PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Randy Orton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jacques Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Orton's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Voices. The key to victory for Randy Orton has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Orton
vs
Benoit

194 cm
25
184 lbs
10 - 7 - 0

185 cm
20
180 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 10 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Randy Orton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jacques Benoit!
The judges for this bout are Yves DeLean, William Peck and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benoit closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Benoit gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Benoit.
Orton stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Orton wants it to stay on the feet.
Benoit avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Orton changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Benoit misses with a double jab.
Orton connects with a looping right hand.
Orton tries to clinch there but Benoit circles away.
Orton lands a nice looking body shot.
Benoit shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Orton defends it nicely.
Randy Orton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacques Benoit.
Orton connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Benoit drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Orton drives through and clinches with Benoit against the cage.
Benoit takes a shot to the head.
Orton tries to stall but Benoit uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orton is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Orton cracks Benoit with a nice body shot.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Orton.

Benoit has hold of one of Orton's legs. Orton is fighting the takedown attempt but Benoit gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Benoit looks gassed!

Orton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Benoit defends it easily.

Orton has his foot on Benoit's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Benoit works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Orton keeping moving, preventing Benoit from controlling successfully.

Orton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Benoit gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Orton is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Benoit is aware though and is defending well.
Orton utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Benoit wants to control from the top but Orton keeps moving.
Benoit lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Orton swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Orton had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Benoit defends it easily.
Benoit is in close to Orton's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Orton being controlled here, momentarily.
Benoit trying to control the position from guard on top but Orton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Benoit drops back looking for a leg! Orton is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Orton manages to kick Benoit off! Benoit jumps back into Orton's guard.

Orton working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Benoit doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Benoit manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Benoit.
Benoit trying to control but Orton is working from the bottom.

Benoit is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Orton is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Benoit working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Benoit looking to pass the guard.
Benoit must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Benoit is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Benoit wants to control from the top but Orton keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Orton looking to control.

Orton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Benoit gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Benoit stands and throws Orton's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Orton is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Benoit thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
You can see the frustration on Orton's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Orton dominated that round.
That's time! Orton's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Benoit shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Orton but Orton pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Benoit looks for a takedown but Orton sprawls well.
Orton fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Benoit.
Orton lands a really nice looking cross but Benoit seems unphased.
Orton is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Orton works over Benoit's head and body with a nice combination.
Orton with a nice cross.
Orton stuffs the takedown attempt from Benoit. Benoit gets slowly back to his feet.
Randy Orton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacques Benoit.
Orton is looking to clinch.
Benoit takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Benoit tries to keep at a distance but Orton has taken the fight into the clinch.
Benoit tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Orton just stands there and leans against the cage.
Benoit is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orton trying to stall but Benoit improves his position.
Benoit has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Orton avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Orton lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Benoit tries to score a body lock takedown but Orton shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Orton lands with a left to the head.
Orton lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benoit.
Orton lands a left hand.
Orton lands an elbow just above Benoit 's eye.
Benoit tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Orton smiles and moves away.
Orton's corner calls for a 1-2. Orton obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Orton connects with a right hand. Benoit shakes it off.
Orton scores with a jab to the jaw.
Orton scores with a jab to the head.
Benoit walks into a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Orton does it's job there.
Orton lands a jab to the head.
Orton is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Orton throws a series of strikes that have Benoit backpedaling.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Benoit is defended easily by Orton.
Good exchange - Orton coming out on top.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Benoit.
Orton fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Orton lands a nice shot to the body.

Orton clinches.
Nice body punch from Orton.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Orton.
A short uppercut from Orton.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orton stalling against the cage.
Orton scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Orton lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A shot in the inside from Orton.
Benoit looking for a takedown.
A short body shot lands from Orton as the two fighters clinch.
Orton scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Orton working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Orton slows down the pace here.
A right hand to the body from Orton.
Orton lands a shot to the body.
Benoit has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Orton is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Orton working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
A right handed body shot lands from Orton.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Orton.
Orton lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Orton gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Benoit takes a knee to the side of the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Orton.
Benoit is trying to drag Orton to the mat but Orton just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Benoit takes a shot to the head.
Orton working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Orton prevents the takedown attempt.
A nice right hand lands inside from Orton.
Benoit's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Orton scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A nice left hand lands by Orton.
Benoit goes for a takedown attempt but Orton pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Jacques Benoit is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Orton, as that shot connected.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Randy Orton dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Orton moves into range and clinches up with Benoit.
Orton throws a punch but it's blocked by Benoit.

Benoit jumps guard.
Orton stops Benoit from standing up.
Benoit can't keep his opponent in guard - Orton advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Benoit trying to control here.

Orton stands up from half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Good standup being displayed there by Orton as he connects with a hook.
Orton wants to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit shoots in but no luck this time.
Benoit takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Benoit ducks right into an uppercut from Orton.
Benoit takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Benoit takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Orton thuds a left hand into Benoit's body.
Orton digs a good body shot into Benoit's ribs.
Orton scores with a jab to the head.
Benoit fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Benoit looks for a takedown but Orton sprawls well.
Randy Orton has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jacques Benoit.

Orton clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orton lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Orton stops a takedown attempt from Benoit.
Orton stalling.
Benoit goes for a takedown attempt but Orton pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Orton wants to clinch.
Decent striking displayed by Orton there.
Orton moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Benoit fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Randy Orton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benoit shoots in for a takedown but Orton shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Orton punishes Benoit's body with a nice straight punch.
Orton scoring well with a low kick there.
Orton bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Benoit's head.
Orton lands a lovely overhand right.
Orton tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Benoit paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Randy Orton is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Orton scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Orton connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Benoit's hands.
Orton goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Orton steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Benoit.
Benoit avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Orton slips a jab from Benoit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orton darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A lazy left from Orton finds it's target.
Orton lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Orton slaps away a takedown attempt from Benoit, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Orton moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Orton tries to close the distance and clinch up but Benoit swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Orton is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Benoit can do to turn this around?
Orton cracks Benoit with an open hand slap.
Benoit on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Benoit chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Orton can pounce on him.
Orton digs a good body shot into Benoit's ribs.
Jacques Benoit has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benoit takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Orton lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Randy Orton is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Orton connects with a nice looking jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Orton showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Orton has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Yves DeLean scores the fight 30:26
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:26
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Randy Orton!