PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ryan Benoit (ranked 4507 p4p, 218 weight class) and James Jakovik (ranked 8907 p4p, 321 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Benoit
vs
Jakovik

162 cm
18
135 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

164 cm
18
141 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Benoit!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Jakovik!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Ivan Kurochkin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Jakovik closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Jakovik.
Jakovik lands a right hand that snaps the head of Benoit backwards.
Jakovik pushes Benoit back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jakovik is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Jakovik's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Benoit gets tackled into the cage by Jakovik. Jakovik maintains the clinch.
We've been hearing reports that Benoit has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Jakovik lands a nice uppercut.

Jakovik breaks from the clinch.
Benoit takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Jakovik throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benoit wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Benoit instigates a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benoit looking to slow down the pace here.
Benoit tries a body shot but Jakovik blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit trying to control the position but instead, Jakovik has worked for underhooks and has pushed Benoit into the cage.
Jakovik comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Jakovik effectively controlling the action here.
Jakovik wants to break free but Benoit has control.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Jakovik creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Jakovik taking a breather.
Jakovik gets underhooks to prevent Benoit's takedown attempt.
Jakovik lands an elbow that stopped Benoit in his tracks for a moment.
Jakovik scores with a hook to the body.
Jakovik stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jakovik looking to stall.
Jakovik taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Jakovik.
Jakovik gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Jakovik utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
A short left from Jakovik.
Jakovik has Benoit pressed against the cage.
Jakovik taking a breather.
The crowd are getting on Jakovik's back here. They're not happy about his lack of aggression in the clinch.
Jakovik stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by James Jakovik.
Jakovik lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Jakovik is looking to slow Benoit down with leg kicks.
Benoit gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Benoit shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Jakovik defends it nicely.

Jakovik fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Benoit, pushing him back against the cage.
Jakovik is trying to stall.
Jakovik lands an elbow inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jakovik leaning his opponent against the cage.
Jakovik prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Benoit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jakovik lands a hook to the side of the head.
Jakovik is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Benoit is keeping busy.
Jakovik is trying to maintain a safe position but Benoit gets an underhook and turns Jakovik into the cage.
A short uppercut from Jakovik.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Jakovik lands a body shot in the clinch.
Benoit is trying to drag Jakovik to the mat but Jakovik just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Jakovik lands a body punch in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Jakovik dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Benoit gets tackled into the cage by Jakovik. Jakovik maintains the clinch.
Jakovik lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Benoit or not.
The referee calls for Jakovik to work.
James Jakovik seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Benoit wants to break the clinch but can't.
Jakovik prevents a takedown attempt there.
Nice body punch from Jakovik.
Jakovik lands a body punch.
Jakovik working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jakovik wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Jakovik lands a left hand.
Benoit is looking for a takedown.
Jakovik lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit being controlled against the cage.
Jakovik is trying to maintain a safe position but Benoit gets an underhook and turns Jakovik into the cage.
Nice elbow from Jakovik.
Jakovik lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Jakovik lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Benoit.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Benoit wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ryan Benoit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stalling in the clinch from Jakovik.
Jakovik pushes Benoit back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jakovik with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Benoit is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Jakovik gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Jakovik trying to control the position but instead, Benoit has worked for underhooks and has pushed Jakovik into the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by James Jakovik.
Benoit takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Jakovik rushes Benoit and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Jakovik breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jakovik moves into the clinch.
Jakovik gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Jakovik just leaning against Benoit, taking a breather.

Jakovik breaks the clinch.

Jakovik rushes Benoit and presses him up against the cage.
Benoit drops down looking for an ankle pick but Jakovik pulls his leg out and moves away.
Benoit moves out of range of the body kick.

Jakovik has closed the distance and engaged Benoit in a clinch.
Jakovik is trying to stall.
Jakovik creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Benoit's defenses.
Jakovik wants to break the clinch but can't.
Benoit can't get the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for Jakovik.
Jakovik works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Jakovik working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A hook to the body from Jakovik.
Jakovik stalling in the clinch but Benoit improves position.

Jakovik's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
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!

Benoit shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Benoit was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Jakovik tries to buck Benoit off but Benoit is having none of it.
Benoit tries to move to mount but Jakovik blocks the move with his legs.
We've been informed that Jakovik has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jakovik seems a little lost for a moment, as Benoit dominates the positioning.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Jakovik showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Jakovik changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A left and a right from Jakovik both land. Nice combination.

Jakovik moves into the clinch.
Jakovik pressing his opponent against the cage.
Jakovik lands a body shot in the clinch.

Jakovik escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jakovik lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jakovik lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Benoit at a distance.
James Jakovik seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Jakovik forces Benoit back against the cage and clinches.
Benoit tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
A short left from Jakovik.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jakovik lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Jakovik lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Benoit.
Jakovik looking to slow down the pace here.
Knees to the body from Jakovik.
Jakovik controlling the action here for a moment.
Jakovik lands with a light punch inside.
Benoit is working for takedown but Jakovik is calmly controlling the position for now.
Benoit takes an elbow to the temple.

Jakovik breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jakovik moves into range and clinches up with Benoit.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Jakovik turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Jakovik manages to end up in side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benoit sneaks back into half guard.

Benoit is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Jakovik pulls his head out easily.
Benoit won't allow Jakovik to pass to mount.
Benoit makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Benoit.
Jakovik stays in close to Benoit's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jakovik throws a strike but Benoit rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Jakovik will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Benoit trying to control but Jakovik is working from the bottom.
Benoit is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benoit trying to move into half guard but instead Jakovik has managed to sweep!

Jakovik trying to control but Benoit is working from the bottom.
Jakovik being controlled here momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jakovik stands up from guard. Let's bang!
James Jakovik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Benoit scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Jakovik is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Benoit's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Benoit's back!

Benoit is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Jakovik gets his way!
Benoit trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
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!
Benoit is really stuck here.
Ryan Benoit has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
James Jakovik is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Benoit looking very determined here, making life difficult for Jakovik.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Jakovik comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Jakovik 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 25:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Jakovik!
James Jakovik is the new bantamweight champion!