PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Chris Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Canuck (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benoit's entrance music is Whatever - Our Lady Peace. A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Canuck's choice of entrance music: Where the streets have no names. Johnny Canuck will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Benoit
vs
Canuck

180 cm
25
234 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

192 cm
20
265 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Chris Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Johnny Canuck!
The judges for this bout are Steve Smith, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benoit shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Canuck pinned against the cage. Canuck gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Canuck with a lazy takedown attempt

and Benoit counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Canuck's guard now.
Benoit passes Canuck's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Benoit is looking for a kimura but Canuck is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Benoit to get the leverage.
Canuck is not content to let Benoit control the position.
Benoit working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Canuck's thigh. Canuck counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Benoit working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Canuck looking for a sweep. Not yet Canuck, not yet.

Benoit thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Canuck looking for a guillotine here but Benoit defends easily.
Canuck looks gassed!
Benoit trying to control the position from guard on top but Canuck is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit advances to half guard.

Benoit looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Canuck looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Canuck looking for subs from the bottom but Benoit mounts him!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Benoit sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Benoit lands with some strikes.
Canuck is working to get back to half guard.
Benoit can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Canuck is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Benoit is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Canuck is surviving well by controlling Benoit's body position as best he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Canuck is desperately trying to improve his position but Benoit has a good base and remains in mount.
Canuck is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Benoit cracks Canuck with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Benoit looking to finish Canuck with some ground and pound. This is bad for Canuck!
Canuck is working to get back to half guard.

Benoit looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Canuck is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit trying to control but Canuck is having none of it.
Canuck really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Benoit trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Benoit with shots to the head and body - Canuck looks very uncomfortable down there.

Benoit with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Canuck tries to hold on but Benoit pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Canuck shoots and misses

and Benoit counters with a takedown into side control.

Benoit is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Canuck has escaped the position, nice work there.
Benoit wants to lay and pray for a moment but Canuck keeps working.
Chris Benoit overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Benoit thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Canuck is trying to get back to half guard.
Canuck is not content to let Benoit control the position.
Benoit throws an elbow but Canuck slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Benoit thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Benoit wants to control for a moment but Canuck uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Benoit trying to control from half guard but Canuck is working away.
Canuck is looking for a sweep. Benoit is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

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.

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

Benoit drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Benoit pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Canuck is keeping the position for now.
Canuck looking for a sweep. Not yet Canuck, not yet.
Canuck is breathing heavily.

Benoit is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Canuck is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Canuck has escaped and now he's on top!

Canuck stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Benoit has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Canuck manages to get his head free but now Benoit has transitioned to an armbar! Canuck grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Benoit! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Chris Benoit!