PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jordan Saint Benoit (ranked 4192 p4p, 4159 weight class) and Januario Galvao (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Saint Benoit
vs
Galvao

188 cm
25
180
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
148
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jordan Saint Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Januario Galvao!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksandr Martynov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Galvao throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Galvao looks to score with a jab to the body but Saint Benoit is just out of range.
Saint Benoit misses with the combination.
Saint Benoit tries a head kick but it misses.

Saint Benoit moves into the clinch.
Galvao stalling in the clinch but Saint Benoit improves position.

Saint Benoit escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Saint Benoit gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Saint Benoit tries to pull guard but Galvao holds him up against the cage and eventually Saint Benoit drops back down to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saint Benoit is trying to drag Galvao to the mat but Galvao just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Galvao lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Galvao is trying to break free.

Saint Benoit manages to break the clinch.
Galvao tries to clinch up.
Saint Benoit fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jordan Saint Benoit. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Saint Benoit gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Saint Benoit tries to pull guard but Galvao won't allow it.
Saint Benoit has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Galvao is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Galvao drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Saint Benoit gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Saint Benoit tries to pull guard but Galvao won't allow it.
Saint Benoit fails to pull the fight into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Galvao tries to break the clinch but Saint Benoit is controlling the position.
Saint Benoit is trying to pull guard but Galvao turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Galvao on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Galvao has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Saint Benoit uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saint Benoit preventing the sweep.
Saint Benoit has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Galvao trying to control the position.
Galvao keeping moving, preventing Saint Benoit from controlling successfully.
Saint Benoit preventing the sweep.

Saint Benoit drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Galvao dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saint Benoit wants to stand up but Galvao is controlling him.

Saint Benoit throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Saint Benoit tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Galvao trying to control the position from guard on top but Saint Benoit is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Saint Benoit has momentary wrist control but Galvao slips an elbow through the middle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Galvao stands up and waves to Saint Benoit to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Galvao throws a half hearted mid kick.
Saint Benoit stuffs the takedown.
Saint Benoit is trying hard to land a takedown here. Galvao sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Saint Benoit dives in and grabs Galvao's left leg, looking for a takedown. Galvao pushes down on Saint Benoit's head and hops out.

Galvao has taken the fight to the clinch.
Galvao is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Saint Benoit is defending well for now.
Saint Benoit has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Galvao is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Galvao's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Saint Benoit breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Saint Benoit as Galvao shoots in.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Galvao fails with a takedown attempt.
It looked like Saint Benoit wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Saint Benoit closes this distance looking for a takedown but Galvao circles away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Januario Galvao dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Saint Benoit tries for a takedown but Galvao sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Saint Benoit shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Galvao as he avoids it easily.
Saint Benoit fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jordan Saint Benoit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saint Benoit shoots in looking for a takedown but Galvao manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Saint Benoit's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Galvao.
Galvao fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Saint Benoit has Galvao up against the cage in a clinch.
Saint Benoit is looking to take this one to the mat.
Saint Benoit controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Saint Benoit takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Galvao changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Saint Benoit fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Galvao throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Saint Benoit's waist but Saint Benoit gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Galvao off to one side.
Saint Benoit is looking for a counter combo.

Saint Benoit rushes Galvao and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Saint Benoit lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Galvao.

Saint Benoit pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Saint Benoit blocks a low kick nicely.
Galvao keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Saint Benoit takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Galvao moves in looking to clinch but Saint Benoit pushes him off.
Galvao feints a jab promting Saint Benoit to slip. Galvao then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Saint Benoit slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Galvao tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Saint Benoit defends well and Galvao ends up having to push Saint Benoit into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Saint Benoit.
Galvao is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Galvao shoots in for a takedown but Saint Benoit shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Horrible takedown attempt by Galvao or perhaps it was just good defense by Saint Benoit, which made it look bad.
Galvao fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Saint Benoit seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Galvao is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Galvao shoots in looking for a takedown but Saint Benoit manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Galvao's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Galvao looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Saint Benoit looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Saint Benoit throws a push kick but Galvao slaps the foot to one side.
Galvao showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Saint Benoit.
Saint Benoit shoots in but no luck this time.
Horrible takedown attempt by Saint Benoit or perhaps it was just good defense by Galvao, which made it look bad.
Jordan Saint Benoit is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Saint Benoit clinches up with Galvao and pushes him back against the cage.

Galvao pulls guard successfully.
Galvao is trying to control the position but Saint Benoit postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saint Benoit trying to control the position from guard on top but Galvao is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Galvao manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Saint Benoit manages to get himself to full guard.

Saint Benoit seems keen to control Galvao's posture.
Saint Benoit looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Galvao puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Galvao sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Saint Benoit defending well though.
Saint Benoit is in trouble now - Galvao has advanced to mount!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Januario Galvao will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Galvao wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Galvao moves out of range of the body kick.

Saint Benoit rushes Galvao and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Galvao stops a takedown attempt from Saint Benoit.
Saint Benoit is looking to take this one to the mat.
Galvao tries for a takedown. No joy.
Saint Benoit prevents the takedown attempt.

Saint Benoit breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saint Benoit pivots, looking for a leg kick but Galvao is out of range and Saint Benoit settles back down.
Saint Benoit will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Saint Benoit lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saint Benoit throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Saint Benoit misses with a takedown attempt
and Galvao counters with a left and a right that stings Saint Benoit.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jordan Saint Benoit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saint Benoit is looking to clinch.
Saint Benoit will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Galvao shoots in looking for a takedown but Saint Benoit manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Galvao's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Galvao has his takedown stuffed

and Saint Benoit counters by clinching up.
Saint Benoit keeps control of Galvao as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Galvao is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Saint Benoit pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Galvao is trying to break the clinch but Saint Benoit has him pressed against the cage.
Galvao tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Saint Benoit avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Galvao letting Saint Benoit take a breather here.
Galvao tries a knee to the head but Saint Benoit blocks it.
Galvao gets underhooks to prevent Saint Benoit's takedown attempt.
Galvao jumps guard but Saint Benoit stands there with Galvao around his waist. Galvao gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Saint Benoit changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Galvao fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Galvao circles away from the clinch attempt.
Saint Benoit closes the distance but Galvao moves to the side
and Galvao counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Galvao.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saint Benoit moves into the clinch successfully.
Saint Benoit looking for a takedown.

Saint Benoit breaks the clinch.
Saint Benoit keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Saint Benoit circles away from the clinch attempt.
Saint Benoit moves out of range of the body kick from Galvao.

Saint Benoit moves into range and clinches up with Galvao.
Saint Benoit keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Galvao's efforts to push away.
Galvao tries to pull guard but Saint Benoit won't allow it.

Saint Benoit manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Saint Benoit working a defensive guard here.
Galvao stands and throws Saint Benoit's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Saint Benoit tries to bench press Galvao off him but Galvao keeps the position.

Galvao has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Galvao changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Saint Benoit tries to avoid it but Galvao manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Saint Benoit to the ground. Saint Benoit escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Saint Benoit went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Saint Benoit.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Galvao rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Saint Benoit moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

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 Jordan Saint Benoit.
I think Galvao has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for Januario Galvao!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Jordan Saint Benoit!
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Jordan Saint Benoit!

Jordan Saint Benoit wins by split decision!