PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jesus Christ (ranked 5033 p4p, 4789 weight class) and Ricardo Benavidez (ranked 433 p4p, 422 weight class). Benavidez has chosen Butterfly as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Christ
vs
Benavidez

173 cm
19
142
0 - 1 - 0

172 cm
20
150
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jesus Christ!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ricardo Benavidez!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Tiny Johnson and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Benavidez closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Christ stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Benavidez is pushing Christ up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Benavidez is trying to break the clinch but Christ has him pressed against the cage.
Benavidez drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The referee is keeping an eye on Benavidez - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benavidez misses with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Benavidez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Benavidez takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Christ taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Benavidez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Christ taking a breather.
Christ manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Christ leaning his opponent against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Christ keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Benavidez's efforts to push away.
Christ trying to control the position but instead, Benavidez has worked for underhooks and has pushed Christ into the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Jesus Christ.
Christ lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Benavidez shoots in and drives through. Christ sprawls well.
A little feinted left hand from Christ on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Some wild striking there from Benavidez.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Christ gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Ricardo Benavidez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Christ avoids the head kick by Benavidez.
Benavidez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Christ is fending him off so far but Benavidez persists. Nope, Christ circles away and we're back to standing.
Jesus Christ has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Benavidez.

Benavidez darts in and clinches Christ up against the cage.
Benavidez tries to break free but Christ pushes him back against the cage.
Benavidez is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Benavidez misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Christ swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez tries to circle away but Christ has him pinned against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Benavidez.
Christ is struggling to control the position.
I was talking to Christ's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Benavidez is trying to push Christ away but Christ has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Benavidez stalls.
Christ effectively controlling the action here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Benavidez tries to land knees in the clinch but Christ avoids the damage to the body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ricardo Benavidez dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Christ throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Benavidez was covering up waiting for the punch and Christ finishes the takedown easily into guard.
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.
Benavidez thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Benavidez throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Benavidez is pulling down on Christ's head. It's preventing any offense from Christ, at least for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benavidez throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Benavidez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Christ not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benavidez wants to sweep here but Christ controlling him for the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Christ throws a body shot but no joy.
Benavidez looks for a takedown but Christ sprawls well.

Christ instigates a clinch.
Benavidez fails to pull the fight into his guard.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Christ takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Benavidez misses with the head strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Christ is stalling here.
Christ is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Benavidez to keep the fight standing.

Christ jumps guard and drags Benavidez to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Benavidez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Benavidez wants to pass the guard but Christ is keeping the position.
Christ preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benavidez trying to control but Christ is working from the bottom.
Benavidez won't allow Christ to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Christ working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Benavidez doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Benavidez manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Benavidez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Benavidez loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Christ looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Benavidez content to stall in guard here.

Christ is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Benavidez chips away with some ground and pound.
Benavidez engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Benavidez missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Benavidez preventing the sweep.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Christ moves into the clinch.
Benavidez lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Christ is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jesus Christ dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Christ misses with a hook
and Benavidez counters with a stiff right hand.
Christ shoots and misses
and Benavidez counters with a nice uppercut.
No joy there for Benavidez, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Benavidez is trying hard to land a takedown here. Christ sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Benavidez fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Jesus Christ is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Christ tries to clinch but Benavidez moves out of range.
Benavidez tries for a takedown but Christ sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Benavidez clinches with his opponent.
Christ is stalling here.
Ricardo Benavidez seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Christ tries to stall but Benavidez uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benavidez has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Benavidez tries to pull guard but Christ won't allow it.
Jesus Christ has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ricardo Benavidez.
Christ has Benavidez pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Benavidez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

Benavidez manages to pull guard.
Benavidez is trying to control the position but Christ postures up.
Christ trying to control but Benavidez is working from the bottom.
Christ postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Benavidez is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Christ trying to control but Benavidez is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Christ throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Benavidez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Christ wants to control from the top but Benavidez keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Benavidez doesn't manage to clinch there - Christ circles away.
Christ swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Christ doesn't manage to clinch there - Benavidez circles away.
Benavidez fails with a takedown attempt.
Christ throwing a counter right hand but Benavidez manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Christ is fending him off so far but Benavidez persists. Nope, Christ circles away and we're back to standing.
Benavidez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Benavidez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Christ checks the leg kick.
Benavidez shoots and misses
and Christ counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Christ slaps away a takedown attempt from Benavidez, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Christ bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Christ slows the pace down.
Benavidez takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.

Christ tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Benavidez really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Christ. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Christ thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Benavidez prevents Christ from moving into mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jesus Christ.
I think Christ has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge George Francis scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jesus Christ!