PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrew Rush (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benoit comes to the cage accompanied by Whatever - Our Lady Peace. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Andrew Rush enters the cage!

Benoit
vs
Rush

180 cm
24
234 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

187 cm
23
245 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chris Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Andrew Rush !
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Steve Smith and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Benoit.

Rush gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Benoit wants to pass the guard but Rush is keeping the position.

Rush is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Benoit is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Benoit lands a couple of elbows.
Benoit missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Benoit tries to free his leg and advance position but Rush is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rush is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Benoit is aware though and is defending well.
Benoit stopping the sweep attempt from Rush .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit wanted to stand there but Rush had control of the position.

Benoit avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rush keeping moving, preventing Benoit from controlling successfully.
Benoit slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Benoit postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Benoit pushing down on Rush 's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Benoit thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rush 's head.
Benoit drops an elbow to the side of Rush 's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Benoit is working for a kimura but Rush is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Rush is trying to get back to full guard.
Benoit uses his free foot to push down on Rush 's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rush .
Rush is in all sorts of trouble here.
Benoit unloading with bombs!
Rush has given up his back here. Will Benoit look for the submission or keep pounding away?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit trying to control.
Benoit has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Benoit is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Rush has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Benoit is not going to allow Rush to sit and survive in this position.

Benoit tightening his grip on Rush , looking for the choke.
Rush rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Rush trying to control from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit is trying to control the action in half guard but Rush is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Benoit is really struggling to control Rush but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Benoit in particular looking to stall.
Benoit wants to pass the guard but Rush is defending well.
Rush is not content to let Benoit control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rush with a poor takedown

and Benoit counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Rush looks gassed!
Benoit stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rush swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Benoit dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Benoit shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Rush is trying to defend but Benoit finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Rush tries to get to full guard but Benoit has control of the leg.

Rush looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Benoit is just content to waste time from the top position. Rush takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.

Rush is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Benoit defends well.
Rush is breathing heavily.
Benoit is in close to Rush 's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Benoit has gone for a leg lock! Rush slips out almost immediately though and dives into Benoit's guard.
Rush stopping the sweep attempt from Benoit.
Benoit manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
A nice elbow there by Benoit.
Rush is controlling an arm, preventing Benoit from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Benoit can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rush is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit takes Rush 's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Rush is in trouble.
Rush prevents Benoit from getting a body triangle.
Benoit keeps control of the position easily here as Rush tries to buck him off.

Rush is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rush is in bad spot here.
Rush avoids the strikes from Benoit.

Benoit has got his arm under Rush 's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Rush has spun round into Benoit's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Rush trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Benoit looking for a sweep. Not yet Benoit, not yet.
Benoit throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Benoit is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Benoit is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rush gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Benoit counters with a shoot takedown. Rush fights it but they end up in guard.
Benoit works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Benoit trying to control the action but Rush is working from the bottom.

Benoit is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Rush trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris Benoit dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Rush gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Benoit counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Rush can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Benoit controls the pace.
Rush keeping full guard, as Benoit tries to pass.
Benoit controlling from the top position.

Rush throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit passes Rush 's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rush takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rush gets back to full guard.
Benoit content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Benoit showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Benoit thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Benoit wants to pass the guard but Rush is keeping the position.
Rush keeping moving, preventing Benoit from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rush looking for subs off his back but Benoit has passed one foot through into half guard.
Rush is looking to control Benoit's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rush avoid being mounted?
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Benoit connects with a nice short shot to Rush 's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rush keeps working.

Rush looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Benoit has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Benoit wants to finish this one by submission but Rush is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Benoit.
Rush is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Benoit tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

Benoit looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Benoit controlling the pace for now.

Benoit working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Rush tries to improve his position but instead Benoit has taken his back!

And that's the end of the fight!
Chris Benoit showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Benoit, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris Benoit!