PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Doctor Baldacchino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Benoit
vs
Baldacchino

170 cm
20
140 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

169 cm
23
143 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

FNF Energy & Stamina - Sale!
Ruuddawg Clothing Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Benoit!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Doctor Baldacchino!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Hugh Johnson and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benoit lands a nice shot to the body.

Baldacchino darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Baldacchino is looking for a kimura but Benoit is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Baldacchino to get the leverage.
Baldacchino prevents Benoit from improving his position.

Baldacchino is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Baldacchino wants to work for an arm triangle but Benoit is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Baldacchino 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.

Baldacchino is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baldacchino 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.
Benoit wants to get back to full guard.

Baldacchino is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Benoit controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

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.

Baldacchino seems to be looking for submissions.

Baldacchino is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Baldacchino is looking for a kimura here.

Baldacchino is working for a submission of some sort.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baldacchino is trying to work for a kimura but Benoit is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Baldacchino is looking for a kimura but Benoit is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Baldacchino to get the leverage.
Baldacchino is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Benoit reverses the position - he's now on top in Baldacchino's guard.
Benoit is looking to stand up but Baldacchino won't let him.

Baldacchino looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Baldacchino looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Benoit passes into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
A lull in the action here.
Benoit's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Baldacchino looks to move to half guard but instead Benoit has passed into mount! Damn!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benoit controlling his opponent.
Baldacchino is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Doctor Baldacchino will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Benoit avoids a punch combination nicely.
Benoit ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Baldacchino moves away.
A big left from Baldacchino misses.
Baldacchino fails with the takedown.
Benoit lands with a nice body punch.
Baldacchino shoots in but Benoit avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Doctor Baldacchino is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Baldacchino closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Baldacchino is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Benoit still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Benoit has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Benoit just content to control the position.
Baldacchino is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baldacchino tries to buck Benoit off but Benoit is having none of it.
Baldacchino being controlled for a moment.
Baldacchino is trying to improve his position.

Benoit decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Benoit lands a nice looking body shot.
Benoit leaves Baldacchino with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Michael Benoit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Doctor Baldacchino.
Baldacchino fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Benoit digs a good hook to Baldacchino's body.
Baldacchino takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Baldacchino avoids a punch combination nicely.
Benoit misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Baldacchino.
Benoit thuds his right hand into Baldacchino's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baldacchino fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Benoit 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.
Benoit rushes Baldacchino with punches - Baldacchino moves straight backwards instead of circling and gets clipped by the second strike... and the third... and the fourth! Oh, Baldacchino goes down! Benoit follows up with more strikes and the ref steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michael Benoit!
Michael Benoit retains his bantamweight title!