PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between D.C. Benny (ranked 323 p4p, 648 weight class) and Valdo Calamari (ranked 40 p4p, 88 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Benny might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to D.C. Benny - Unagi Standup Bit. Calamari comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Bellini - Samba Do Brasil kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Valdo Calamari acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Benny
vs
Calamari

185 cm
33
175
20 - 17 - 0

177 cm
28
170
17 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

NARCOS
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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 20 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, D.C. Benny!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Valdo Calamari!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Atkins and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benny throws a hook but Calamari blocks it.
Benny jabbing away but nothing is landing.
It seemed like Calamari was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Benny throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Calamari counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Calamari has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Benny uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Calamari.
Calamari throws a shot from downtown. Benny moves away and avoids it.
Benny slips a straight right by Calamari.
Benny drops his hands momentarily and Calamari takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Calamari misses with a hook. Benny ducked under it nicely.
Calamari closes the distance and clinches up with Benny, looking for a takedown. Calamari pushes Benny against the cage but Benny circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Benny misses the target.
Benny has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benny bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Benny throwing a counter right hand but Calamari manages to avoid it.
Calamari moves forwards but Benny connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Calamari throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Benny sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Calamari walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big right from Benny misses.
Benny slips a straight right by Calamari.
A swing and a miss from Benny.
Benny misses with an uppercut
and Calamari cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Calamari lands with a good body shot.
Calamari throws a lazy right hand but Benny sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Benny misses the target.
Benny misses with an uppercut
and Calamari connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Calamari misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Calamari misses with a looping right.
Benny takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Calamari staying out of range there.
Benny takes a swing at Calamari's ribcage but misses.
Benny is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Calamari gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Benny.
Benny moves away from the strike by Calamari.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Decent striking displayed by Calamari there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Calamari uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Benny.
Benny misses the jab.
Benny throws a jab but it's blocked by Calamari.
Benny throws a poor cross that misses
and Calamari makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
A big left from Calamari misses.
Benny just misses with a punch to the body.
Benny smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
D.C. Benny is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A swing and a miss from Benny.
Nice defenses there by Calamari.
Calamari tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Nice body punch from Benny.
Benny throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Calamari cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The fighters circling - Calamari throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benny misses with a hook.
Benny cracks Calamari with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nice defenses there by Benny.
Calamari looks to throw the jab but Benny is out of range.
Calamari misses with a looping right.
Benny was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Calamari bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Benny rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Calamari counters with a straight right hand.
Calamari ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Benny throws a hook but Calamari avoids it easily.
Calamari throws a lazy right hand but Benny sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A jab from Benny does it's job there.
Benny walks into a stiff left hand from Calamari.
Benny bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Calamari throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Calamari throws a poor cross that misses
and Calamari takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Calamari throws a hook but Benny blocks it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Calamari scores with a hook.
Calamari moves out of range of the strikes.
Benny lands a jab to Calamari's midsection.
Calamari thows a left - swing and a miss!
A looping hook to the body misses from Benny. Calamari does a little dance to reset his feet.
Calamari cracks a nice hook into Benny's ribs.
Calamari staying out of range there.
Calamari staying out of range there.
A slow jab from Benny misses its intended target.
Calamari throws a big shot that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Valdo Calamari will probably get the nod.
That's time! Benny's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Calamari bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A jab from Benny misses.
A countering left hand to the body from Calamari misses.
Benny misses with a right hand
and Calamari connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Calamari dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Calamari slips a straight right by Benny.
Benny moves out of range of the strikes.
It looked like Benny was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Calamari.
Benny dips to his left and cracks Calamari with an uppercut!
Benny just misses with a punch to the body.
Benny misses with a straight left.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benny swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Calamari misses with an uppercut. Benny saw that one coming.
Benny throws a body shot but no joy.
Benny rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Calamari counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Benny throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benny throws an overhand right that lands on Calamari's shoulder, as Calamari tries to avoid the shot.
Calamari tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Benny throws a looping overhand right but Calamari ducks down to avoid it.
Calamari with the counter takedown but Benny avoids it easily.
Benny slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Calamari throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Benny misses with a body shot.
Benny jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Calamari misses with a hook. Benny ducked under it nicely.
Benny appears to be looking for a big counter.
A telegraphed right hand from Benny misses the target.
Calamari with a hook.
Calamari 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.
Benny misses with a hook. Calamari ducked under it nicely.
Valdo Calamari seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Benny misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Calamari.
Calamari throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Benny sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Benny on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calamari's jab looks to have found its range, popping Benny under the eye.
Calamari throws a body punch but Benny moves out of range.
Benny throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Benny throws a shot from downtown. Calamari moves away and avoids it.

Calamari looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benny is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Calamari jumps into side control!
A lull in the action here.
Calamari in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Benny has one of Calamari's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Benny taking punishment in the form of punches.
Benny tries to buck Calamari off but Calamari is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benny is not content to let Calamari control the position.
Calamari working the head with strikes.
Calamari grinds an elbow into Benny's temple.
Benny gets back to half guard.
Benny trying to hold on to Calamari's head to control him but Calamari postures up.

Benny looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Calamari trying to control from half guard but Benny is working away.
Benny moves into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benny looking to hit a scissor sweep but Calamari is one step ahead there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benny looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Calamari scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Benny not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Calamari controls from within his opponent's guard.
Benny looking to control.
Benny wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Calamari trying to control the position from guard on top but Benny is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Benny looking for a guillotine here but Calamari defends easily.
Calamari trying to control but Benny is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Valdo Calamari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Calamari slips under a jab from Benny.
Calamari tests Benny's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Calamari's corner calls for a 1-2. Calamari obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Calamari lands a jab-cross combination.
Calamari staying out of range there.
Calamari keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Benny.
Calamari shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Benny but Benny pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Calamari.
Benny slips a jab from Calamari.
Calamari uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Benny.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Calamari misses with an uppercut
and Benny cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Benny throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Benny takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Calamari fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Benny on the side of the head.
Benny scores with a crisp jab that stopped Calamari in his tracks.
Benny lands a nice hook to Calamari's body. Calamari takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Benny lands a slapping body shot.
Calamari misses with a looping left.

Calamari closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Calamari lands in his opponent's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benny keeping moving, preventing Calamari from controlling successfully.
Calamari preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Calamari trying to control the position from guard on top but Benny is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Benny had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Calamari defends it easily.

Benny throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Calamari trying to control the position from guard on top but Benny is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Calamari won't allow Benny to sweep him here.
Benny is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Benny manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Calamari manages to get himself to full guard.

Benny wants to control from the top but Calamari keeps moving.
Calamari being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Calamari is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Calamari is on top in guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Calamari working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Valdo Calamari has got the better of the ground game so far.

Benny looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Calamari loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Calamari keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Benny's head.
Calamari missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Benny throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Calamari working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benny controls Calamari momentarily but Calamari frees himself.
Calamari working some strikes from top position.
Benny seems keen to control Calamari's posture.
Calamari lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Benny keeping moving, preventing Calamari from controlling successfully.

Benny has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Calamari can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Calamari trying to control the position from guard on top but Benny is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benny trying to keep a closed guard but Calamari is proving a slippery customer.
Calamari trying to control but Benny is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valdo Calamari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Calamari 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valdo Calamari!
Valdo Calamari 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.