PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Benedetti (ranked 1765 p4p, 2042 weight class) and Jean Luc Petit (ranked 191 p4p, 214 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Benedetti
vs
Petit

175 cm
23
155
7 - 3 - 0

163 cm
23
145
4 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Conquer

FEEBLE FIGHTWEAR

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 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rafael Benedetti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of London, Jean Luc Petit!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, Richard Clark and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benedetti lands a right hook to the body.
Petit takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Benedetti throws a quick inside leg kick.
Benedetti scores with a jab to the jaw.
A slapping body kick lands there for Benedetti.
Benedetti buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Benedetti connects with a looping right hand.

Petit gets tackled into the cage by Benedetti. Benedetti maintains the clinch.
Benedetti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

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

Petit gets tackled into the cage by Benedetti. Benedetti maintains the clinch.
Petit tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Benedetti avoids it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benedetti lands an uppercut.
Benedetti tries to throw a body punch but Petit avoids it by throwing Benedetti back against the cage.

Petit pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Petit thows a left - swing and a miss!
Benedetti connects with an inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petit swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Benedetti with a hook.
Benedetti lands a nice leg kick that just misses Petit's sensitive parts.
Benedetti connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Benedetti throws a combination. Petit tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Petit on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Benedetti lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Petit takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Petit on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Benedetti throws a body shot but no joy.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Petit! But no joy.
Rafael Benedetti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Petit uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Benedetti.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benedetti thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Petit if he has to take too many more of those.
It looks like Benedetti has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.
Benedetti is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Benedetti tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Petit counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Rafael Benedetti has been cut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Petit has time to react.
Benedetti lands a jab to the nose.

Benedetti closes the distance and clinches.
Benedetti taking a breather.
Benedetti misses with a hook from the clinch.
Petit swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Benedetti working aggressively here.
Petit lands a nice uppercut.

Petit manages to break the clinch.
Benedetti lands a head shot.
Benedetti is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Petit fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benedetti manages to avoid it.
Petit connects with the punch.
Benedetti throws the left hand but Petit avoids the punch easily.
Benedetti tries to clinch up but Petit circles away and keeps his distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti looks to land a left hand but Petit moved out of range nicely.
Petit steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Benedetti.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Benedetti.
Petit looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Benedetti is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Petit takes a jab right on the kisser.
Benedetti throws a body shot but no joy.
Benedetti moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
The fighters circling - Petit throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Benedetti paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Benedetti jabs Petit right on the nose. Petit blinks but takes it well.
A nice inside leg kick there by Benedetti. That's going to slow Petit down.
Petit takes a swing at Benedetti's ribcage but misses.
Benedetti cracks Petit with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Benedetti throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Petit is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Benedetti with a body shot.
Petit has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti walks into a stiff left hand from Petit.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benedetti is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Petit.
Petit looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Benedetti connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Benedetti throws a poor cross that misses
enabling Petit to counter with a crisp jab.
Benedetti lunges at Petit with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Petit's hand.
A good leg kick by Benedetti.
Benedetti scores with a jab.
Petit takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Petit throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Benedetti scores with a nice strike.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Petit throws a poor cross that misses
and Petit takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Benedetti tries to land a front kick but Petit steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Benedetti takes a swing at Petit's ribcage but misses.
Petit is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Benedetti with a body shot.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Benedetti dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Benedetti's cut.
That's time! Benedetti's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Petit throws a sloppy head kick and Benedetti moves out of range easily.
Petit looks to throw the jab but Benedetti is out of range.
Benedetti scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A solid body kick from Benedetti.
Petit misses with a wild body shot.
Benedetti scores with a crisp jab that stopped Petit in his tracks.
A head kick misses from Petit.
Benedetti throws a jab when Petit was well out of range.
Rafael Benedetti is winning the standup battle so far.
Benedetti jabbing away but nothing is landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benedetti ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Petit sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Benedetti loads up on a big right hand but Petit slips the punch.
Petit uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Benedetti.
Benedetti scores with a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petit tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Benedetti misses with a body shot.
Petit shapes to counter with a head kick.
Benedetti throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Petit sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Benedetti tries to clinch
and Petit counters with a straight right hand.
Benedetti has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Benedetti connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Benedetti bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Petit tries to move into range but Benedetti moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Benedetti uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Petit has time to react.
Benedetti lands a nice shot that snaps Petit's head back.
Benedetti looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Benedetti takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Petit doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

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!
Petit pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A nice inside leg kick there by Benedetti. That's going to slow Petit down.
Petit takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Benedetti lands with a good body shot.
Petit displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Benedetti throws out the jab.
Benedetti swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A nice side step and Petit releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Petit has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Benedetti fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Petit.
A jab from Benedetti misses.
Petit lands the left hand.
Benedetti with the inside leg kick.
Petit ducks under a wild hook from Benedetti.
Petit pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Benedetti jabs at Petit's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Petit blocks the leg kick.
Petit swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Benedetti fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Petit.
Benedetti attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Petit looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Petit lands a lovely overhand right.
Benedetti throws the left hand but Petit avoids the punch easily.
Petit misses with a low kick.
Petit's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Petit.
Benedetti misses with a hook.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Petit! But no joy.
Petit checks the leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Benedetti. Beautiful body shot.
Benedetti scores with a jab to the jaw.
Petit keeps the fight on the outside.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Petit! But no joy.
Benedetti's corner calls for a 1-2. Benedetti obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Petit! But no joy.
Benedetti looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Benedetti tries to clinch up but Petit circles away and keeps his distance.
Petit raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Benedetti throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Petit stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benedetti takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Benedetti jabs Petit right on the nose. Petit blinks but takes it well.
Benedetti slips a straight right by Petit.
Benedetti lands a jab to Petit's midsection.
Nice straight punches there by Petit. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Petit.
Petit throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Benedetti is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Petit can do to turn this around?
Benedetti buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Benedetti.
Benedetti slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Benedetti dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Rafael Benedetti's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! 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.

A solid leg kick lands there for Benedetti.
Benedetti lands a nice shot that snaps Petit's head back.
Petit throws a lazy right hand but Benedetti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Good work by Petit as he checks the leg kick.

Benedetti fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Petit, pushing him back against the cage.
Benedetti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Benedetti breaks the clinch.
Benedetti throws a body punch but Petit moves out of range.
Petit throws out a counter right but Benedetti avoids it with no problem.
Benedetti fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Petit looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Benedetti tries to close the distance and clinch up but Petit swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Petit might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benedetti fails in his attempt to clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Petit on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Donk. Benedetti catches Petit right on the button with a cross.
Petit lands a nice looking body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Petit gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Benedetti throws a body shot but no joy.
Petit takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Benedetti throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Benedetti misses with a straight right.
Benedetti falls off balance throwing a combination
and Petit counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Petit takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Benedetti just misses with a punch to the body.
Benedetti tries to close the distance and clinch but Petit swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A nice side step and Petit releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Petit misses with a straight right.
Benedetti throws a low kick but Petit avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti throws a leg kick but Petit sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A little jabbing left from Petit on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Petit avoids the body shot from Benedetti.
A little jabbing left from Petit on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Benedetti fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Petit has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

Benedetti gets in close and instigates a clinch.
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!
Petit wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Benedetti has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Benedetti's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Benedetti goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Benedetti misses with a hook to the ribs.
Benedetti keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Petit's efforts to push away.
Benedetti effectively controlling the action here.
Petit blocks a body shot from Benedetti.
A nice right hand lands inside from Petit.
Benedetti lands with a light punch inside.
Benedetti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Benedetti tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Petit's elbow.
Benedetti avoiding damage as Petit throws knees to the body.
Benedetti misses with a hook to the ribs.
Petit utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Petit is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Benedetti pushes Petit back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Petit struggles to land a body shot inside as Benedetti controls his hands.
Petit lands a shoulder strike.

Benedetti breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A shot to the liver by Benedetti. Beautiful body shot.
Jean Luc Petit has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Petit throws a body shot but no joy.
Benedetti misses with a hook
and Petit counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Benedetti moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
A slapping leg kick lands for Benedetti.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Petit moves out of range of the strikes.
Benedetti misses with a lunging right hand
and Petit counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Petit misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Benedetti connects with a right hand. Petit shakes it off.
Petit on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Benedetti. Benedetti obviously looking to wear him down.
Petit throws a body shot but no joy.
Benedetti cracks Petit with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Benedetti cracks Petit with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Benedetti explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Benedetti swings for the body but Petit moves out of range.
Benedetti is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Petit misses the jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Benedetti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Benedetti has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Benedetti!
A relieved looking Rafael Benedetti thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Jean Luc Petit was interviewed post fight and said '6.6'.