Benoit stalling.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
El Mafoodi looks to clinch

and Benoit counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Benoit.
El Mafoodi can't keep his opponent in guard - Benoit advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Benoit looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

El Mafoodi is kicking away at Benoit from the bottom - trying to push off and stand up. Benoit grabs hold of a leg and drops back for a hell hook! The two fighters roll across the mat, with El Mafoodi trying to push Benoit off... El Mafoodi taps! He's tapped! This one is all over! A throwback to the old Pancrase there with an infrequently seen submission hold! Nice work.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:51 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Heel Hook). Chris Benoit!