PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Andrew Benavidez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fernando Fuentes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Fernando Fuentes enters the cage!

Benavidez
vs
Fuentes

170 cm
29
151 lbs
4 - 8 - 0

178 cm
19
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrew Benavidez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Fernando Fuentes!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Benavidez gets caught flat footed, as Fuentes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Fuentes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benavidez is keeping the position for now.
Fuentes is pushing down on Benavidez's leg trying to pass to half guard. Benavidez is fighting to maintain full guard but Fuentes has managed to sneak the leg through.
Benavidez is trying to stand back up but Fuentes is controlling him
Fuentes missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Fuentes is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Benavidez doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Fuentes.
Fuentes trying to pass the guard but Benavidez defending well.
Fuentes is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Benavidez!
Fuentes content just to control the position here.
Benavidez tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuentes controlling from mount.
Fuentes throws some wild stikes that Benavidez manages to avoid easily.
Benavidez wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Fuentes.
Fuentes looking to control but Benavidez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Fuentes has hold of Benavidez's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Benavidez manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Fuentes goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Benavidez turns into him and now he's in Fuentes's guard.

Fuentes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Benavidez defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Fuentes is looking for a triangle here but Benavidez uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fuentes is looking to regain half guard here but Benavidez keeps moving and retains side control.
Fuentes gets back to half guard.

Fuentes looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benavidez wants to take a breather but Fuentes is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuentes trying to hold on to Benavidez's head to control him but Benavidez postures up.
Benavidez trying to control from half guard but Fuentes is working away.
Fuentes is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Fuentes is controlling Benavidez's trapped leg to prevent Benavidez from advancing to side control.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Andrew Benavidez just wasn't active enough.
Fuentes misses with a jab to the body
and Benavidez counters with an outside leg kick.
Benavidez misses with a leg kick.
Fuentes rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Benavidez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fuentes has Benavidez pressed against the cage, preventing Benavidez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Benavidez has Fuentes pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Benavidez pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Fuentes tumbling to the mat - Benavidez dives into Fuentes's guard.
Fuentes is trying to keep Benavidez in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fuentes looking for a sweep. Not yet Fuentes, not yet.

Benavidez got a little sloppy there for a moment and Fuentes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Benavidez has managed to get both his arms back between Fuentes's legs - danger averted.
Fuentes keeping moving, preventing Benavidez from controlling successfully.

Fuentes throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Benavidez looking to pass the guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fuentes striking off his back but it's not causing Benavidez any problems.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fernando Fuentes dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Fuentes misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Benavidez counters with a slapping leg kick.
Fuentes misses with a right hand
and Benavidez counters with a slapping leg kick.
Fuentes misses with a right hand

and Benavidez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Fuentes stalls.
Fuentes misses with a short punch on the inside.

Fuentes jumps guard.
Fernando Fuentes has got the better of the ground game so far.
Benavidez lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Fuentes looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Benavidez passes into side control.
Benavidez postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Benavidez tries to advance to mount but can't.

Benavidez looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fuentes regains half guard.

Fuentes actively working from the bottom here.

Fuentes looking for subs from the bottom but Benavidez mounts him!
Fuentes is trying to escape the mount.
Fuentes slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Benavidez not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Fuentes looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Fuentes looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Benavidez pushes past his half guard into mount!
Fuentes is breathing heavily.
Fuentes tries to hold on but Benavidez pushes him away.
Fuentes is squirming around, avoiding Benavidez's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez avoids the attempt from Fuentes to control.
Benavidez can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Fuentes is looking to escape.
Fuentes holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Benavidez tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
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!
Benavidez wants to take Fuentes's back here but Fuentes is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Fuentes wants to hold on but Benavidez pushes him away.
Benavidez looking to finish with strikes here!
Fuentes is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Benavidez misses with a head shot.
Fuentes tries to reverse the position but Benavidez maintains control.
Fuentes is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Fuentes sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Fuentes works his way to full guard. Good work.
Benavidez throws a big elbow that misses.

Fuentes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Benavidez defends well.
Fuentes thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Fuentes escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Benavidez gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fuentes working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Benavidez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Benavidez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Benavidez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Fuentes is trying to keep Benavidez in close.
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!

Benavidez avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Benavidez trying to control but Fuentes is working from the bottom.
Fuentes will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benavidez trying to control the position from guard on top but Fuentes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Fuentes looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Benavidez passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Fernando Fuentes will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Fuentes throws a poor cross that misses
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Fuentes rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Benavidez counters with a slapping leg kick.
Fuentes just misses with a punch to the body.
Benavidez misses with a low kick.
Fuentes throws a combination that misses
and Benavidez counters with a leg kick.
Fuentes throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fuentes swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Benavidez counters with an inside leg kick.

Benavidez instigates a clinch.

Fuentes breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Fuentes misses with a body shot
and Benavidez counters with an outside leg kick.
Fuentes fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fuentes throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Benavidez counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Benavidez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benavidez wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Fuentes has him pressed against the cage.
Fuentes takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Benavidez is trying to push Fuentes away but Fuentes has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Fuentes misses with a punch to the body.
Benavidez prevents a body shot from Fuentes.
Fuentes tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Fuentes can't find room to land a body shot as Benavidez controls the action.

Benavidez lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Benavidez tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Fuentes.
Benavidez is trying to control the action in half guard but Fuentes is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Fuentes wants to control but Benavidez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Benavidez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Benavidez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Benavidez trying to control from half guard but Fuentes is working away.

Fuentes looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez is looking to advance position but Fuentes won't allow it.

Benavidez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Fuentes looking for submissions off his back.
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!
Fuentes is pressing down on Benavidez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Benavidez preventing the sweep.
Benavidez wants to control from the top but Fuentes keeps moving.
Fuentes wants to sweep here but Benavidez controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fuentes keeping moving, preventing Benavidez from controlling successfully.

Fuentes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Benavidez defends it easily.
Benavidez trying to stand up but can't free himself from Fuentes's guard.
Benavidez tries to free his leg and advance position but Fuentes is retaining full guard.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez trying to control the position from guard on top but Fuentes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Fuentes is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Fuentes working for submissions but it's allowed Benavidez to get to half guard.
Fuentes tries to get to full guard but Benavidez has control of the leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benavidez trying to control the action but Fuentes is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Andrew Benavidez.
I think Fuentes has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fernando Fuentes!