PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sven Ludwig (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roy Benavidez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ludwig
vs
Benavidez

185 cm
20
199 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

180 cm
20
197 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Brawler
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Venom Combat Sports

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sven Ludwig!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Roy Benavidez!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ludwig circles away from the clinch attempt.
Benavidez is looking to clinch but Ludwig is avoiding it.
Ludwig dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Benavidez. That did some damage!
Ludwig swats away the attempt to clinch by Benavidez.
Benavidez walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ludwig.
Benavidez tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ludwig manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ludwig scores with a push kick.
Benavidez takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Ludwig blocks a jab.
Benavidez stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ludwig.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benavidez takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

Benavidez rushes Ludwig and presses him up against the cage.
Benavidez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ludwig is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Ludwig prevents the takedown attempt.
Benavidez has a couple of punches blocked by Ludwig.
Ludwig with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ludwig taking a breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ludwig putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Benavidez in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Ludwig using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Benavidez has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ludwig avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Sven Ludwig has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roy Benavidez.
Benavidez on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Benavidez drops down looking for an ankle pick but Ludwig pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sven Ludwig is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ludwig wants to slow Benavidez down by chopping away at his legs.
Ludwig lands with a thumping leg kick.
A good leg kick by Ludwig.
Benavidez fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ludwig throws a lazy head kick

and Benavidez counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ludwig's coaches at Tosen's Home for Lost Boys have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Benavidez is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Benavidez trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Ludwig manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Benavidez working for a triangle but Ludwig defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benavidez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ludwig sitting in guard here, content to control.

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

Ludwig avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ludwig slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Benavidez working for a triangle but Ludwig defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ludwig slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Benavidez has his foot on Ludwig's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ludwig works his way back into a safe position though.
Ludwig slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Benavidez working for a triangle but Ludwig defends it easily.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Benavidez looking for subs off his back but Ludwig has passed one foot through into half guard.
Benavidez tries to roll over but Ludwig keeps him under control.

Benavidez with the active half guard here but Ludwig passes nicely into side control.
Benavidez is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Ludwig dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Benavidez closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ludwig circles away.
Ludwig quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
A thudding body kick lands there by Ludwig!
Benavidez avoids a kick to the body.
Ludwig keeps Benavidez at a distance using the push kick.

Ludwig lands a big head kick that sends Benavidez tumbling to the mat! Ludwig takes a step backwards and waves Benavidez back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Benavidez is rocked!

It looks like Roy Benavidez has been cut.
Ludwig throws a front kick that sends Benavidez stumbling back into the cage.
Benavidez is still on wobbly legs! Can Ludwig finish him?
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 tries to clinch but Ludwig is having none of it.
Ludwig throws a quick counter kick to the body but Benavidez avoids it.
Ludwig lands with a kick to the ribs.
Benavidez seems to have recovered his senses.
A nice inside leg kick there by Ludwig. That's going to slow Benavidez down.
Ludwig turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Benavidez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Benavidez tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Benavidez closes the distance and clinches.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ludwig creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Benavidez misses with some punches.
Ludwig working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ludwig tries a knee to the head but Benavidez blocks it.
Benavidez being controlled against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benavidez swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ludwig throws a head punch that misses.
Ludwig lands with a right to the head.
Ludwig tries to land knees in the clinch but Benavidez avoids the damage to the body.
Benavidez is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ludwig misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ludwig effectively controlling the action here.
Ludwig is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Benavidez has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ludwig after a bit of a struggle.
Sven Ludwig has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roy Benavidez.
Benavidez can't get the takedown.
Ludwig gets underhooks to prevent Benavidez's takedown attempt.
Benavidez is breathing heavily.
Ludwig lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ludwig tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Benavidez avoids it.

Ludwig breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ludwig connects with a solid leg kick.
Benavidez's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Ludwig looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Benavidez misses with a straight right.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ludwig.
Benavidez chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ludwig can pounce on him.
Ludwig is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Benavidez can do to turn this around?
A good leg kick by Ludwig.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ludwig uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Benavidez.
Ludwig plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Ludwig fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Benavidez checks it well.
Benavidez takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Benavidez throws an overhand right that lands on Ludwig's shoulder, as Ludwig tries to avoid the shot.

Ludwig tries to sprawl but Benavidez drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Benavidez 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.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benavidez is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Benavidez is pressing down on Ludwig's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ludwig is holding on for now.
Ludwig trying to control here.
Benavidez wants to pass the guard but Ludwig is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Benavidez is looking for a kimura but Ludwig is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Benavidez to get the leverage.
Benavidez works his foot free and advances to mount.
Ludwig is controlling an arm, preventing Benavidez from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.

Benavidez has hold of Ludwig's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Ludwig manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Ludwig keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ludwig 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sven Ludwig dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Roy Benavidez's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A chopping leg kick lands by Ludwig.

Benavidez clinches up against the cage.
Benavidez wants a takedown but no success here.
Benavidez blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Benavidez is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ludwig gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Ludwig'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.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benavidez.
Ludwig is pressed up against the cage. Benavidez has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Ludwig down to the mat. Ludwig avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Sven Ludwig has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Roy Benavidez.
A good leg kick by Ludwig.
Ludwig looks for the body kick but Benavidez saw that one coming.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Benavidez moves into the clinch.
Benavidez has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Ludwig is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Benavidez working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Benavidez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Benavidez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ludwig with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Ludwig tries a knee to the head but Benavidez blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ludwig looking to throw knees to the head but Benavidez is blocking nicely.
Ludwig landing knees to the body.
Sven Ludwig has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ludwig landing knees to the head.
Ludwig stalling the fight.
Ludwig tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Benavidez tries to pull guard but Ludwig won't allow it.

Ludwig manages to break the clinch.
Ludwig moves out of range of the strikes.
Benavidez has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Ludwig goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Benavidez moves out of range of the body kick.
Ludwig avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ludwig thinks about countering with a body kick.
Benavidez sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Benavidez moves out of range as Ludwig throws a body kick.
Ludwig throws a half hearted mid kick.
Ludwig tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Benavidez feints the counter takedown.
Benavidez wants to clinch up but Ludwig keeps it at a distance.
And Ludwig counters with a quick kick to the body but Benavidez blocks it.
Roy Benavidez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ludwig lands a nice leg kick that just misses Benavidez's sensitive parts.
Ludwig throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sven Ludwig is winning the standup battle so far.
Ludwig fakes the leg kick and cracks Benavidez in the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ludwig misses with a body kick.
Ludwig lands a nice looking kick to the body. Benavidez takes a step back to recover.
Ludwig connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Benavidez gets a takedown into half guard.
Benavidez working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Ludwig's thigh. Ludwig counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Ludwig keeping full guard, as Benavidez tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez is pushing down on Ludwig's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ludwig is fighting to maintain full guard but Benavidez has managed to sneak the leg through.
Benavidez wants to pass to mount but Ludwig is defending the position.

Benavidez is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ludwig defends it well.
Benavidez frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ludwig prevents Benavidez from taking his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benavidez moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Ludwig has worked his arm free - good work by Ludwig!

Benavidez goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Ludwig rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Benavidez's guard! Nice work there by Ludwig!

Benavidez looking for subs off his back but Ludwig has passed one foot through into half guard.

Benavidez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Benavidez actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sven Ludwig showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ludwig, 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sven Ludwig!
Sven Ludwig decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.