PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Riku Reipas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Charles Bennet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bennet is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Nowhere to run, nowhere to hide. This should be a great matchup!

Reipas
vs
Bennet

175 cm
26
148 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

166 cm
23
145 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Riku Reipas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Charles Bennet!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bennet keeps the fight on the outside.
Reipas shoots and misses
letting Bennet counter with a right hand.
Bennet misses with a looping right.
Reipas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bennet counters with a nice uppercut.
Reipas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bennet counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riku Reipas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reipas tries for a takedown but Bennet circles away easily
and Bennet connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Bennet gets tackled into the cage by Reipas. Reipas maintains the clinch.

Reipas decides to pull guard.
Bennet missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Reipas looking for a guillotine here but Bennet defends easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bennet accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bennet keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Reipas's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennet throws a big right hand that misses.
Bennet working some strikes from top position.
Bennet working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Bennet trying to stand up but can't free himself from Reipas's guard.
Bennet trying to control but Reipas is working from the bottom.
Bennet missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Reipas keeping moving, preventing Bennet from controlling successfully.

Bennet stands and steps away. Reipas gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Reipas misses with a takedown
and Bennet counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bennet fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Reipas on the side of the head.
Bennet circles away from the clinch attempt
and Bennet counters with a three punch combo that has Reipas backing up. Reipas nods at Bennet to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennet scores with a nice strike.
Bennet connects with a single shot there.
Riku Reipas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bennet is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Reipas.

Reipas closes the distance and clinches.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Bennet breaks the clinch.
Reipas darts in trying to clinch
and Bennet counters with a nice body shot.
A nice combination there by Bennet.
Reipas tries for a takedown but Bennet circles away easily
and Bennet counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A looping hook to the body misses from Reipas. Bennet does a little dance to reset his feet.
Reipas tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Bennet counters with a right hand to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reipas misses with a takedown attempt
and Bennet counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Reipas has his takedown stuffed
and Bennet cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Reipas shoots and misses
and Bennet makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Reipas looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Bennet!
Bennet is bucking up trying to escape but Reipas cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Bennet is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Reipas prevents Bennet from getting the reversal.
Bennet is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Bennet really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Reipas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Reipas working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Reipas can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bennet is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reipas with shots to the head and body - Bennet looks very uncomfortable down there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bennet is looking to improve his position but Reipas isn't that keen on the idea.
Reipas working Bennet over with strikes here.
Bennet is looking to get to half guard.
Reipas controlling the position easily from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Bennet defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Reipas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Charles Bennet will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Reipas takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Bennet swings for the body but Reipas moves out of range.
Reipas tries to clinch up.
Bennet connects with a looping right hand.
Reipas tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Bennet manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bennet loads up on a big right hand but Reipas slips the punch.
Bennet lands a right hook to the body.
Reipas slips under a jab from Bennet.
Reipas tries to clinch up
letting Bennet counter with a right hand.
Reipas wants to clinch
and Bennet cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennet circles away from the clinch attempt.
Reipas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bennet counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Reipas tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Bennet connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bennet scores with a hook to the body. Reipas takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Reipas avoids the body shot from Bennet.
Jab by Bennet.
Bennet looks to throw the jab but Reipas is out of range.
Reipas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bennet counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Reipas is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bennet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennet uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Reipas.
Reipas dodges the punch combination from Bennet.
Reipas misses with a takedown
and Bennet counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riku Reipas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reipas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Reipas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Reipas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bennet connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Bennet dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bennet throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Reipas tries for a takedown but Bennet circles away easily
and Bennet counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Reipas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Bennet counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennet throws a right and a left that Reipas avoids nicely.
Reipas throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Reipas throws out a loose jab but Bennet uses good head movement to avoid it.
Reipas has his takedown stuffed
and Bennet counters with a nice uppercut.
Bennet throws a series of punches but Reipas avoids them all with ease.
Bennet fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Reipas looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Bennet misses with a right hand

and Reipas counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Reipas.
Reipas stops Bennet from standing up.
Reipas trying to control but Bennet is working from the bottom.
Bennet bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Reipas's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reipas has a closed guard, preventing Bennet from standing up.

That's four 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!
Bennet tries to free his leg and advance position but Reipas is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reipas keeping moving, preventing Bennet from controlling successfully.

Reipas looking for a guillotine here but Bennet defends easily.
Bennet pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Reipas is keeping the position for now.

Reipas is looking for a triangle but Bennet pushes his legs off easily.
Bennet wants to stand but Reipas is controlling his posture from full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reipas looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Charles Bennet will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Reipas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bennet counters with a straight right hand.
Bennet looks to land a combination but Reipas avoids it well.
Bennet lands a right hook to the body.
Reipas misses with a takedown attempt
and Bennet counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Charles Bennet is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bennet fails to land with a series of punches.
The fight stays on the outside here - Reipas looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Reipas with a lazy takedown attempt
enabling Bennet to counter with a crisp jab.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Riku Reipas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Reipas misses with a takedown attempt
and Reipas takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bennet scores with a punch to the head.
A shot to the liver by Bennet. Beautiful body shot.
Sloppy strikes from Bennet. Those never looked like landing.
Bennet moves out of range as Reipas throws a body kick.
Bennet throws out a powerful jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reipas tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bennet swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bennet lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Reipas circles away quickly and effectively.
Bennet throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Reipas takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Bennet misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Reipas.
Reipas scores with a body shot.
Reipas tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Bennet paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Reipas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Bennet counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Bennet jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Reipas misses with a takedown attempt
and Bennet counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Bennet thuds a left hand into Reipas's body.
Reipas shoots and misses
and Bennet counters with a three punch combo that has Reipas backing up. Reipas nods at Bennet to acknowledge the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennet bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Reipas's head backwards.
Reipas fails with the takedown
and Bennet counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Reipas walks into a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bennet lands the left hand.
Charles Bennet is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Reipas fails with the takedown
and Bennet counters with a nice uppercut.
Reipas misses with a takedown attempt
and Bennet counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Bennet lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Reipas circles away quickly and effectively.
Bennet pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Bennet fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Reipas doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Bennet counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Bennet.
Bennet fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Reipas shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Reipas showed some decent athleticism there.
Reipas moves into full mount! Bennet won't be happy about that!
Bennet is trying desperately to improve position.
Bennet is trying to reverse the position but instead Reipas has taken his back - oops!
Riku Reipas has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Reipas working for the choke.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bennet is trying to stand back up.

Reipas is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Bennet defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bennet holding both Reipas 's hands and preventing any damage.

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 Riku Reipas.
I think Bennet has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Riku Reipas!