PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Duke LaCrosse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matthieu Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Matthieu Benoit has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Duke LaCrosse's chin.

LaCrosse
vs
Benoit

184 cm
25
202 lbs
17 - 8 - 0

185 cm
25
193 lbs
13 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
World class boxer
Heavy handed

.: AFFAKETIΘN :.

5th Round

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Duke LaCrosse!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 6 - 1, fighting out of New York, Matthieu Benoit!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Cecil Peabody and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benoit feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to LaCrosse's calf.
A low kick from LaCrosse is predictable there
and Benoit counters with a right hand to the body.
Benoit shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has LaCrosse pinned against the cage. LaCrosse gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Benoit works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
LaCrosse misses with a shot to the body
and Benoit counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Benoit shoots in and gets a takedown into LaCrosse's guard.
LaCrosse is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Benoit wants to control from the top but LaCrosse keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit preventing the sweep.
Benoit postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Benoit controlling from the top position.
Benoit trying to control the position from guard on top but LaCrosse is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Benoit postures up in LaCrosse's guard and throws a big left but LaCrosse blocks it.
LaCrosse manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Benoit tries to hold on but LaCrosse postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit tries to reverse the position but LaCrosse maintains control.
Benoit is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
LaCrosse tries to control but Benoit wriggling away.
LaCrosse controlling from the full mount.
LaCrosse working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Benoit slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit wants to improve his position but LaCrosse is controlling well.
LaCrosse tries to pass the half guard into mount. Benoit knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Benoit looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Benoit works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
LaCrosse working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Benoit tries to strike from the bottom.
Benoit lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for LaCrosse!
Benoit seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but LaCrosse is holding on tight.
Benoit tries to control but LaCrosse wriggling away.
LaCrosse is trying desperately to improve position.
Benoit is in the full mount, landing strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matthieu Benoit dominated that round.
That's time! LaCrosse's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Benoit fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but LaCrosse is out of range.

It looks like Duke LaCrosse has been cut.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Benoit has had enough of the clinch but LaCrosse keeps him there for the moment.
Benoit tries a body shot but LaCrosse blocks it.
LaCrosse lands with a short head shot on the inside.
LaCrosse misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Benoit wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but LaCrosse has him pressed against the cage.
Benoit jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as LaCrosse walks away with a smile on his face. Benoit gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Benoit looks to land a right hand but LaCrosse moved out of range.
Benoit keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benoit connects with a solid leg kick.
Benoit throws a right hand that misses
and LaCrosse counters with an outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit connects with a good right hand that stumbles LaCrosse. LaCrosse circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Duke LaCrosse's cut is getting worse.
Benoit misses with the body kick
and LaCrosse counters with a nice body kick.
Benoit keeps the fight on the outside.
A big right from LaCrosse misses.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Benoit.
Benoit lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear LaCrosse down.
LaCrosse is not content to let Benoit control the position.

Benoit working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benoit looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Benoit in side control, throwing shots but LaCrosse defends.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Benoit is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. LaCrosse knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Benoit scoring with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
LaCrosse gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
LaCrosse working to try and regain half guard.
Benoit sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Benoit swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Matthieu Benoit!
Matthieu Benoit is the new middleweight champion!