PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Renji Abarai (ranked 556 p4p, 1378 weight class) and Rafael Benedetti (ranked 60 p4p, 147 weight class). Rafael Benedetti acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Abarai
vs
Benedetti

175 cm
22
150
6 - 1 - 0

175 cm
22
155
6 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Hardcore Alchemy
HARDCORE Threads

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Renji Abarai!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rafael Benedetti!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Stewart Dunkirk and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benedetti keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Abarai.
Rafael Benedetti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Abarai moves out of range of the body kick from Benedetti.
Abarai was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Benedetti fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Abarai checks it well.
Abarai is looking to counter punch.
Abarai tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Benedetti manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Good standup being displayed there by Benedetti as he connects with a hook.
Benedetti rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
letting Abarai counter with a right hand.
Nice shot lands for Benedetti.
Benedetti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Abarai blocks a jab.
Benedetti throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as Abarai blocks the leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benedetti scores with a jab.
Benedetti tests Abarai's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Benedetti throws a wild body kick that Abarai sees coming a mile off.
Abarai will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benedetti connects with a crisp jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A swing and a miss from Benedetti.
Abarai appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Nice body kick there by Benedetti.
Benedetti misses with a body kick.
Abarai was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Benedetti misses with a lunging right hand
and Abarai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A nice leg kick lands there from Benedetti.
Abarai throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Abarai pushes Benedetti up against the cage in a clinch.
Abarai blocking some punches.
Benedetti swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Still in the clinch, Benedetti scores with a nice short uppercut.
Abarai blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Abarai has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Benedetti breaks the clinch.
Benedetti does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A head kick misses from Benedetti.
Benedetti has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt 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!
Benedetti just misses with a punch to the body.
It looked like Abarai was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Benedetti.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abarai is looking to clinch but Benedetti is avoiding it.
Crunch! Benedetti slams his shin into Abarai's torso.
Benedetti misses the jab.
Benedetti lands with an uppercut that bounces Abarai off the cage and back into range.
Benedetti lands a leg kick that knocks Abarai off balance momentarily.

Abarai darts in and clinches Benedetti up against the cage.
Abarai lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Abarai tries a body shot but Benedetti blocks it.
Benedetti swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Abarai.
The referee calls for Benedetti to work.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Abarai creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Benedetti throws a punch but it's blocked by Abarai.
Abarai misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Benedetti fails to land.
Abarai misses with a body punch.
Benedetti swings wildly with an uppercut but Abarai uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Benedetti wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Abarai has him pressed against the cage.
Abarai misses with a hook from the clinch.
Benedetti is looking to break free of the clinch but Abarai has double underhooks.
Abarai goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Abarai misses with a punch to the body.
Benedetti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Abarai stalling against the cage.
Abarai throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Benedettis head.
Abarai tries a body shot but Benedetti blocks it.

Benedetti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Benedetti scores with a jab.
Benedetti will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Abarai lands with a shot to the body.
Abarai lands a right hook to the body.
Benedetti throws a low kick but Abarai moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti digs a good body shot into Abarai's ribs.
Benedetti misses with a leg kick.
Abarai swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Abarai throws a big shot that misses.
Benedetti uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Abarai.
Benedetti thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Abarai if he has to take too many more of those.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Abarai moves out of range as Benedetti throws a body kick.
Benedetti throws out a powerful jab.
Abarai fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Benedetti looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Abarai keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Benedetti.
Abarai avoids a punch combination nicely.
Abarai staying out of range there.
Benedetti swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Abarai counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Benedetti fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Abarai misses the jab.
Benedetti appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Benedetti throws out a loose jab but Abarai uses good head movement to avoid it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Benedetti dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Abarai tries to clinch up.
Sloppy strikes from Abarai. Those never looked like landing.
Benedetti uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Abarai.
Benedetti chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Benedetti throws a jab when Abarai was well out of range.
Abarai swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Benedetti lands with a nice body punch.
Benedetti scores with a hook.
Abarai takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Abarai thows a left - swing and a miss!
A swing and a miss from Benedetti.
Abarai connects with a nice looking jab.
Benedetti buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Abarai throws a jab but it's blocked by Benedetti.

Abarai takes the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benedetti displaying some good clinch control by pressing Abarai up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abarai misses with a body punch.
A head punch on the inside from Benedetti fails to land.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benedetti.
Abarai pushes Benedetti back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Abarai misses with the head strike.
A short right from Benedetti.
Abarai misses with a hook from the clinch.
Abarai lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Abarai keeps control of Benedetti as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Benedetti scores with a nice hook to the head.
Benedetti fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Abarai digs a right hand into Benedetti's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Benedetti's gas tank.
Benedetti lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Abarai backwards.
Abarai blocks an uppercut.
Benedetti working aggressively here.

Benedetti manages to break the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Abarai.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti lands a glancing blow to the side of Abarai's head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benedetti misses with a looping right.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Benedetti misses the body punch
letting Abarai counter with a right hand.
A nice leg kick lands there from Benedetti.
Abarai avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Abarai moves out of range of the strikes.
Benedetti has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Rafael Benedetti has been cut.
Benedetti defending well as Abarai loads up on a big left hand.
Abarai throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Abarai throws a looping overhand right but Benedetti ducks down to avoid it.
Abarai jabs at Benedetti's body.
Benedetti with a nice calf kick.
Benedetti keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Good work by Abarai as he checks the leg kick.
Abarai throwing a counter right hand but Benedetti manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abarai tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Benedetti was well out of range. Poor timing from Abarai.
Benedetti pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Abarai is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Abarai on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Benedetti. Benedetti obviously looking to wear him down.
Abarai stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Benedetti.
Benedetti scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Benedetti throws a sloppy body shot
and Abarai counters with a nice uppercut.
Benedetti lands a jab to the head.
Abarai swings widly with a right hand
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Benedetti wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Abarai cracks Benedetti with an open hand slap.
Benedetti throws a combination. Abarai tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benedetti lands with a shot to the body.
Benedetti dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Abarai. That did some damage!
Abarai throws a big shot that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abarai misses with a hook. Benedetti ducked under it nicely.
Abarai is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Benedetti fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Abarai looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Nice defenses there by Abarai.
Nice defenses there by Benedetti.
Abarai looks to clinch
and Benedetti counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Benedetti lands a front kick.
Benedetti thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Abarai if he has to take too many more of those.
Benedetti throws a poor cross that misses
and Abarai counters with a stiff right hand.
Abarai chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Benedetti can pounce on him.
Abarai cracks Benedetti with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Benedetti lands a jab to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Abarai throws a right hand that Benedetti ducks under and follows up with a left that Benedetti also avoids with ease.
Benedetti takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Abarai connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rafael Benedetti will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rafael Benedetti's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

A slapping leg kick lands for Benedetti.
A clash of legs there as Abarai blocks the low kick.
Abarai misses with a body shot.
Benedetti ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Abarai moves away.
Benedetti is looking to score with low kicks.
Benedetti looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Benedetti slips under a jab.
Abarai will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Benedetti scoring well with a low kick there.
Abarai throws a right hand that Benedetti ducks under and follows up with a left that Benedetti also avoids with ease.

Abarai pushes Benedetti up against the cage in a clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A shot in the inside from Benedetti.
Benedetti gets through Abarai's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Abarai lands with a right to the head.
Abarai lands with a left to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benedetti misses with a punch on the inside.

Benedetti escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rafael Benedetti seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Benedetti clobbers Abarai with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti connects with a solid leg kick.
Benedetti swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Abarai misses with a hook. Benedetti ducked under it nicely.
Benedetti gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Abarai.
Benedetti throws a body punch but Abarai moves out of range.
Abarai is looking to counter punch.
Benedetti throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Abarai throws a right and a left that Benedetti avoids nicely.
Benedetti lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Benedetti connects with a body shot that sends Abarai's belly button to the back.
Abarai uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
A nice inside leg kick there by Benedetti. That's going to slow Abarai down.
Benedetti cracks Abarai with a good jab.
A low kick from Benedetti is predictable there
enabling Abarai to counter with a crisp jab.
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!
Benedetti misses with a jab to the body
and Abarai counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Benedetti is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti moves out of range as Abarai strikes.
Benedetti throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Benedetti throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Benedetti looks to land a right hand but Abarai moved out of range.
A little feinted left hand from Abarai on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benedetti. Abarai does a little dance to reset his feet.
Benedetti throws a chopping leg kick but Abarai manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Benedetti looks to throw a body kick
and Abarai connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Benedetti throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Abarai walks into a stiff left hand from Benedetti.
Abarai cracks Benedetti with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Benedetti throws an off balance right hand
and Abarai counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Good exchange - Abarai coming out on top.
Benedetti is still on wobbly legs! Can Abarai finish him?
Benedetti throws a low kick, looking for Abarai's leg but Abarai calmly moves out of range.
Good leg kick by Benedetti.
Benedetti is looking to land body kicks.
Abarai swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Benedetti seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti misses with an attempted mid kick.
Abarai half committed to a counter leg kick.
Benedetti throws a leg kick but Abarai moved away.
Both fighters circling a little - Benedetti finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Benedetti keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benedetti keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Abarai on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Abarai misses the shot to the body.
Benedetti feints a counter leg kick.
Abarai misses with a hook. Benedetti ducked under it nicely.
Benedetti swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Benedetti thows a leg kick but Abarai checks it
and Abarai counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Benedetti takes a swing at Abarai's ribcage but misses.
Abarai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benedetti swings away with a body shot that misses
enabling Abarai to counter with a crisp jab.
Abarai wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti lands a jab to Abarai's midsection.
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!
Abarai slips a jab and a cross from Benedetti.
Benedetti throws a jab but it's blocked by Abarai.
Nice body kick there by Benedetti.
Benedetti throws a series of punches but Abarai avoids them all with ease.
Benedetti throws a lazy head kick
and Abarai counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Benedetti takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Abarai jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Benedetti misses with a wild body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Abarai on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Benedetti misses with a two punch combination.
Abarai throws a jab when Benedetti was well out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Abarai uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Benedetti.
Benedetti lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Abarai has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Abarai there as he acknowledges the shot.
Benedetti throws a body punch but Abarai moves out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Rafael Benedetti just about did enough to take it.
The cut man is working on Rafael Benedetti's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Benedetti uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Abarai has time to react.
A leg kick checked by Abarai.
Benedetti just misses with a punch to the body.
Benedetti has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Benedetti throws a hook to the side of Abarai's head but Abarai sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Abarai misses with a two punch combination.
Benedetti is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Abarai fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Benedetti on the side of the head.
Benedetti swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Benedetti jabs Abarai right on the nose. Abarai blinks but takes it well.
Benedetti does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Benedetti shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abarai looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Benedetti throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Abarai buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A big left from Benedetti misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abarai blocks a head kick by Benedetti.
Benedetti throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Benedetti lands with a shot to the body.
Abarai misses with a body shot.
Benedetti throws out a counter right but Abarai avoids it with no problem.
Benedetti throws a body kick that misses.
Benedetti falls off balance throwing a combination
and Abarai counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Benedetti throws a leg kick but Abarai sees it coming and checks it nicely.
It looked like Abarai was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Benedetti.
Benedetti ducks under a wild hook from Abarai.
Abarai on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Benedetti throws a head kick that misses
and Abarai counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Abarai throws a shot from downtown. Benedetti moves away and avoids it.
Abarai keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Abarai throws a solid leg kick but Benedetti takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Abarai.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Abarai.
Abarai is looking to counter punch.
Abarai throws a jab when Benedetti was well out of range.
Benedetti misses with an attempted mid kick.
Abarai misses with a low kick as Benedetti jumps back.
Abarai on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Benedetti takes a swing at Abarai's ribcage but misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benedetti throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Benedetti misses with a straight left.
Benedetti misses with a jab, cross combination.
Benedetti looks to throw the jab but Abarai is out of range.
A jab from Abarai misses.
Abarai misses with a hook.
A countering left hand to the body from Benedetti misses.
Some bone on bone action there as Abarai checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Abarai on the wrong end of a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti lands with a nice body punch.
Benedetti misses with a wild body shot.
Benedetti scores with a jab to the body.
Benedetti gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Abarai counters with a straight right hand.
Abarai takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Benedetti throws the kick towards the body but Abarai avoids it.
Benedetti moves out of range of the strikes.
Abarai blocks a jab.
As Benedetti looks to move away, Abarai throws a big counter combo but Benedetti just gets out of the way.
Abarai checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Jab, jab by Benedetti - just one landing.
Abarai moves out of range of the strikes.
Benedetti bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Benedetti misses with a hook.
Benedetti lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Abarai takes a swing at Benedetti's ribcage but misses.
Abarai shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benedetti. Abarai does a little dance to reset his feet.
It looked like Abarai wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benedetti misses with a leg kick.
Nice shot lands for Abarai.
Abarai's corner calls for a 1-2. Abarai obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Abarai misses with a body shot.
Abarai swings for the body but Benedetti moves out of range.
Benedetti misses with a two punch combination.
Benedetti listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Benedetti bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Abarai's head.
Abarai keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Benedetti.
Benedetti throws an off balance right hand
and Benedetti takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Benedetti dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Benedetti's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Benedetti on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Benedetti fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Abarai manages to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Abarai. Benedetti does a little dance to reset his feet.
A telegraphed right hand from Benedetti misses the target.
Abarai throws an overhand right that lands on Benedetti's shoulder, as Benedetti tries to avoid the shot.
Benedetti throws out a counter right but Abarai avoids it with no problem.
Abarai closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Benedetti lands a leg kick that knocks Abarai off balance momentarily.
Abarai moves out of range as Benedetti strikes.
Nice straight punches there by Benedetti. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Benedetti.
Abarai ducks under a wild hook from Benedetti.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benedetti misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Abarai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Abarai misses with an uppercut.
Benedetti throws out a counter right but Abarai avoids it with no problem.
Abarai lands with a nice combination. Benedetti backs away looking to recover.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti cracks Abarai with an open hand slap.
Abarai bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Benedetti looks to land a body kick but Abarai moved away.
Jab from Benedetti.
Abarai is looking to clinch but Benedetti is avoiding it.
Benedetti tests Abarai's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Abarai uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Benedetti.
Benedetti swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Abarai swings for the body but Benedetti moves out of range.
Benedetti bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Abarai has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Abarai there as he acknowledges the shot.
Abarai keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Benedetti.
Benedetti lands with a thumping leg kick.
Renji Abarai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Abarai.
It looked like Abarai wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Benedetti lands a nice shot that snaps Abarai's head back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benedetti slips a jab and a cross from Abarai.
Abarai throws a lazy uppercut
and Benedetti cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Abarai lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Abarai walks into a stiff left hand from Benedetti.
Abarai takes a swing at Benedetti's ribcage but misses.
Abarai walks forward, straight into a front kick from Benedetti.
Abarai swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Benedetti avoids the body shot from Abarai.
Benedetti appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Benedetti lands a jab.
Benedetti lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Abarai tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Benedetti is able to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti throws a series of punches but Abarai moves out of range.
Abarai was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
A big right from Abarai misses.
Benedetti lands a front kick.
Benedetti throws a nice outside leg kick.
Abarai throws a jab but it's blocked by Benedetti.
Benedetti misses the jab.
Abarai doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Abarai moves into the clinch successfully.
Abarai lands a hook that snaps the head of Benedetti backwards.
Abarai tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benedetti blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A nice right hand lands inside from Abarai.
Benedetti working aggressively here.
Benedetti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti is stalling here.
Benedetti pushes Abarai back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Benedetti is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Abarai tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Benedetti's elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benedetti trying to control the position but instead, Abarai has worked for underhooks and has pushed Benedetti into the cage.
Benedetti is trying to break the clinch but Abarai is controlling him.
Benedetti stalling in the clinch but Abarai improves position.
Abarai lands a nice shot to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Benedetti creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Renji Abarai has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Abarai as Benedetti tries to tie him up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Benedetti.
Abarai has a couple of punches blocked by Benedetti.
Abarai lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Abarai blocking some punches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Benedetti comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Benedetti winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 45:50
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 45:50
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Benedetti!
Rafael Benedetti is the new featherweight champion!
An out of breath Rafael Benedetti thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.