PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jamir Amini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Christian Benavidez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Amini
vs
Benavidez

150 cm
21
130 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

188 cm
24
155 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jamir Amini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Christian Benavidez!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Alan Glass and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Amini avoids the head kick by Benavidez.
Benavidez throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Benavidez is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
A jab-cross combination lands for Benavidez and sends Amini crashing to the mat! Benavidez follows him down to the mat - Amini regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Amini is rocked!
Benavidez not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Oh Amini is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Amini tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Benavidez is keen to just control but Amini is a slippery customer.

Benavidez seems to be looking for submissions.
Amini wants to control but Benavidez is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Benavidez works his way into side control.
Amini seems to have got his legs back now.
Amini is looking to reverse the position.
Amini can't do much from the bottom here.

Benavidez is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Amini knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Benavidez tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benavidez wants to control but Amini is keeping him busy.
Amini is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Benavidez stands up and beckons Amini to his feet.
Some bone on bone action there as Benavidez checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Benavidez misses with a head kick.
Benavidez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Benavidez looks gassed!

Amini darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Benavidez is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Amini wants to pass the guard but Benavidez is defending well.
Benavidez is not content to let Amini control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Amini wants to free his trapped foot but Benavidez is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Amini is trying to control. Benavidez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Amini seems to be looking for submissions.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Amini closes this distance looking for a takedown but Benavidez circles away.
Amini throws a sloppy head kick and Benavidez moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Benavidez misses with a head kick.
Benavidez lands a slapping body shot.
Amini has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Amini there as he acknowledges the shot.
Benavidez uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Amini takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Benavidez throws a series of punches but Amini moves out of range.
Benavidez misses with a head kick.
Amini lands with a nice combination. Benavidez backs away looking to recover.
Benavidez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Amini fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Benavidez throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Amini.

Amini drives through with a takedown into guard.
Amini slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benavidez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amini is trying to control but can't.
Amini is looking to improve his position.

Benavidez postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Amini to stand up.
Christian Benavidez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benavidez thows a left - swing and a miss!

Amini closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Benavidez is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Amini has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Benavidez is looking for a sweep.
Benavidez is trying to control Amini's posture but Amini avoids it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Amini working the head and body with strikes.
Benavidez misses with a strike from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Christian Benavidez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Benavidez lands a nice hook to Amini's body. Amini takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Benavidez tries for a takedown but Amini circles away easily

and Amini counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Benavidez trying to control the position.
Amini landing some decent shots from guard.
Amini might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Benavidez keeping moving, preventing Amini from controlling successfully.

Amini gets to his feet. Benavidez looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Amini fails in his attempt to clinch.

Amini drives through with a takedown into guard.

Benavidez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Benavidez will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Amini pushes down on Benavidez's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benavidez tries to kick Amini off but Amini keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Amini with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Benavidez looks like he's trying to stand up.
Amini prevents Benavidez from improving his position.

Amini seems to be looking for submissions.

Benavidez is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Amini pulls his head out easily.
Benavidez trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Nice strikes from Amini there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Amini blocks a jab.
Benavidez is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

Amini shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Amini connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Benavidez is desperately trying to improve his position but Amini has a good base and remains in mount.
Amini looking to control but Benavidez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Benavidez manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Benavidez looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Amini winds up and cracks Benavidez with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Amini wants to take a breather but Benavidez is having none of it.
Amini throwing shots but Benavidez is blocking nicely.
Amini trying to control the action but Benavidez is working from the bottom.
Amini tries to pass to full mount but Benavidez defends it.
Amini wants to control but Benavidez is keeping him busy.
Benavidez is looking to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Benavidez feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Amini keeping full guard, as Benavidez tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Amini working a defensive guard here.
Jamir Amini overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Benavidez wants to control from the top but Amini keeps moving.
Benavidez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Benavidez trying to control the position from guard on top but Amini is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Amini throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Amini closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Benavidez to the mat! Benavidez manages to get full guard.
Amini trying to stand up but can't free himself from Benavidez's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jamir Amini dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Amini walks into a jab.
Benavidez bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Amini's head backwards.
Amini shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Benavidez but Benavidez pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Benavidez throws a sloppy head kick and Amini moves out of range easily.
Benavidez throws a nice looking combination but Amini bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Benavidez lands a nice looking body shot.

Amini scores a takedown into full mount!
Benavidez is trying to escape the mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Amini stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Benavidez bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Amini's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benavidez throws a head kick but Amini moves out of range.
Amini throws a quick inside leg kick.

Amini gets a takedown into half guard.
Amini trying to control from half guard but Benavidez is working away.
Amini sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Benavidez defending well though.
Amini is trying to control. Benavidez wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Benavidez works his way to full guard. Good work.

Benavidez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Benavidez had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Amini is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Benavidez Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Amini's back instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Amini is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Benavidez gets his way!

Amini defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Amini wants to control his opponent's hands but Benavidez gets his hands free.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Benavidez's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Amini defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Benavidez's arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benavidez looking to break Amini's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Amini remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Benavidez will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Amini tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Amini is wriggling around trying to escape.

Benavidez jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Amini manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Amini manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Benavidez wants to get back to his feet.

Amini is defending against the submission attempts here by Benavidez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Benavidez is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Amini is staying active underneath Benavidez, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are battling for position here. Amini manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Benavidez wants to pass the guard but Amini is keeping the position.

Amini working for a triangle but Benavidez defends it easily.

Benavidez gets to his feet. Amini looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

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 Jamir Amini.
I think Amini has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jamir Amini!