PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rakeem Marley (ranked 1452 p4p, 2004 weight class) and Claudio Benedetti (ranked 224 p4p, 292 weight class). Marley's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Damian Marley - Welcome to Jamrock. Benedetti comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Atrevete te kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Claudio Benedetti has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Marley
vs
Benedetti

189 cm
35
216
15 - 21 - 0

193 cm
38
207
31 - 17 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rakeem Marley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 17 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Claudio Benedetti!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, George Francis and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benedetti lands an overhand right.
Marley looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Benedetti throws a lazy right hand but Marley sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Benedetti blocks a jab.
Benedetti swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
We've been informed that Benedetti has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Benedetti misses the jab.
Marley uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Benedetti.
Marley tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Benedetti was well out of range. Poor timing from Marley.
Marley drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

It looks like Rakeem Marley has been cut.
Benedetti misses with an uppercut
and Marley makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Marley clinches.
Benedetti working aggressively here.

Benedetti breaks the clinch.
Benedetti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Benedetti throws a lazy right hand but Marley sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Marley keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Benedetti.
Benedetti keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benedetti throws a jab but it's blocked by Marley.
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!
Good exchange - Benedetti coming out on top.
Marley scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Benedetti doesn't seem bothered though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marley swings for the body but Benedetti moves out of range.
Marley avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Marley is looking to wear down Benedetti with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Marley looks to land a combination but Benedetti avoids it well.
Marley displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Benedetti throws out the jab.
Marley went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Marley scores with a spinning back kick!
Marley slips a jab and a cross from Benedetti.
A combination from Benedetti does no damage.
Benedetti lands with an uppercut that bounces Marley off the cage and back into range.
Benedetti fails to land with a series of punches.
Benedetti takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Marley avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Marley connects with an inside leg kick.
Marley displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Benedetti throws out the jab.
Marley displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Benedetti throws out the jab.
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!
Marley misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti throws a right and a left that both miss.
Marley swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Some wild striking there from Marley.
Marley tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Benedetti paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Benedetti misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Marley throws a one two combo.
Benedetti throws a low kick but Marley moves out of range easily.
Marley swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Benedetti throws a right and a left that Marley avoids nicely.
Marley scores with a jab.

Marley has managed to clinch.
Benedetti has a couple of punches blocked by Marley.
Benedetti misses with a hook from the clinch.
Marley has a couple of punches blocked by Benedetti.
Benedetti lands with a right to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marley tries to break free but Benedetti pushes him back against the cage.
Marley jumps guard but Benedetti turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Marley working hard to break the clinch.
A short uppercut from Benedetti.
Benedetti misses with the head strike.
Marley can't break the clinch.
A short body shot lands from Marley as the two fighters clinch.

Marley escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Benedetti throws a lazy uppercut
and Marley counters with a two punch combo.
Marley blocks a low kick nicely.
Marley pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Oooooh!!! Benedetti has knocked Marley down with a huge combo! Benedetti steps away and waves a wobbly Marley back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

Marley is rocked!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benedetti misses with a series of wild punches.
Marley thinks about countering with a head kick.
Oh Marley is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Marley circles to his right, straight into a beautiful hook by Benedetti. Marley falls face first into the canvas - great knockout victory for Benedetti!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Claudio Benedetti!
An out of breath Claudio Benedetti thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Rakeem Marley spoke after the fight, saying 'I'll be back better, jah bless'.