PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zaid Al Balushi (ranked 490 p4p, 687 weight class) and Rafael Benedetti (ranked 84 p4p, 101 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Al Balushi
vs
Benedetti

180 cm
35
155
23 - 11 - 1

175 cm
29
155
15 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Dirty Commie $50
Urban Fighter

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 23 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Zaid Al Balushi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rafael Benedetti!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Hirohito Nitta and Shigeki Fujiwara.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benedetti tries to clinch but Al Balushi is having none of it.
Benedetti scores with a hook.
Benedetti lands with a hook. Al Balushi tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Benedetti checks a leg kick.
Benedetti lands the left hand.
Al Balushi checks a leg kick.
Benedetti throws the left hand but Al Balushi avoids the punch easily.
Benedetti is looking to slow Al Balushi down with leg kicks.
Al Balushi staying out of range there.
Benedetti connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Al Balushi's hands.
Al Balushi attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Benedetti missing with a left hand there. Al Balushi was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Benedetti takes a jab right on the kisser.
Benedetti buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Al Balushi tries to clinch up.
Al Balushi tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Benedetti manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
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!
Al Balushi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Benedetti swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Benedetti takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Zaid Al Balushi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Al Balushi misses with a jab, cross combination.
Al Balushi scores with a hook.
Benedetti moves away from the strike by Al Balushi.
The fight stays on the outside here - Al Balushi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Al Balushi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti connects with a good right hand that stumbles Al Balushi. Al Balushi circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Benedetti throws a head kick but Al Balushi moves out of range.
Al Balushi was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Benedetti misses with a low kick.
Al Balushi throws a nice inside leg kick.
Al Balushi bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Al Balushi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Benedetti.
A head kick from Al Balushi lands but Benedetti takes it in his stride.
Al Balushi throws the kick towards the body but Benedetti avoids it.
Al Balushi throws the left hand but Benedetti avoids the punch easily.
Benedetti moves out of range of the body kick.
Benedetti now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
That kick from Benedetti tenderised Al Balushi's leg. Al Balushi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Al Balushi misses with a body kick.
Al Balushi throws a hook but Benedetti avoids it easily.
Al Balushi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Al Balushi gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Al Balushi misses with a straight left.
Benedetti connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benedetti moves out of range of the body kick.
Al Balushi checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Al Balushi lands a really nice looking cross but Benedetti seems unphased.
Benedetti swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Al Balushi takes one on the chin but seems OK.
A slapping body kick lands there for Al Balushi.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi throws a lazy right hand but Benedetti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Al Balushi ducks under a wild hook from Benedetti.
Al Balushi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Benedetti fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Al Balushi manages to avoid it.
Al Balushi with a nice calf kick.
Benedetti lands with a thumping leg kick.
Benedetti looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Al Balushi uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Benedetti.
Al Balushi missing with a left hand there. Benedetti was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Al Balushi walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Benedetti checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Al Balushi scores with a hook.
Al Balushi cracks Benedetti with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Nice cross by Al Balushi.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Al Balushi, as that shot connected.
Benedetti avoids a punch combination nicely.
Al Balushi misses with an attempted mid kick.
A head kick misses from Benedetti.
Benedetti lands with a right hand.
Some wild striking there from Benedetti.
Al Balushi feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Benedetti digs a good body shot into Al Balushi's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Benedetti moves out of range of the body kick.
A jab from Al Balushi misses.
Benedetti throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Al Balushi is looking to counter the offense by Benedetti and move into the clinch.
Benedetti misses with a body kick.
Al Balushi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Benedetti lands a nice hook to Al Balushi's body. Al Balushi takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Al Balushi waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Benedetti.
Al Balushi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Al Balushi chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Al Balushi looks to land a body kick but Benedetti moved away.
Benedetti is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Al Balushi with a body shot.
A big left from Benedetti misses.
Good work by Benedetti as he checks the leg kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Al Balushi checks a leg kick.
Al Balushi looks to land a right hand but Benedetti moved out of range.
Benedetti throws out a loose jab but Al Balushi uses good head movement to avoid it.
Benedetti slips under a jab.
Al Balushi is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Benedetti throws a sloppy head kick and Al Balushi moves out of range easily.
Al Balushi pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Benedetti scores with a sloppy right hand. Al Balushi should have avoided that one.
Al Balushi walks into a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti walks forward, straight into a front kick from Al Balushi.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A jab lands there for Benedetti.
Al Balushi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Al Balushi throws a leg kick but Benedetti moved away.
Al Balushi tries to work over Benedetti's front leg with a kick but Benedetti checks it.
Benedetti jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Al Balushi is looking to clinch but Benedetti is avoiding it.
Benedetti wants to clinch.
Benedetti connects with a crisp jab.
Al Balushi tries to land a front kick but Benedetti steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Benedetti fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Al Balushi manages to avoid it.
Benedetti misses with a straight right.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benedetti. Al Balushi does a little dance to reset his feet.
Some wild striking there from Benedetti.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Al Balushi checks a leg kick.
Al Balushi thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Benedetti if he has to take too many more of those.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Rafael Benedetti will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Al Balushi scores with a jab to the jaw.
Benedetti swings for the body but Al Balushi moves out of range.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Benedetti.
Al Balushi keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Benedetti.
Al Balushi throws a good cross that connects.
Benedetti explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Al Balushi connects with an inside leg kick.
Al Balushi slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Al Balushi lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Al Balushi throws a hook to the side of Benedetti's head but Benedetti sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Al Balushi lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Al Balushi checks a low kick from Benedetti.
A clash of legs there as Benedetti blocks the low kick.
Benedetti lands a nice shot to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Benedetti checks a leg kick.
Benedetti throws a hook but Al Balushi avoids it easily.
Benedetti throws a one two combo.
Benedetti uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Al Balushi.
Al Balushi wants to clinch
and Benedetti counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A nice inside leg kick there by Benedetti. That's going to slow Al Balushi down.

Benedetti moves into range and clinches up with Al Balushi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Al Balushi is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Benedetti is defending well for now.
Benedetti blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Benedetti fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Benedetti doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Al Balushi cracks Benedetti with a nice body shot.
Benedetti tries to throw a body punch but Al Balushi avoids it by throwing Benedetti back against the cage.
Benedetti is working Al Balushi over against the cage.
Al Balushi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Benedetti blocking some punches.
A short body shot lands from Benedetti as the two fighters clinch.
Al Balushi misses with an elbow over the top.
Al Balushi misses with a hook from the clinch.
Al Balushi tries a body shot but Benedetti blocks it.
Benedetti doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A short right from Benedetti.
A body shot lands from Benedetti.
A head punch on the inside from Benedetti fails to land.
Al Balushi working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Benedetti throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
A right hand to the body from Benedetti.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al Balushi lands with a short punch from the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A short uppercut from Benedetti.
Benedetti lands an uppercut.
A short uppercut from Benedetti.
Al Balushi misses with a body punch.
Benedetti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A short right from Benedetti on the inside.
Al Balushi stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Al Balushi throws a punch but it's blocked by Benedetti.
Benedetti can't find room to land a body shot as Al Balushi controls the action.
A short uppercut from Benedetti.
Al Balushi lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Benedetti backwards.
Benedetti working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Benedetti can't find room to land a body shot as Al Balushi controls the action.
Benedetti lands a left hand.
Benedetti can't find room to land a body shot as Al Balushi controls the action.
Al Balushi is looking to control Benedetti's arms but Benedetti gets an underhook and turns him. Now Al Balushi has his back to the cage.
Al Balushi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Benedetti avoiding damage as Al Balushi throws knees to the body.
Benedetti lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Al Balushi.
Still in the clinch, Benedetti scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti throws a head punch that misses.
Al Balushi gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Al Balushi throws a head punch that misses.
Benedetti looking to slow down the pace here.
Al Balushi is pushing Benedetti up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Al Balushi blocks an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Al Balushi.
Al Balushi lands a right hand.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Benedetti.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Benedetti.
A short right from Benedetti on the inside.
Al Balushi prevents a body shot from Benedetti.
Al Balushi misses with the head strike.
Benedetti fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Benedetti lands a left hand that snaps the head of Al Balushi backwards.
Benedetti fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Benedetti can't find room to land a body shot as Al Balushi controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti misses with a punch to the body.
Benedetti misses with a punch on the inside.
Benedetti is leaning against Al Balushi and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Benedetti misses with a punch on the inside.
Benedetti misses with a body punch.
Al Balushi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Al Balushi with a knee to the head.

It looks like Rafael Benedetti has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Al Balushi stalling in the clinch.
Al Balushi blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Al Balushi fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Benedetti on the inside.
Benedetti lands a body punch.
Al Balushi blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Benedetti swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Al Balushi swings away with an uppercut that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benedetti on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Benedetti lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Al Balushi or not.
Benedetti misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Rafael Benedetti seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Al Balushi lands an elbow inside.
Benedetti gets through Al Balushi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Benedetti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rafael Benedetti'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. This is the final round!

Benedetti throws a quick inside leg kick.
Al Balushi throws the kick towards the body but Benedetti avoids it.
Al Balushi looks for the body kick but Benedetti saw that one coming.
Al Balushi slips a straight right by Benedetti.
Benedetti lands a really nice looking cross but Al Balushi seems unphased.
Benedetti lands a lovely overhand right.
Al Balushi misses with a low kick.
Benedetti throws out a counter right but Al Balushi avoids it with no problem.
Al Balushi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Al Balushi throws a leg kick but Benedetti sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Benedetti keeps the fight on the outside.
Benedetti looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Benedetti swats away the attempt to clinch by Al Balushi.
Al Balushi takes a swing at Benedetti's ribcage but misses.
Al Balushi scores with a nice body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Al Balushi throws out a loose jab but Benedetti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Nice body kick there by Al Balushi.

Benedetti fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Al Balushi, pushing him back against the cage.
Benedetti struggles to land a body shot inside as Al Balushi controls his hands.
Benedetti letting Al Balushi take a breather here.
Al Balushi trying to land knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benedetti.
Al Balushi misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Al Balushi misses with a hook to the ribs.
Al Balushi doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Benedetti blocks an elbow strike from Al Balushi.
Benedetti throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Benedetti lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Benedetti scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Al Balushi lands an elbow just above Benedetti 's eye.
Benedetti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benedetti misses with some punches.
Al Balushi misses with a short punch on the inside.
Benedetti misses with the head strike.
Benedetti misses with a punch to the body.
Benedetti stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Al Balushi can't find room to land a body shot as Benedetti controls the action.
Benedetti blocks a body shot from Al Balushi.
Benedetti lands an uppercut.
Benedetti lands a body shot in the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Al Balushi.
Zaid Al Balushi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Benedetti breaks from the clinch.
Al Balushi takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Al Balushi checks a leg kick.
Al Balushi lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Al Balushi throws a series of punches but Benedetti moves out of range.
A good leg kick by Benedetti.
Al Balushi slips a jab from Benedetti.
Benedetti looks for the body kick but Al Balushi saw that one coming.
Benedetti tries to land a leg kick but Al Balushi saw it coming and moves away.
Benedetti throws a body punch but Al Balushi moves out of range.
Benedetti ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Al Balushi moves away.
Al Balushi blocks a jab.
Al Balushi takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Al Balushi fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Benedetti is out of range.
Benedetti throws a low kick, looking for Al Balushi's leg but Al Balushi calmly moves out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Benedetti. That's going to slow Al Balushi down.
Benedetti misses the jab.
Al Balushi drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Al Balushi misses with a body kick.
Benedetti let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Benedetti throws a hook but Al Balushi blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti looks to score with a jab to the body but Al Balushi is just out of range.
As Benedetti looks to move away, Al Balushi throws a big counter combo but Benedetti just gets out of the way.
Al Balushi dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Benedetti. That did some damage!
The fighters circling - Benedetti throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Benedetti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Benedetti only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Benedetti tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Al Balushi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Al Balushi thows a leg kick but Benedetti checks it
and Benedetti counters with a stiff right hand.
Benedetti has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Al Balushi.
Benedetti attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
An attempted straight right counter from Al Balushi misses the target.
Benedetti takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Benedetti connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
A slow jab from Benedetti misses its intended target.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Al Balushi, as that shot connected.
Benedetti fails in his attempt to clinch.
Al Balushi throws a push kick but Benedetti slaps the foot to one side.
Al Balushi tried to score with a low kick but Benedetti checks it.
Al Balushi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

Al Balushi clinches.
Benedetti lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Al Balushi.
Benedetti's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Al Balushi gets through Benedetti's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benedetti struggles to land a body shot inside as Al Balushi controls his hands.
A right hook to the body lands for Benedetti.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Benedetti - that landed with a thud.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Benedetti lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Benedetti misses with a punch to the body.
Benedetti is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Al Balushi working aggressively here.
A short right from Benedetti.
Al Balushi tries a body shot but Benedetti blocks it.
A hook to the body from Benedetti.
Benedetti struggles to land a body shot inside as Al Balushi controls his hands.
A shot in the inside from Benedetti.
Benedetti blocks a body shot from Al Balushi.
Benedetti lands a right hand that snaps the head of Al Balushi backwards.
Benedetti lands a shot to the body.
Benedetti scores with a hook to the body.
Al Balushi throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Benedetti is working Al Balushi over against the cage.
Benedetti lands with a right to the head.
Benedetti lands with a short shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Benedetti comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Benedetti has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Hirohito Nitta scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Benedetti!
An out of breath Rafael Benedetti thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.