PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Harold Benedez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sauli Niinisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Benedez
vs
Niinisto

179 cm
31
180 lbs
6 - 3 - 1

190 cm
29
178 lbs
15 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

Steel Penn's Laundry 93%

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 6 - 3 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Harold Benedez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sauli Niinisto!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Ivan Kurochkin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A shot to the liver by Niinisto. Beautiful body shot.
Niinisto throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Benedez avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Benedez takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Niinisto has taken the fight to the clinch.
Benedez tries to pull guard but Niinisto holds him up against the cage and eventually Benedez drops back down to his feet.
Niinisto displaying some good clinch control by pressing Benedez up against the cage.

Benedez gets control of Niinisto's arms and successfully pulls guard. Benedez will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Niinisto wants to pass the guard but Benedez is keeping the position.

Benedez working for a triangle but Niinisto defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedez keeping full guard, as Niinisto tries to pass.

Benedez working for submissions but it's allowed Niinisto to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Benedez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Niinisto pulls his head out easily.
Benedez won't allow Niinisto to pass to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedez wants to get back to full guard but Niinisto has passed into side control.
Benedez tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Niinisto wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benedez is letting Niinisto control him for a moment.
Benedez is looking to regain half guard here but Niinisto keeps moving and retains side control.

Niinisto decides to stand back up. Niinisto steps back and let's Benedez get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto misses with an attempted mid kick.
Niinisto fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Benedez checks it well.
Benedez takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Benedez avoids the body shot from Niinisto.
Niinisto throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Benedez shoots for a takedown but Niinisto saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Benedez fails with a takedown attempt.
Niinisto pulls out of a head kick attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benedez tries for a takedown but Niinisto sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harold Benedez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benedez has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Niinisto.
Niinisto fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Benedez has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Niinisto tries to clinch up but Benedez circles away and keeps his distance.
Niinisto connects with an inside leg kick.

Niinisto takes the fight into the clinch.
Benedez tries for a takedown. No joy.
Stalling in the clinch from Niinisto.
Benedez managing to block the knees to the body from Niinisto.
Benedez is looking for a takedown.
Benedez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Niinisto unloads a knee to the mid-section. Benedez lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niinisto.
Benedez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Benedez as Niinisto tries to tie him up.
Niinisto prevents the takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
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!
Benedez is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Niinisto is keeping busy.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Niinisto unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Niinisto using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.
Benedez takes an elbow to the forehead.
A knee to the head by Niinisto.
Niinisto gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Niinisto.
Benedez takes an elbow to the forehead.
Benedez is looking to break free of the clinch but Niinisto has double underhooks.
Niinisto is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Niinisto scores a nice knee to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niinisto.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sauli Niinisto seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Benedez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Niinisto gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Niinisto lands a nice knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Niinisto obliges.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niinisto.
Knees in the clinch landing for Niinisto.
Knees to the body from Niinisto.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Niinisto landing knees to the body.
Niinisto scores with a knee to the head.
Niinisto lands a good knee to the midsection. Benedez won't want to take too many of those.
Niinisto lands a nice knee to the body.
Niinisto unloads a knee to the mid-section. Benedez lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Niinisto's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Knees to the body from Niinisto.
Niinisto lands a damaging elbow.
Nice elbow from Niinisto.
Benedez tries for a takedown but Niinisto manages to get underhooks.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow.
Nice elbow from Niinisto.
Niinisto lands an elbow that stopped Benedez in his tracks for a moment.
Niinisto lands a hook that snaps the head of Benedez backwards.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Niinisto slowing the pace effectively.
Benedez takes an elbow to the forehead.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Benedez takes an elbow to the temple.
Benedez drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Niinisto gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sauli Niinisto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

That kick from Niinisto tenderised Benedez's leg. Benedez is trying to keep his angry face on.
Niinisto lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A solid leg kick lands there for Niinisto.
Niinisto tries to close the distance and clinch but Benedez swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Niinisto connects with a solid leg kick.
Benedez fails with a takedown attempt.
Benedez on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Niinisto. Niinisto obviously looking to wear him down.
Niinisto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedez changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Niinisto tries to avoid it but Benedez manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Niinisto to the ground. Niinisto escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A nice leg kick lands there from Niinisto.

Niinisto clinches with his opponent.
Benedez takes an elbow to the forehead.
Niinisto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Benedez is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Niinisto is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harold Benedez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benedez is trying to pull guard but Niinisto turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Niinisto scores with a knee to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niinisto.
Niinisto stops a takedown attempt from Benedez.
Niinisto lands an elbow just above Benedez 's eye.
Harold Benedez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Niinisto gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Knees to the body from Niinisto.
Benedez is trying to break the clinch but Niinisto has him pressed against the cage.
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!
Benedez takes an elbow to the temple.
Benedez is trying to push Niinisto away but Niinisto has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Niinisto stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Niinisto comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Niinisto lands an elbow that stopped Benedez in his tracks for a moment.
Benedez is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Benedez goes for a takedown in the clinch but Niinisto prevents it.
Niinisto gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Niinisto lands an elbow just above Benedez 's eye.
Benedez wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Niinisto lands an elbow just above Benedez 's eye.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto lands an elbow just above Benedez 's eye.
Benedez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Benedez is looking to take this one to the mat.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niinisto.
Benedez has a couple of punches blocked by Niinisto.
Benedez is trying to break free.
Benedez is looking to take this one to the mat.
Benedez takes an elbow to the temple.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niinisto.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niinisto.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside.
Benedez takes an elbow to the temple.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow.
Niinisto effectively controlling the action here.
Niinisto crunches a lovely knee into Benedez's ribcage.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside.
Niinisto lands an elbow just above Benedez 's eye.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Niinisto is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside that Benedez shrugs off.
Niinisto connects with a nasty looking knee right to Benedez's face.
Benedez is trying to push Niinisto away but Niinisto has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Niinisto prevents the takedown attempt.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Niinisto obliges.
Niinisto lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niinisto.
Knees to the body from Niinisto.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Niinisto.
Nice elbow from Niinisto.
Niinisto creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Benedez's defenses.
Niinisto unloads a knee to the mid-section. Benedez lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Niinisto lands a nice elbow.
Nice elbow from Niinisto.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Niinisto connects with a knee to the head.
Niinisto lands an elbow inside.
Niinisto leaning his opponent against the cage.
Benedez misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Niinisto.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sauli Niinisto comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Niinisto 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sauli Niinisto!
Sauli Niinisto thanked the fans post fight for their support.