PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Per Saukkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Bennett
vs
Saukkonen

180 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
21
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Hell's Balls Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kenny Bennett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Per Saukkonen!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bennett is looking to clinch but Saukkonen is avoiding it.
Saukkonen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Bennett pinned against the cage. Bennett gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Bennett lands a right hook to the body.
Saukkonen dodges the punch combination from Bennett.
Bennett checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Nice takedown defense from Bennett. No joy for Saukkonen on that attempt.
Bennett misses with a jab, cross combination.

Bennett has taken the fight to the clinch.
Saukkonen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Saukkonen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bennett pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kenny Bennett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Per Saukkonen.
Bennett gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Saukkonen.
Saukkonen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bennett gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Saukkonen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bennett with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Bennett looking to throw knees to the head but Saukkonen is blocking nicely.
Bennett pressing his opponent against the cage.
Bennett misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saukkonen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Bennett pulls his leg out and moves away.
Bennett cracks Saukkonen with a right hand to the side of the head.
Saukkonen looks gassed!
Bennett displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

Bennett moves into the clinch.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Bennett takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Saukkonen has had enough of the clinch but Bennett keeps him there for the moment.
Bennett with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

Saukkonen turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!

Saukkonen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Bennett, who protects the arm well.
Bennett is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Saukkonen is controlling him well.

Bennett bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Saukkonen on the wrong end of a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bennett wants to clinch up but Saukkonen keeps it at a distance.

Bennett closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bennett tries to land a knee to the head but Saukkonen blocks with his arms.
Bennett throws a knee to the head but misses.
Bennett tries to land a knee to the head but Saukkonen blocks with his arms.
A knee to the head by Bennett.
Bennett with a knee to the head.
Bennett with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Bennett with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Saukkonen wants a takedown.
Bennett landing knees to the head.
Bennett lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Bennett lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Bennett throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saukkonen blocks it with crossed arms.
Bennett throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saukkonen blocks it with crossed arms.
Bennett misses with a knee to the head.
Bennett prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bennett stops a takedown attempt from Saukkonen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saukkonen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bennett just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bennett looking to throw knees to the head but Saukkonen is blocking nicely.
Bennett misses with a knee strike.
Saukkonen tries for a takedown but Bennett manages to get underhooks.
Saukkonen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bennett is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Saukkonen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Bennett connects with a knee to the head.
Saukkonen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Bennett just stands there and leans against the cage.
Saukkonen misses with the head strike.
Bennett displaying some good clinch control by pressing Saukkonen up against the cage.
Saukkonen wants a takedown.

Bennett pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Saukkonen tries to close the distance and clinch but Bennett swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Saukkonen tries for a takedown but Bennett sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Bennett throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Saukkonen throws a jab when Bennett was well out of range.
Bennett lands with a straight right. Saukkonen didn't see that one coming.
Bennett lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
A jab lands there for Bennett.
Bennett wants to clinch up but Saukkonen keeps it at a distance.
Saukkonen shoots in but no luck this time.
Bennett looks to land a combination but Saukkonen avoids it well.
Bennett tries to clinch up but Saukkonen circles away and keeps his distance.
Bennett throws a right hand that Saukkonen ducks under and follows up with a left that Saukkonen also avoids with ease.
Bennett misses with a two punch combination.
Saukkonen fails with the takedown.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bennett lands with a straight right. Saukkonen didn't see that one coming.
Saukkonen dodges the punch combination from Bennett.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Bennett dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Saukkonen shoots for a takedown but Bennett saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Saukkonen takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Bennett misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bennett misses with a series of wild punches.
Bennett fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
A combination from Bennett does no damage.
Saukkonen ducks under a wild hook from Bennett.
Bennett just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saukkonen looks for a takedown but Bennett sprawls well.
Saukkonen misses with the combination.
Saukkonen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kenny Bennett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Per Saukkonen.
Saukkonen is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett lands a really nice looking cross but Saukkonen seems unphased.
Bennett throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Bennett throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Nice shot by Bennett.
Kenny Bennett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bennett lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Bennett.
Saukkonen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bennett displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Bennett swinging wilding here.
Saukkonen dodges the punch combination from Bennett.
Bennett is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Bennett works Saukkonen's body with a nice hook.
Bennett looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Horrible takedown by Saukkonen or perhaps it was just good defense by Bennett which made him look bad.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett misses with a double jab.
Bennett works the jab nicely.
Bennett connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Bennett rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Saukkonen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Bennett looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Bennett stuns Saukkonen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Bennett rushes Saukkonen and presses him up against the cage.
Bennett throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saukkonen blocks it with crossed arms.

Saukkonen pulls guard.
Bennett has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Saukkonen trying to keep a closed guard but Bennett is proving a slippery customer.

Saukkonen has his foot on Bennett's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Bennett works his way back into a safe position though.
Saukkonen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Bennett stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saukkonen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bennett.
Saukkonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Saukkonen shoots in but no luck this time.

Bennett closes the distance and clinches.
Bennett effectively controlling the action here.
Bennett throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saukkonen blocks it with crossed arms.
Bennett with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Bennett gets underhooks to prevent Saukkonen's takedown attempt.
Saukkonen can't break the clinch.
Saukkonen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Bennett pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Bennett tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bennett lands a knee to the head.
Saukkonen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Bennetts head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bennett using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Saukkonen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Saukkonen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Bennett smiles and moves away.
Saukkonen fails with the takedown.
Bennett connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Bennett tries to clinch but Saukkonen is having none of it.
Bennett throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Saukkonen counters with a single leg into guard. Bennett didn't expect that.
Bennett wants to stand but Saukkonen is controlling the position.
Saukkonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Bennett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saukkonen prevents Bennett from getting back to his feet.

Saukkonen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bennett, up you get!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Bennett dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Saukkonen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Bennett wants to get back to his feet.
Saukkonen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bennett keeps working.
Saukkonen prevents Bennett from standing back up.

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

Saukkonen is working for a submission of some sort.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saukkonen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bennett somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Bennett misses with a few strikes there.
Saukkonen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bennett as he avoids it easily.
Kenny Bennett is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bennett takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Saukkonen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Bennett swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Saukkonen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A right-left combo lands from Bennett.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bennett looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Saukkonen shoots in for a double leg but Bennett sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kenny Bennett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Per Saukkonen.
Bennett tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Saukkonen fails to land the takedown.
Saukkonen shoots in for a takedown but Bennett shows good takedown defense.
Saukkonen misses with a takedown attempt - Bennett sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bennett punishes Saukkonen's body with a nice straight punch.

Bennett fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Saukkonen, pushing him back against the cage.
Bennett tries to land a knee to the head but Saukkonen blocks with his arms.
Bennett prevents the takedown attempt.

Bennett pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Some wild striking there from Bennett.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saukkonen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bennett as he avoids it easily.
Bennett stuffs the takedown attempt from Saukkonen. Saukkonen gets slowly back to his feet.
Saukkonen gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Bennett avoids a punch combination nicely.
Saukkonen has a takedown stuffed.
Saukkonen takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Bennett connects with the punch.
Kenny Bennett is winning the standup battle so far.

Bennett closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Bennett has Saukkonen pressed against the cage.
Bennett with a knee to the head.
Saukkonen has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saukkonen tries to break the clinch but Bennett is controlling the position.
Bennett misses with a knee strike.
Bennett tries a knee to the head but Saukkonen blocks it.
Bennett trying to stall but Saukkonen improves his position.
Saukkonen tries to pull guard but Bennett won't allow it.
Bennett prevents a takedown attempt there.
Bennett throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Saukkonen blocks it with crossed arms.
Saukkonen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Bennett gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Bennett breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bennett throws a jab when Saukkonen was well out of range.
Saukkonen fails with the takedown.
Saukkonen on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Per Saukkonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kenny Bennett is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bennett is looking to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenny Bennett showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bennett, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenny Bennett!