PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ultima Koivisto (ranked 258 p4p, 414 weight class) and Rafael Benedetti (ranked 44 p4p, 65 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Koivisto
vs
Benedetti

173 cm
37
158
34 - 19 - 1

175 cm
29
155
16 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)
FF Gear

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 34 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ultima Koivisto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rafael Benedetti!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koivisto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benedetti manages to avoid it.
Koivisto gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Koivisto lands a glancing blow to the side of Benedetti's head.
Koivisto looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Benedetti throws a lazy right hand but Koivisto sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Koivisto swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Koivisto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
It seemed like Benedetti was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A cross from Benedetti lands.
Benedetti bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Benedetti connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Koivisto moves out of range of the body kick from Benedetti.
Benedetti fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Koivisto has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Benedetti with a hook.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benedetti cracks Koivisto with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Benedetti tries to score with a low kick but Koivisto moves his leg out of the way.
Benedetti lands with a thumping leg kick.
Koivisto throws a hook but Benedetti avoids it easily.
Koivisto avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti sizes up Koivisto with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Koivisto swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Benedetti.
Benedetti fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Koivisto has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Good exchange - Benedetti coming out on top.
Benedetti lands a lovely overhand right.
Koivisto throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benedetti scores with a crisp jab that stopped Koivisto in his tracks.
The fighters circle momentarily. Benedetti darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Koivisto throws a shot from downtown. Benedetti moves away and avoids it.
Benedetti works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benedetti jabs Koivisto to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Koivisto takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Benedetti throws a leg kick which misses Koivisto's front leg but catches the back leg as Koivisto tries to avoid it.
Koivisto uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Benedetti.
Koivisto throws a looping overhand right but Benedetti ducks down to avoid it.
Benedetti keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
A punch combination from Koivisto misses.
Benedetti scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Rafael Benedetti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crunch! Benedetti slams his shin into Koivisto's torso.
Benedetti moves out of range as Koivisto strikes.
Koivisto will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Koivisto fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Benedetti thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Koivisto if he has to take too many more of those.
Koivisto shoots in but no luck this time.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Benedetti! But no joy.
Koivisto slips under a jab from Benedetti.
Donk. Benedetti catches Koivisto right on the button with a cross.
Benedetti misses with a wild combination.
Benedetti dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Koivisto. That did some damage!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Benedetti.
A slow jab from Koivisto misses its intended target.
Koivisto misses with a body shot.
Benedetti bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A punch combination from Koivisto misses.
Benedetti motions for Koivisto to come forward. Benedetti throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Benedetti moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Benedetti clinches with his opponent.
Koivisto wants a takedown but no success here.
Koivisto tries to break the clinch but Benedetti is controlling the position.
Benedetti pushes Koivisto back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Koivisto tries a body shot but Benedetti blocks it.
Koivisto's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Benedetti tries a body shot but Koivisto blocks it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Koivisto.
Koivisto working aggressively here.
Benedetti blocking some punches.

Koivisto pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Benedetti lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Koivisto at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A swing and a miss from Benedetti.
Benedetti misses with an uppercut. Koivisto saw that one coming.
Rafael Benedetti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Koivisto tries a head kick but it misses.
Benedetti connects with a crisp jab.
Good shot there by Benedetti.
Koivisto looks to land a combination but Benedetti avoids it well.
A big left from Koivisto misses.
Benedetti is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Koivisto had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Koivisto throws an overhand right that lands on Benedetti's shoulder, as Benedetti tries to avoid the shot.
Benedetti throws out a counter right but Koivisto avoids it with no problem.
Benedetti scores with a jab to the body.
Benedetti lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Benedetti uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Koivisto.
Benedetti scores with a three punch combo!
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A good leg kick by Benedetti.
Benedetti ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A big right from Benedetti misses.
A little feinted left hand from Koivisto on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Benedetti lands with a two punch combination 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 round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Benedetti jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Koivisto doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Benedetti fails in his attempt to clinch.
Koivisto avoids the body shot from Benedetti.
Rafael Benedetti seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Benedetti connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Koivisto momentarily.
Koivisto throws a right and a left that both miss.
Koivisto fails to land with a series of punches.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Koivisto.

Benedetti sneaks out the side door and pushes Koivisto away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benedetti digs a good body shot into Koivisto's ribs.
Koivisto throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Benedetti cracks Koivisto with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Koivisto moves out of range of the strikes.
Koivisto takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A jab from Benedetti misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti connects with a jab.
A combination from Koivisto does no damage.
Benedetti throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Benedetti scores with the left hand. Koivisto knows he should have avoided that one.
Koivisto paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Benedetti avoids the head kick by Koivisto.
Benedetti lands a right hook to the body.
Benedetti wants to slow Koivisto down by chopping away at his legs.
Benedetti misses with a body shot.
Benedetti cracks Koivisto with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Benedetti pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Koivisto takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Benedetti looks to land a left hand but Koivisto moved out of range nicely.
Benedetti swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Koivisto looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Benedetti throws a series of punches but Koivisto moves out of range.

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!
Benedetti lands a nice leg kick that just misses Koivisto's sensitive parts.
Koivisto is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
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.
A lazy left from Benedetti finds it's target.
Benedetti throws a quick inside leg kick.
Benedetti throws a looping overhand right but Koivisto ducks down to avoid it.
Koivisto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benedetti manages to avoid it.
Benedetti looks to land a combination but Koivisto avoids it well.
An attempted straight right counter from Koivisto misses the target.
Koivisto chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Benedetti can pounce on him.
Benedetti misses with a two punch combination.
Benedetti takes a swing at Koivisto's ribcage but misses.
Koivisto bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Benedetti's head.
Koivisto takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Koivisto keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Benedetti.
Koivisto swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Benedetti misses with a leg kick
and Koivisto counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Benedetti scores with a punch to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Koivisto misses with a head kick.
Benedetti doesn't manage to clinch there - Koivisto circles away.

Benedetti moves into the clinch.
Benedetti lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Benedetti scores with a shoulder strike.
Koivisto goes for a takedown in the clinch but Benedetti prevents it.
Benedetti tries a body shot but Koivisto blocks it.

Benedetti breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Koivisto misses with a two punch combination.
Benedetti connects with a body shot.
Koivisto is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Benedetti thuds his right hand into Koivisto's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Benedetti cracks Koivisto with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Benedetti uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Koivisto.
Benedetti throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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 tries to close the distance and clinch up but Koivisto swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Benedetti smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
A jab from Benedetti finds it's way through Koivisto's defenses.
Benedetti throws the left hand but Koivisto avoids the punch easily.
Benedetti misses with a body kick.
Benedetti misses with a right hand
and Koivisto counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Benedetti thinking.
Benedetti scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Koivisto doesn't seem bothered though.
Koivisto swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Benedetti counters with a nice uppercut.
Benedetti scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Benedetti has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Koivisto with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Benedetti to score with a decent uppercut.
Koivisto takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Koivisto throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Koivisto fails to land the takedown.

Koivisto shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Benedetti manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Benedetti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Benedetti with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ultima Koivisto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Koivisto lands with a nice body punch.
Benedetti lands a high kick!
Benedetti wants to clinch but Koivisto slips to the side
enabling Koivisto to counter with a crisp jab.
Koivisto lunges at Benedetti with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Benedetti's hand.
Benedetti scores with a kick to the body.
Benedetti chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Koivisto throws out a loose jab but Benedetti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Koivisto takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Koivisto is defended easily by Benedetti.
Benedetti lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti wants to clinch up but Koivisto keeps it at a distance.
Koivisto lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Benedetti at a distance.
A decent looking cross lands there for Benedetti.
Koivisto fails with a takedown attempt.
Benedetti just misses with a punch to the body.
Benedetti avoids a punch combination nicely.
Benedetti misses with a left hand
and Koivisto counters with a two punch combo.
Benedetti connects with a solid leg kick.
Benedetti with a hook.
Benedetti dips to his left and cracks Koivisto with an uppercut!
Benedetti scores with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Koivisto looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ultima Koivisto. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Benedetti tries a head kick but it misses.
Koivisto tries to bum rush Benedetti with a series of wild strikes but Benedetti uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Koivisto throws a series of punches but Benedetti avoids them all with ease.
Benedetti is looking to clinch.
Benedetti wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Benedetti is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Benedetti throws a quick inside leg kick.
Koivisto moves forwards but Benedetti connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Benedetti scores with a jab to the jaw.
A chopping leg kick lands by Benedetti.
Benedetti lands with a good body shot.
Koivisto on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Benedetti. Benedetti obviously looking to wear him down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto lands a body shot.
Benedetti fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice shot lands for Benedetti.
Benedetti moves to clinch but Koivisto breaks away
and Koivisto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A nice inside leg kick there by Benedetti. That's going to slow Koivisto down.
Koivisto throws a looping overhand right but Benedetti ducks down to avoid it.
Benedetti uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Koivisto has time to react.
Benedetti scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Koivisto doesn't seem bothered though.
Benedetti misses the jab.
Benedetti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Benedetti misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Koivisto counters with a stiff right hand.
Benedetti throws a shot to the body.

Koivisto tries to keep at a distance but Benedetti has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koivisto fails to pull guard.
Benedetti lands a nice shot to the body.
Koivisto struggles to land a body shot inside as Benedetti controls his hands.
Koivisto tries to score a body lock takedown but Benedetti shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Koivisto fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Koivisto misses with some punches.
Koivisto swings wildly with an uppercut but Benedetti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Benedetti lands an uppercut.
Koivisto misses with the head strike.
Benedetti tries a body shot but Koivisto blocks it.
Benedetti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Koivisto misses with a punch on the inside.
Koivisto will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Good body shot from Benedetti.
Benedetti lands with a right to the head.
Benedetti doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Koivisto misses with some punches.
Koivisto drops down looking for an ankle pick but Benedetti pulls his leg out and moves away.
Benedetti dips to his left and cracks Koivisto with an uppercut!

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Benedetti comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Benedetti 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Benedetti!
After winning the bout, Rafael Benedetti thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.