PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Aum Munga (ranked 1261 p4p, 1799 weight class) and Rafael Benedetti (ranked 133 p4p, 187 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Munga
vs
Benedetti

155 cm
21
145
5 - 0 - 1

175 cm
24
155
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Heavy Metal Drugs

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Aum Munga!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rafael Benedetti!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Glass and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benedetti throws a low kick, looking for Munga's leg but Munga calmly moves out of range.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Benedetti gets caught flat footed, as Munga shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Benedetti looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Benedetti is controlling Munga's posture.
Let's hope that Benedetti has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Benedetti tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Munga distracts Benedetti with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Munga throws a big right hand that misses.
Benedetti has control of Munga's left arm, preventing Munga from doing any damage.
Munga missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Benedetti holds on and takes a little breather.
Munga throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Munga might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Benedetti keeping moving, preventing Munga from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Munga with a flurry of punches that miss.
Munga postures up in Benedetti's guard and throws a big left but Benedetti blocks it.
Munga preventing the sweep.
Benedetti is pulling down on Munga's head. It's preventing any offense from Munga, at least for the moment.
Munga working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Munga postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Benedetti keeping moving, preventing Munga from controlling successfully.
Benedetti is trying to control the position but Munga postures up.
Benedetti is pulling down on Munga's head. It's preventing any offense from Munga, at least for the moment.
Munga lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Munga stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Benedetti swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've been hearing that Munga has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Benedetti has Munga pulled in close to control his posture.
Munga in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Munga with a flurry of punches that miss.
Benedetti working a defensive guard here.
Munga throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Munga postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Benedetti is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Benedetti prevents Munga from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti slows the pace down in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Benedetti is looking for a kimura but Munga is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Benedetti to get the leverage.
Munga moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Munga looking to hit a scissor sweep but Benedetti is one step ahead there.
Benedetti pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Munga is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Benedetti stands and steps away. Munga gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Munga drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Munga postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Munga is looking to take a break and control but Benedetti is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benedetti tries to bench press Munga off him but Munga keeps the position.
Benedetti can't do much from the bottom here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benedetti is trying to get back to his feet.
Benedetti wants to control but Munga postures up.
Munga wants to lay and pray for a moment but Benedetti keeps working.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aum Munga dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Munga loads up on a big right hand but Benedetti slips the punch.
Benedetti cracks Munga with a good jab.
Benedetti takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Munga is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Benedetti can do to turn this around?
Munga on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Munga throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Munga avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Benedetti ducks under a wild hook from Munga.

Munga rushes Benedetti and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Munga is trying to break the clinch but Benedetti is controlling him.
Munga can't break the clinch.
Benedetti cracks Munga with a nice body shot.
Benedetti lands a right hand that snaps the head of Munga backwards.
Benedetti tries a body shot but Munga blocks it.
A short right from Munga.
Munga is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Benedetti pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Benedetti lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Benedetti has a couple of punches blocked by Munga.
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!
Benedetti blocks an uppercut.
A short left from Munga.

Benedetti breaks from the clinch.
Benedetti throws a quick inside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Munga misses with a straight right.
Munga shoots in looking for a takedown but Benedetti manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Munga's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A head kick misses from Benedetti.
Munga misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benedetti.
Munga moves out of range as Benedetti strikes.

Munga has closed the distance and engaged Benedetti in a clinch.
Munga is trying to break the clinch but Benedetti has him pressed against the cage.
Munga working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Benedetti prevents a takedown attempt there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aum Munga. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Munga lands a right hand that snaps the head of Benedetti backwards.

Benedetti manages to break the clinch.
Benedetti just misses with a punch to the body.
Munga throws a series of punches but Benedetti moves out of range.
Benedetti keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Munga misses with a series of wild punches.
A countering left hand to the body from Benedetti misses.
Benedetti avoids the body shot from Munga.
Munga scores with a decent looking hook.
Benedetti connects with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benedetti looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Aum Munga seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Munga throws the left hand but Benedetti avoids the punch easily.
Benedetti throws a head kick that misses.
Benedetti looks to land a right hand but Munga moved out of range.
Benedetti connects with a nice looking jab.
Munga slips under a jab.
Munga on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Benedetti. Benedetti obviously looking to wear him down.
Munga on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Munga throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Benedetti throws a jab when Munga was well out of range.
Munga scores with a shot to the body.
Benedetti throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Munga looks to score with a jab to the body but Benedetti is just out of range.
Benedetti throws a lazy right hand but Munga sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Benedetti on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Nice defenses there by Benedetti.
Benedetti takes one to the chin there.
Munga misses with a hook
and Benedetti counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Benedetti connects with a body shot that sends Munga's belly button to the back.
Benedetti misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Benedetti staying out of range there.
Benedetti is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Munga fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Benedetti, pushing him back against the cage.

Munga breaks the clinch.
Munga throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Benedetti connects with a leg kick.
Benedetti throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Munga misses with a hook. Benedetti ducked under it nicely.
Munga ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Benedetti moves away.
Benedetti steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Benedetti uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Munga.
Benedetti swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Benedetti throws an overhand right that lands on Munga's shoulder, as Munga tries to avoid the shot.
Benedetti throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Benedetti misses with an uppercut.
Benedetti smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Munga misses with a jab, cross combination.
Benedetti moves away from the strike by Munga.
Munga takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Munga misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benedetti.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Munga swats away the attempt to clinch by Benedetti.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Munga throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Benedetti.
Rafael Benedetti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Munga throws the left hand but Benedetti avoids the punch easily.
Benedetti connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Benedetti has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Benedetti on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Benedetti cracks Munga with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Rafael Benedetti seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Benedetti lands a jab to Munga's midsection.
Munga misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benedetti.
Benedetti pivots, looking for a leg kick but Munga is out of range and Benedetti settles back down.
A big left from Munga misses.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Benedetti.
Munga looks to land a right hand but Benedetti moved out of range.
Munga fails with the takedown.
Munga keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Benedetti looks to score with a jab to the body but Munga is just out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benedetti looks to land a right hand but Munga moved out of range.
Benedetti lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Munga moves out of range of the leg kick from Benedetti.
Benedetti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Munga.
Benedetti tried to score with a low kick but Munga checks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rafael Benedetti 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!

Benedetti takes one to the chin there.
Nice cross by Munga.
Munga checks the leg kick.
A quick step to the side and Munga tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Munga misses with a looping right.
Benedetti throws a jab when Munga was well out of range.
Munga throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Benedetti dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Benedetti has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Munga keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benedetti dips to his left and cracks Munga with an uppercut!
Munga tries to move into range but Benedetti moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Benedetti tries to clinch but Munga moves out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Munga misses the target.
Benedetti tries to close the distance and clinch but Munga swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Munga swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Munga is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Munga shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Benedetti's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benedetti controlling the position.
Munga trying to control the position from guard on top but Benedetti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Munga preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Munga is working Benedetti over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Munga trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benedetti wants to control but Munga passes easily into half guard.
Benedetti has his hands clasped together around Munga's back. He's all about the action.
Benedetti works his way to full guard. Good work.
Benedetti not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Munga trying to control but Benedetti is working from the bottom.
Benedetti managing to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti controls Munga momentarily but Munga frees himself.
Munga stays in close to Benedetti's body and controls the position.
Benedetti not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Munga checks a leg kick nicely.
Munga throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Benedetti.
Benedetti thows a left - swing and a miss!
Munga throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Benedetti looks to land a body kick but Munga moved away.
Munga shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Munga misses with a straight right.
Munga staying out of range there.
Munga stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Munga tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Benedetti paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Benedetti avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Munga looks to throw the jab but Benedetti is out of range.
A jab from Benedetti does it's job there.
Benedetti throws a nice outside leg kick.
Munga tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Benedetti swivels and escapes.
Munga swats away the attempt to clinch by Benedetti.
Benedetti throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Munga.
Benedetti is looking to clinch but Munga is avoiding it.
Munga's jab looks to have found its range, popping Benedetti under the eye.
Benedetti misses with a straight left.
Munga misses the jab.
Munga misses with a hook. Benedetti ducked under it nicely.
Munga takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Benedetti with a nice calf kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Benedetti enables Munga to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Benedetti manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Munga pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benedetti is keeping the position for now.
Benedetti pulls Munga in to control the position.
Benedetti is trying to control the position but Munga postures up.
Munga postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Munga throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Benedetti not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Munga lands a couple of elbows.
Munga lands a couple of digs.
Benedetti is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Munga trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Munga accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Benedetti working a defensive guard but Munga manages to pass into side control anyway.

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 Aum Munga.
I think Munga 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:28
Judge James Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aum Munga!
After winning the bout, Aum Munga thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.