PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Matthieu Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sune Vriden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Benoit
vs
Vriden

185 cm
22
193 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

180 cm
22
201 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Matthieu Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sune Vriden!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benoit throws a right and a left that both miss.
Benoit throws a hook but Vriden avoids it easily.
Benoit is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vriden.
Danga de danga de dang - Benoit scores with a four punch combination!

Benoit looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Benoit is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Vriden is trying to stand back up but Benoit is controlling him

Benoit decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Vriden avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Vriden ducks under a wild hook from Benoit.
Vriden misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vriden slips a jab from Benoit.
Benoit connects with a solid leg kick.
Vriden on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Benoit throws an overhand right that lands on Vriden's shoulder, as Vriden tries to avoid the shot.
Jab by Vriden.
Benoit lands with an overhand left.
Benoit swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A decent looking cross lands there for Vriden.
Benoit misses with a takedown attempt - Vriden sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Vriden checks a leg kick.
Benoit is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vriden.
Benoit bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Benoit throws a jab but it's blocked by Vriden.

Benoit has Vriden up against the cage in a clinch.
Benoit misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Benoit has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Vriden is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit lands a shot to the body.
The referee calls for Benoit to work.
Benoit pushes off an throws an elbow but Vriden leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Benoit blocking some punches.
Vriden is trying to break the clinch but Benoit has him pressed against the cage.
Benoit taking a breather.

Benoit gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benoit passes Vriden's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Benoit stops Vriden from getting back to his feet.
Benoit not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Benoit not doing much here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benoit is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vriden wants to get back to his feet.
Benoit is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Vriden lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Benoit at a distance.
Benoit jabs at Vriden's body.

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.
Horrible takedown by Benoit or perhaps it was just good defense by Vriden which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matthieu Benoit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benoit scores with a decent looking hook.
Vriden with a hook.
Benoit lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Vriden fails with a takedown attempt.
Vriden has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Benoit finds it's way round the side to connect with Vriden's head.
Vriden throws a leg kick but Benoit sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Vriden ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Benoit moves away.
Benoit looks to throw the jab but Vriden is out of range.
Vriden connects with a body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benoit tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vriden was well out of range. Poor timing from Benoit.
Benoit scores with a sloppy right hand. Vriden should have avoided that one.
A nice inside leg kick there by Benoit. That's going to slow Vriden down.
Benoit scores with the left hand. Vriden knows he should have avoided that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthieu Benoit dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Benoit missing with a left hand there. Vriden was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Benoit pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Vriden walks into a straight right hand from Benoit.
Benoit throws a leg kick

and Vriden counters with a nice double leg into side control. Benoit won't be happy with that.
Vriden trying to control the position but Benoit is working away.
Benoit is trying to control Vriden's posture but Vriden avoids it.
Benoit is looking for a sweep.
Benoit is not content to let Vriden control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Vriden's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Vriden is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Benoit makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Benoit.

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.
Benoit is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Benoit keeping moving, preventing Vriden from controlling successfully.
Vriden preventing the sweep.
Benoit is trying to control the position but Vriden postures up.
Benoit trying to control the position here.
Benoit lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Vriden!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vriden squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Benoit throws some wild stikes that Vriden manages to avoid easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benoit lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Vriden is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

Benoit looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Benoit sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit wants to control the pace but Vriden is squirming around nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vriden is bucking up trying to escape but Benoit cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Vriden trying desperately to get to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthieu Benoit dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Vriden misses with a double jab
and Benoit counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benoit. Vriden does a little dance to reset his feet.
Benoit tries a head kick but it misses.
Benoit swinging wildly here.
Vriden takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Vriden moves away from the strike by Benoit.
Vriden throws a good cross that connects.
Benoit jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Vriden lands a nice looking body shot.
Benoit fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Vriden on the side of the head.
Matthieu Benoit seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benoit loads up on a big right hand but Vriden slips the punch.
Benoit uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vriden.
Vriden thows a leg kick but Benoit checks it
and Benoit connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Benoit checks a leg kick nicely.
Jab, jab by Benoit - just one landing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit stuns Vriden with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nice shot by Benoit.
Benoit misses with a combination

and Vriden counters with a takedown into side control.
Benoit gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Benoit connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Vriden passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Benoit!
Benoit tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vriden scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Benoit?
Vriden misses with a head shot.
Vriden controlling the position easily from mount.
Vriden tries to push Benoit's head away but Benoit is holding on tight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit avoids a strike by Vriden and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Vriden's guard! Fantastic escape!
Benoit prevents Vriden from getting back to his feet.
Sune Vriden has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benoit trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Benoit scoring with punches to the head and body.
Matthieu Benoit is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Vriden has his feet on Benoit's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Benoit fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Benoit loads up on a big right hand but Vriden slips the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A nice inside leg kick there by Vriden. That's going to slow Benoit down.
Benoit takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Vriden throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Benoit stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Vriden shoots in and drives through. Benoit sprawls well.
Vriden takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Benoit pushes Vriden up against the cage in a clinch.

Benoit breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vriden moves out of range as Benoit strikes.
Benoit moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Vriden will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A shot to the body from Vriden misses
and Benoit counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benoit goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Good shot there by Benoit.
Benoit connects with the punch.
Vriden ducks right into an uppercut from Benoit.

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 Matthieu Benoit.
Well Benoit 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Matthieu Benoit!