PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Claudio Benedetti (ranked 2138 p4p, 3389 weight class) and Doyle Brunson (ranked 327 p4p, 478 weight class). Benedetti's entrance music is Atrevete te. A fine choice. Claudio Benedetti could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Doyle Brunson's chin.

Benedetti
vs
Brunson

193 cm
38
207
30 - 17 - 1

177 cm
27
215
6 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
KO power

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Claudio Benedetti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of New York, Doyle Brunson!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Lombardi, Franklyn Lucas and Lou da Vinci.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brunson blocks a head kick by Benedetti.
Benedetti has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Finch Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Good shot there by Benedetti.
Benedetti throws out a loose jab but Brunson uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Brunson.
Brunson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Doyle Brunson has been cut.
Benedetti misses with a hook.
Benedetti throws a sloppy head kick and Brunson moves out of range easily.
Benedetti lands a glancing blow to the side of Brunson's head.

Brunson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Benedetti sprawls well initially but Brunson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
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!
Brunson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Brunson works his way into full mount!
Brunson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Benedetti's face.
Benedetti manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brunson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Benedetti does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Brunson landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Brunson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Benedetti's head.
Benedetti is looking to improve his position.
Brunson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Brunson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Brunson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Brunson is keen to just control but Benedetti is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Brunson wants to free his trapped foot but Benedetti is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Benedetti controlling the position well.
Brunson drops an elbow to the side of Benedetti's head.
Brunson throws a strike but Benedetti avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Brunson throws an elbow that misses. Benedetti uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Brunson's guard. Nice move by Benedetti!

Brunson wants to stand and escape but Benedetti is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti wants to control from the top but Brunson keeps moving.
Benedetti won't allow Brunson to get back to his feet.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Benedetti throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Benedetti swinging wildly here.
Claudio Benedetti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Brunson shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Benedetti is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Brunson's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Brunson's back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti controls the action.
Brunson is trying to stand back up.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Benedetti misses with the combination.
Benedetti lands a head shot.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Brunson.
Brunson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Benedetti sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Benedetti struggling a bit here.
Brunson misses with the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benedetti can't do much from the bottom here.
Benedetti is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Brunson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Benedetti some visible discomfort.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brunson throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Brunson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Benedetti keeps working.
Brunson throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Benedetti works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
Brunson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Brunson is looking to stall here but Benedetti recovers full guard.
Brunson throws a strike but Benedetti rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti tries to free his leg and advance position but Brunson is retaining full guard.
Benedetti prevents Brunson from getting back to his feet.
Benedetti will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Benedetti trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Brunson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Benedetti is controlling him.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti sitting in guard here, content to control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Benedetti misses with a double jab.
Benedetti staying out of range there.
Brunson shoots in but no luck this time.
Some bone on bone action there as Benedetti checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Brunson missing with a left hand there. Benedetti was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Brunson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Benedetti circles away.
Brunson wants to land a leg kick but Benedetti is out of range.
Benedetti scores with a hook.
Claudio Benedetti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Brunson throws a jab when Benedetti was well out of range.
Benedetti misses the jab.
Benedetti fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Brunson.
No joy there for Benedetti, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brunson shoots in but Benedetti avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Claudio Benedetti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Doyle Brunson.
Benedetti listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Brunson defending well as Benedetti loads up on a big left hand.
Brunson 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 throws a leg kick
and Brunson counters with a right hand to the body.
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!
Brunson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Benedetti.
Brunson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Benedetti blocks the body kick.
Brunson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Brunson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Benedetti's head backwards.
Benedetti cracks Brunson with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Benedetti throws a hook to the side of Brunson's head but Brunson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Brunson looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Brunson throws a right and a left that Benedetti avoids nicely.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Claudio Benedetti dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Doyle Brunson's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Good leg kick by Benedetti.
Brunson cracks Benedetti with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Brunson uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Benedetti.
A little jabbing left from Brunson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

Benedetti gets caught napping as Brunson dives in and scores a takedown. Benedetti manages to retain guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brunson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Brunson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Brunson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Brunson trying to control the position from guard on top but Benedetti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benedetti pulls Brunson in close to his closed guard and prevents Brunson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Benedetti keeping moving, preventing Brunson from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brunson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Brunson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Brunson throws a strike but Benedetti rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Brunson wants to stand and escape but Benedetti is having none of it.
Benedetti tries to free his leg and advance position but Brunson is retaining full guard.
Benedetti trying to control but Brunson is working from the bottom.
Claudio Benedetti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Brunson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Benedetti is controlling him.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Benedetti throws a lazy right hand but Brunson sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A lazy left from Benedetti finds it's target.
Benedetti swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Claudio Benedetti is winning the standup battle so far.

Brunson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Benedetti did well to prevent Brunson getting side control.
Brunson with the ground and pound but Benedetti uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Brunson throws an elbow that misses. Benedetti uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Brunson's guard. Nice move by Benedetti!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti looking to sit in guard and control but Brunson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Brunson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Benedetti has Brunson pulled in close to control his posture.
Benedetti is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Brunson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Brunson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Brunson throws a big elbow that misses.
Brunson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Benedetti preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Benedetti pulls Brunson in close to prevent any damage.
Brunson wants to control from the top but Benedetti keeps moving.

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

Brunson closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Benedetti did well to prevent Brunson getting side control.
Doyle Brunson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benedetti on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Doyle Brunson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Benedetti 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 Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Franklyn Lucas scores the fight 29:28
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Claudio Benedetti!
A victorious Claudio Benedetti thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.