PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arnavut Sevket (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Massimo Benvenuti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Massimo Benvenuti will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Sevket
vs
Benvenuti

182 cm
29
192 lbs
20 - 4 - 0

182 cm
29
186 lbs
23 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Sun-Tzu
Spartan Nutrition

Mohito Fightwear
Spartan Nutrition

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 20 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Arnavut Sevket!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Massimo Benvenuti!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, James Glass and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sevket jabs at Benvenuti's body.
Sevket stuns Benvenuti with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Benvenuti has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Sevket throws a body punch but Benvenuti moves out of range.
Sevket misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benvenuti.
Benvenuti fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Benvenuti scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Sevket doesn't seem bothered though.
Massimo Benvenuti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sevket dives in and grabs Benvenuti's left leg, looking for a takedown. Benvenuti pushes down on Sevket's head and hops out.
Benvenuti is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Sevket looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Benvenuti throws a low kick, looking for Sevket's leg but Sevket calmly moves out of range.
Sevket uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Benvenuti has time to react.
Benvenuti uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sevket.
Sevket gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Benvenuti.

It looks like Arnavut Sevket has been cut.
Sevket just misses with a punch to the body.
Benvenuti misses with a looping right.
Benvenuti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sevket was well out of range. Poor timing from Benvenuti.
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!
Sevket uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Benvenuti.
Benvenuti shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Sevket eats them both and turns towards Benvenuti to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sevket throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sevket jabs at Benvenuti's body.

Sevket looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sevket stays in close to Benvenuti's body and controls the position.
Sevket is looking to work some ground and pound but Benvenuti has wrist control.
Benvenuti keeping moving, preventing Sevket from controlling successfully.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Benvenuti can do anything to dispel that myth.
Sevket pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benvenuti is keeping the position for now.
Sevket postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sevket working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sevket trying to control but Benvenuti is working from the bottom.
Sevket postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sevket trying to control but Benvenuti is working from the bottom.
Sevket connects with a couple of short punches.
Benvenuti wants to sweep here but Sevket controlling him for the moment.
Sevket looking to sit in guard and control but Benvenuti gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sevket manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Benvenuti manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benvenuti controlling the position.
Benvenuti preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sevket loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sevket has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Benvenuti keeping moving, preventing Sevket from controlling successfully.
Sevket looking to sit in guard and control but Benvenuti gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Benvenuti preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sevket has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Benvenuti sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Sevket's guard.
Sevket has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Benvenuti is working away from the top position though.
Sevket regains full guard. Nicely done.
Sevket seems keen to control Benvenuti's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Arnavut Sevket will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Arnavut Sevket's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Benvenuti throws a body shot but no joy.
Benvenuti misses with a hook.
Benvenuti throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Benvenuti cracks Sevket with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Benvenuti bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sevket's head.
Sevket fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Sevket changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Sevket throws a lazy right hand but Benvenuti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Benvenuti doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Benvenuti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sevket was well out of range. Poor timing from Benvenuti.
Benvenuti thows a left - swing and a miss!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sevket doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Sevket takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sevket avoids the body shot from Benvenuti.
Benvenuti throws a predictable looking body shot
and Sevket connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benvenuti with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Sevket avoids a kick to the body.
Benvenuti dips to his left and cracks Sevket with an uppercut!
Sevket throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Jab, jab by Benvenuti - just one landing.
Benvenuti shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sevket was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Sevket throws a body shot but no joy.
Sevket takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sevket fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Benvenuti looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

Sevket shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Benvenuti pushes Sevket off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benvenuti stuns Sevket with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Benvenuti lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Benvenuti throws a lazy right hand but Sevket sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Sevket moves away from the strike by Benvenuti.
Sevket drops down looking for a counter takedown but Benvenuti sprawls and moves away.
Sevket misses with a body shot.
Benvenuti misses with a head kick.
Sevket attempts a counter takedown but Benvenuti avoids it well and moves away.

Sevket looking to score a takedown here. Benvenuti is defending well but Sevket drives through and ends up in Benvenuti's guard.
Benvenuti keeping moving, preventing Sevket from controlling successfully.
Benvenuti looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sevket throws a strike but Benvenuti rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Benvenuti not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benvenuti stopping the sweep attempt from Sevket.
Sevket managing to control the position.
Sevket controls Benvenuti momentarily but Benvenuti frees himself.
Sevket is adopting a defensive guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sevket is on top in guard.

Sevket postures up.
Benvenuti keeping moving, preventing Sevket from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Sevket's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Benvenuti is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Sevket is controlling Benvenuti's trapped leg to prevent Benvenuti from advancing to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Massimo Benvenuti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Arnavut Sevket's cut.
That's time! Sevket's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Benvenuti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sevket was well out of range. Poor timing from Benvenuti.
Benvenuti uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Sevket.
Sevket shoots in but Benvenuti avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benvenuti. Sevket does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sevket uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Benvenuti.
Sevket checks the leg kick.
Sevket looks to score with a jab to the body but Benvenuti is just out of range.
Horrible takedown attempt by Sevket or perhaps it was just good defense by Benvenuti, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benvenuti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sevket was well out of range. Poor timing from Benvenuti.
Benvenuti works Sevket's body with a nice hook.
Sevket misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benvenuti.
Benvenuti works the jab nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sevket slips under a jab.
Benvenuti throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Massimo Benvenuti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Benvenuti just misses with a punch to the body.
Sevket shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Benvenuti counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arnavut Sevket. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benvenuti connects with a solid leg kick.
Benvenuti ducks under a wild hook from Sevket.
Benvenuti misses the body punch
and Sevket counters with a stiff right hand.
Sevket moves forwards but Benvenuti connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sevket rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Benvenuti counters with a lovely straight right hand!
A combination from Sevket does no damage.
Sevket misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benvenuti.
Sevket throws a shot from downtown. Benvenuti moves away and avoids it.
Massimo Benvenuti seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benvenuti scores with a hook to the body. Sevket takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
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!
Benvenuti misses with a wild body shot.
Benvenuti stuns Sevket with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Benvenuti thuds a left hand into Sevket's body.
Benvenuti misses with an uppercut.
Benvenuti lands a nice leg kick that just misses Sevket's sensitive parts.

Benvenuti rushes Sevket and presses him up against the cage.
A short right from Sevket.
The referee is keeping an eye on Benvenuti - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Sevket goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Benvenuti lands with a right to the head.
Sevket misses with some punches.
Sevket tries a body shot but Benvenuti blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benvenuti prevents a body shot from Sevket.
Benvenuti is working Sevket over against the cage.
Benvenuti blocks a body shot from Sevket.
Sevket struggles to land a body shot inside as Benvenuti controls his hands.
Nice body punch from Sevket.
Benvenuti lands a nice shot to the body.
Benvenuti is trying to stall.
Benvenuti tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sevket's elbow.
Sevket doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sevket has a couple of punches blocked by Benvenuti.
Benvenuti blocks a body shot from Sevket.
Sevket goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sevket takes a shot to the head.
Benvenuti lands with a short shot to the head.
Sevket blocks an uppercut.
Sevket can't find room to land a body shot as Benvenuti controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sevket digs a right hand underneath Benvenuti's ribcage. Benvenuti let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Benvenuti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sevket lands a right hand.
Sevket lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Benvenuti backwards.
Sevket lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Benvenuti or not.
Benvenuti fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Benvenuti working aggressively here.
Arnavut Sevket has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Benvenuti can't find room to land a body shot as Sevket controls the action.
Sevket has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Benvenuti avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benvenuti blocks a body shot from Sevket.
Benvenuti throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Benvenuti lands a body punch in the clinch.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Sevket gets a trip takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Massimo Benvenuti really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Arnavut Sevket's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Benvenuti connects with a body shot.
Benvenuti lands with a shot to the body.

Benvenuti closes the distance and clinches.
Benvenuti misses with the head strike.
Sevket prevents a body shot from Benvenuti.
Sevket throws a punch but it's blocked by Benvenuti.
A shot in the inside from Benvenuti.
Benvenuti pushes Sevket back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Benvenuti lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Benvenuti softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sevket lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Sevket fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sevket has a couple of punches blocked by Benvenuti.
Sevket wants a takedown but no success here.
Benvenuti can't find room to land a body shot as Sevket controls the action.
Sevket tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Benvenuti's elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benvenuti lands a body punch in the clinch.
Sevket is looking to take this one to the mat.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Benvenuti lands a right hand.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Benvenuti.
Sevket takes a shot to the head.
Benvenuti softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Sevket is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Benvenuti is defending well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arnavut Sevket. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benvenuti lands a shoulder strike.
Still in the clinch, Benvenuti scores with a nice short uppercut.
Benvenuti scores with a hook to the body.
The referee calls for Benvenuti to work.
Benvenuti lands a nice uppercut.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Benvenuti just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sevket's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benvenuti prevents a body shot from Sevket.
Benvenuti misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A short left from Benvenuti.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benvenuti tries to land knees in the clinch but Sevket avoids the damage to the body.
Sevket tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Benvenuti's elbow.
Benvenuti scores with a nice hook to the head.
Sevket struggles to land a body shot inside as Benvenuti controls his hands.
A right hand to the body from Benvenuti.
Benvenuti misses with a body punch.
Sevket swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Sevket misses with some punches.
Sevket tries to throw a body punch but Benvenuti avoids it by throwing Sevket back against the cage.
Sevket misses with a hook to the ribs.
Benvenuti throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sevkets head.
Sevket goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sevket blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benvenuti is trying to maintain a safe position but Sevket gets an underhook and turns Benvenuti into the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benvenuti.
Sevket can't find room to land a body shot as Benvenuti controls the action.
Benvenuti has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Benvenuti scores with a shot to the side of Sevket's head.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Benvenuti.
Sevket struggles to land a body shot inside as Benvenuti controls his hands.
Sevket tries to score a body lock takedown but Benvenuti shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sevket misses with a hook to the ribs.

Sevket pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sevket is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Benvenuti lands the left hand.
Nice shot lands for Benvenuti.
Sevket throws a sloppy body shot

and Benvenuti holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sevket.
Sevket misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Sevket.
Benvenuti prevents a body shot from Sevket.
Benvenuti keeps control of Sevket as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
A right handed body shot lands from Benvenuti.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benvenuti prevents a body shot from Sevket.
Benvenuti wants to stall.
Benvenuti prevents a body shot from Sevket.
Benvenuti lands with a left to the head.
Sevket scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Sevket struggles to land a body shot inside as Benvenuti controls his hands.
Benvenuti taking a breather.
Sevket blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sevket working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Sevket breaks the clinch.
Sevket uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Benvenuti.
Sevket feinted with a counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Massimo Benvenuti dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Arnavut Sevket's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A big left from Sevket misses.
Benvenuti tries to counter by closing the distance.
Sevket on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Sevket throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sevket throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Benvenuti connects with a nice looking jab.
Benvenuti lands a jab to Sevket's midsection.
A cross from Benvenuti lands.
Benvenuti fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sevket misses with a body shot.
Benvenuti doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sevket darts in looking for a takedown but Benvenuti gets double underhooks and turns Sevket into the cage.
Sevket takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sevket throws a body shot but no joy.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Benvenuti tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Sevket manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Benvenuti fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Sevket, pushing him back against the cage.
Benvenuti tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sevket's elbow.
Sevket wants to break free but Benvenuti has control.
Benvenuti lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Sevket.
Benvenuti content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Benvenuti - that landed with a thud.
Sevket tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Good body shot from Benvenuti.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Benvenuti.
Sevket goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sevket tries a body shot but Benvenuti blocks it.
Sevket swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Sevket breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sevket takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Sevket throws a body punch but Benvenuti moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benvenuti moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Benvenuti scores with a jab to the head.
Sevket swats away the attempt to clinch by Benvenuti.
Sevket throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benvenuti throws a shot to the body.
Sevket works Benvenuti's body with a nice hook.

Benvenuti drops Sevket with a beautiful combination! Sevket stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Benvenuti is looking for the KO!

Sevket is rocked!
Benvenuti cracks Sevket with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Sevket tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Benvenuti pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Sevket is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 5, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Massimo Benvenuti! Massimo Benvenuti retains his middleweight title!
Massimo Benvenuti decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.