PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Claudio Benedetti (ranked 497 p4p, 418 weight class) and Ludko Struja Jr (ranked 67 p4p, 55 weight class). Benedetti comes to the cage accompanied by Atrevete te. Struja Jr comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Wu-Tang Clan - C.R.E.A.M. kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Benedetti
vs
Struja Jr

193 cm
40
207
36 - 19 - 1

192 cm
28
225
13 - 9 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
KO power

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Fast

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NARCOS

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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 36 - 19 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Claudio Benedetti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ludko Struja Jr!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benedetti takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Benedetti drops Struja Jr with a beautiful combination! Struja Jr stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Benedetti is looking for the KO!

It looks like Ludko Struja Jr has been cut.
Benedetti looks to throw the jab but Struja Jr is out of range.
Claudio Benedetti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Struja Jr swinging wildly here.
An attempted straight right counter from Benedetti misses the target.
Benedetti fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Struja Jr throws a body shot but no joy.
Struja Jr misses with a series of wild punches.
Benedetti is looking to counter punch.
Benedetti misses with a jab, cross combination.
Benedetti definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Benedetti throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Benedetti jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Struja Jr connects with a body shot.
Benedetti throws a series of punches but Struja Jr moves out of range.
Benedetti misses with the combination.
Benedetti avoids the body shot from Struja Jr.
Struja Jr throws a right and a left that both miss.
Benedetti slips a jab from Struja Jr.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Struja Jr shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Struja Jr was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Struja Jr working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Struja Jr lands a decent elbow from side control.
Struja Jr working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Struja Jr taking a breather here.
Struja Jr landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Benedetti taking punishment in the form of punches.
Struja Jr fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Struja Jr working the ground and pound but Benedetti is defending the strikes.
Struja Jr throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struja Jr working the ground and pound but Benedetti is defending the strikes.
Struja Jr is staying tight to Benedetti's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Struja Jr misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Struja Jr looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Benedetti is avoiding damage well.
Struja Jr misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Struja Jr misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Struja Jr is looking to take a break and control but Benedetti is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Struja Jr scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Benedetti to see if he's OK.
Struja Jr misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Struja Jr working the head and body with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struja Jr fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Struja Jr sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Benedetti is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Struja Jr is chipping away with strikes.
Struja Jr lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Struja Jr tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Benedetti on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Struja Jr working the ground and pound from side control.
Struja Jr landing strikes.
Struja Jr trying to control the action but Benedetti is working from the bottom.
Struja Jr lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Benedetti dodges the ground and pound from Struja Jr.
Benedetti is looking for a sweep.
Struja Jr trying to control the position but Benedetti is working away.
Struja Jr sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Benedetti is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Struja Jr cracks Benedetti with a big right hand but Benedetti just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Struja Jr is putting a hurting on Benedetti here, landing some big shots from side control.
Struja Jr misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Struja Jr throws an elbow but Benedetti slips to the side and avoids it well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Struja Jr cracks Benedetti with a big right hand but Benedetti just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Struja Jr creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Benedetti sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ludko Struja Jr dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ludko Struja Jr's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Struja Jr works over Benedetti's head and body with a nice combination.
Benedetti throws a big shot that misses.
Nice cross by Struja Jr.
Nice uppercut lands for Struja Jr. That snapped Benedetti's head back.
Benedetti throws a hook to the side of Struja Jr's head but Struja Jr sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Benedetti fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Struja Jr checks it well.
Benedetti's jab looks to have found its range, popping Struja Jr under the eye.
Benedetti misses with a combination
and Struja Jr counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Benedetti throws a right hand that Struja Jr ducks under and follows up with a left that Struja Jr also avoids with ease.
Struja Jr steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Benedetti.
A little jabbing left from Struja Jr on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Benedetti lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benedetti throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Struja Jr counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Struja Jr cracks Benedetti with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Benedetti throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Struja Jr sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Struja Jr looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Struja Jr uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Benedetti.
Struja Jr scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti tries to bum rush Struja Jr with a series of wild strikes but Struja Jr uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Struja Jr bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Benedetti's head backwards.
Benedetti lands a body shot.
Struja Jr shoots in looking for a takedown but Benedetti manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Struja Jr's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Benedetti throws a left and a right that both miss

and Struja Jr counters with a single leg into guard. Benedetti didn't expect that.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Struja Jr throws a big right hand that misses.
Struja Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Benedetti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Struja Jr with a nice head shot there.
Struja Jr stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Benedetti swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Benedetti working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Struja Jr.
Struja Jr cracks Benedetti with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struja Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Benedetti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benedetti utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Struja Jr is looking to work some ground and pound but Benedetti has wrist control.
Struja Jr chips away with some ground and pound.
Struja Jr wants to control from the top but Benedetti keeps moving.
Struja Jr throws a big right hand that misses.
Struja Jr has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Struja Jr is working Benedetti over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Struja Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Benedetti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benedetti being controlled here, momentarily.
Struja Jr landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Struja Jr controls the pace.
Ludko Struja Jr has got the better of the ground game so far.
Struja Jr sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Benedetti's guard.
Struja Jr lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Struja Jr working over Benedetti with some ground and pound. Benedetti looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Struja Jr slips a nice elbow through Benedetti's hands, connecting with Benedetti's forehead.
Benedetti on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Struja Jr lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Struja Jr throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti wants to control but Struja Jr is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Struja Jr wants to lay and pray for a moment but Benedetti keeps working.
Benedetti avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Struja Jr.
Benedetti avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Struja Jr.
Struja Jr is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Struja Jr thows a huge punch but Benedetti dodges it nicely.
Struja Jr wants to take a breather but Benedetti is having none of it.
Benedetti on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Struja Jr not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Struja Jr thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Benedetti's head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ludko Struja Jr showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ludko Struja Jr's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Benedetti gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Struja Jr to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Benedetti has momentary wrist control but Struja Jr slips an elbow through the middle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Struja Jr accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Struja Jr working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Struja Jr missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Benedetti wants to sweep but no luck.
Struja Jr trying to control the position from guard on top but Benedetti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benedetti keeping full guard, as Struja Jr tries to pass.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Struja Jr loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Struja Jr wants to control from the top but Benedetti keeps moving.
Struja Jr lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Struja Jr working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Struja Jr lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Struja Jr stands up over Benedetti, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Struja Jr content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Struja Jr postures up in Benedetti's guard and throws a big left but Benedetti blocks it.
Struja Jr pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benedetti is keeping the position for now.
Struja Jr lands a couple of digs.
Struja Jr is looking to work some ground and pound but Benedetti has wrist control.
Claudio Benedetti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Struja Jr wants to control from the top but Benedetti keeps moving.
Struja Jr postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Struja Jr loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Struja Jr trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Struja Jr working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Benedetti's head.
Struja Jr is working Benedetti over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Struja Jr working some strikes from top position.
Struja Jr is in close to Benedetti's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Struja Jr looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Struja Jr trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Struja Jr forces his way into half guard.
Struja Jr thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Struja Jr is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Struja Jr trying to control but Benedetti is working from the bottom.
Benedetti utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Benedetti is trying to control the position but Struja Jr postures up.
Struja Jr tries to free his leg and advance position but Benedetti is retaining full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Ludko Struja Jr is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Struja Jr controls from within his opponent's guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Benedetti lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Struja Jr circles away quickly and effectively.
Benedetti throws a poor cross that misses
and Struja Jr counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Struja Jr throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Benedetti was covering up waiting for the punch and Struja Jr finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Struja Jr distracts Benedetti with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Struja Jr with a flurry of punches that miss.
Struja Jr is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ludko Struja Jr comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Struja Jr winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Colin Fray scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ludko Struja Jr!
A relieved looking Ludko Struja Jr thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
Claudio Benedetti spoke after the fight, saying '"te voy inyectar con la bacteria"'.