PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mike Donato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harold Benedez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Donato might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Riot Maker - Tech N9ne. Harold Benedez told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Donato
vs
Benedez

183 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
31
180 lbs
6 - 4 - 1

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Donato!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Harold Benedez!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Ivan Kurochkin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Donato misses with a two punch combination.
Donato throws a left and a right that both miss
and Benedez counters with a stiff right hand.
Donato throws a left and a right that both miss

so Benedez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Benedez wants to control from the top but Donato keeps moving.

Benedez drops back looking for a leg! Donato is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Donato manages to kick Benedez off! Benedez jumps back into Donato's guard.
Donato wants to get back to his feet but Benedez is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Benedez thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Donato wants to sweep but no luck.
Benedez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedez throws a big right hand that misses.
Donato preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Benedez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benedez throwing strikes but missing.
Donato trying to keep a closed guard but Benedez is proving a slippery customer.
Benedez working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Benedez pushing down on Donato's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Benedez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Benedez lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benedez is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Donato doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Benedez.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Benedez 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.
Benedez is looking to take a break and control but Donato is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Benedez drops an elbow to the side of Donato's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedez throwing shots but Donato is blocking nicely.
Donato on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Donato tries to get out of the position.
Donato trying to control from the bottom.
Benedez frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Benedez raining down shots from the mount!
The referee warns Donato that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Benedez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Donato is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Donato knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Benedez on the ground.
Benedez wants to control the pace but Donato is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benedez with good strikes from the mount here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benedez loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Donato scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Benedez land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Benedez stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Harold Benedez!