PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lav Artic (ranked 4248 p4p, 3365 weight class) and Mark Beneke (ranked 505 p4p, 415 weight class). Lav Artic could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Mark Beneke's chin.

Artic
vs
Beneke

182 cm
22
180
3 - 5 - 0

182 cm
23
184
7 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Furnace Performance Products
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Lav Artic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Beneke!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Jorge Garcia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Artic scores with a one two! Beneke had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
A punch lands to the side of Artic 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Good exchange - Beneke coming out on top.
Artic misses with a looping left.
Beneke defending well as Artic loads up on a big left hand.
Artic takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Artic uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Beneke.
Artic swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Beneke jabs Artic right on the nose. Artic blinks but takes it well.
Artic misses with a jab, cross combination.
Some wild striking there from Artic.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Beneke scores with a jab to the jaw.
Jab, jab by Beneke - just one landing.
Artic misses with a few strikes there.
Beneke throws a lazy uppercut
and Artic counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mark Beneke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Artic missing with a left hand there. Beneke was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Artic connects with the punch.
A left lands for Beneke.
Beneke throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Beneke misses with a leg kick

and Artic counters with a nice double leg into side control. Beneke won't be happy with that.
Beneke regains half guard, as Artic was trying to land strikes.
Artic 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Artic not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Beneke avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Artic.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Beneke avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Artic.
Nice strikes from Artic there.
Artic lands strikes from half guard.
Artic thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Beneke's head.

Beneke has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Artic is on him like a limpet, forcing Beneke back against the cage.
Beneke takes a shot to the head.
Artic swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Artic tries to stall but Beneke uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Beneke has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Artic uses from the top position.
Beneke wants to stand but Artic is controlling the position.
Artic keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Beneke's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beneke wants to get back to his feet but Artic is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Beneke kicks Artic off and gets to his feet.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Artic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Beneke's jab looks to have found its range, popping Artic under the eye.
Artic misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Beneke misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Artic!
Artic's jab looks to have found its range, popping Beneke under the eye.
Beneke throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Beneke throws out a loose jab but Artic uses good head movement to avoid it.
Beneke tests Artic's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Beneke takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Artic misses with the combination.

Artic shoots in and bounces Beneke off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Artic wants to control from the top but Beneke keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Artic trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Artic won't allow Beneke to get back to his feet.

Beneke has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Artic is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Artic is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Beneke's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Beneke misses with a looping left.
Artic seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
A right-left combo lands from Artic.
Artic ducks under a wild hook from Beneke.
Beneke throws a body kick that misses.
Beneke lands a body shot.
Some wild striking there from Artic.

Artic fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Beneke sprawls well initially but Artic persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Beneke pushes Artic off and gets back to his feet.
Artic looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
No joy there for Artic, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A decent looking cross lands there for Beneke.
Beneke is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Artic had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into mush.
Beneke avoids the body shot from Artic.

Artic scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Beneke pushes Artic away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Artic gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Artic throws an elbow but Beneke slips to the side and avoids it well.
Artic prevents Beneke from escaping the position.
Artic working the ground and pound from side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Artic creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Beneke sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Beneke wants to get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Lav Artic will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Artic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Beneke looks to throw the jab but Artic is out of range.
Beneke connects with a looping right hand.
Beneke works Artic's body with a nice hook.
Decent striking displayed by Artic there.
Artic tries a low kick but Beneke avoids it.
Beneke takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Beneke throws a nice outside leg kick.
Beneke throws an overhand right that lands on Artic's shoulder, as Artic tries to avoid the shot.
Beneke takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Beneke lands with an uppercut that bounces Artic off the cage and back into range.
Artic throws a body punch but Beneke moves out of range.
Beneke slips under a jab from Artic.
Artic misses with a hook. Beneke ducked under it nicely.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Artic blocks a jab.
Artic misses with a few strikes there.
Artic lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Artic lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Beneke circles away quickly and effectively.
Beneke scores with a jab to the head.
Beneke misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beneke has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Beneke there as he acknowledges the shot.
Beneke lands with a hook. Artic tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Beneke lets loose with a powerful body kick. Artic will feel that in the morning.
Artic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Artic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Beneke moves away.
Jab from Beneke.
A looping hook to the body misses from Artic. Beneke does a little dance to reset his feet.
Artic throws a body punch but Beneke moves out of range.
Lav Artic is winning the standup battle so far.
Artic takes one to the chin there.
Beneke lands a jab to the head.

Artic is rocked!
Artic leaves his chin hanging out and Beneke seizes the opportunity with an uppercut! Artic crumbles to the floor in a heap! The referee steps in and tends to the downed fighter! What a knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:40 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Mark Beneke!
Mark Beneke was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.