PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Renzo Albini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joesph Benavidez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Renzo Albini has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Albini
vs
Benavidez

173 cm
25
142 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

163 cm
25
135 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Very confident

Iron Will Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Renzo Albini!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joesph Benavidez!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Albini is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Benavidez.
Albini tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Benavidez ducks under a wild hook from Albini.
Some wild striking there from Albini.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benavidez with a lazy takedown attempt
and Albini counters with a nice body shot.
Benavidez fails with the takedown
and Albini counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benavidez misses with a takedown
and Albini counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Renzo Albini has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Joesph Benavidez.

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.
Benavidez takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Albini connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Benavidez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Albini makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Albini swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Benavidez checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Benavidez tries for a takedown but Albini circles away easily

and Albini counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Benavidez is not content to let Albini control the position.
Benavidez is working to avoid the ground and pound but Albini connects with a decent elbow.
Albini scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Benavidez to see if he's OK.
Benavidez manages to get back to half guard.
Benavidez wants to get back to full guard.
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. Albini connects with a nice short shot to Benavidez's temple.
Benavidez blocking the ground and pound attempt from Albini.
Benavidez is looking to improve his position.
Albini takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Albini working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renzo Albini dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Albini closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Albini scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Benavidez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Benavidez is in trouble now - Albini has advanced to mount!
Albini sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Benavidez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Benavidez sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Benavidez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Albini looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Benavidez with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Albini working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Albini is trying to control the action in half guard but Benavidez is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Albini prevents Benavidez from improving his position.
Albini lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Benavidez wants to get back to full guard.
Albini working the head and body with strikes.
Benavidez is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Albini's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Albini's back!
Oooh a big shot gets through from Benavidez. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Albini trying to control the position but Benavidez manages to sink in the hooks.
Albini turns into Benavidez and is now in his guard.
Albini landing with the ground and pound.
Albini tries to free his leg and advance position but Benavidez is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Albini makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Albini with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Albini loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Albini got a little sloppy there for a moment and Benavidez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Albini has managed to get both his arms back between Benavidez's legs - danger averted.
Benavidez is breathing heavily.

Benavidez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Albini can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Benavidez has an active guard here but Albini has managed to pass into half guard.
Albini lands with a punch from half guard.
Albini trying to control the action but Benavidez is working from the bottom.
Albini scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benavidez looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Albini stalling.

Benavidez actively working from the bottom here.
Albini working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Albini trying to control the pace.
Albini lands strikes from half guard.

Benavidez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benavidez on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Benavidez is staying active underneath Albini, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Renzo Albini overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Albini is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Albini takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Benavidez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Benavidez is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Albini pulls his head out easily.
Ground and pound from Albini.
Albini is keen to just control but Benavidez is a slippery customer.
Albini takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Albini moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Benavidez.
Benavidez is working to avoid the ground and pound but Albini connects with a decent elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Albini lands a decent elbow from side control.
Benavidez is not content to let Albini control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Renzo Albini dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Benavidez gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Albini to score an easy takedown into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Benavidez is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Albini defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Benavidez looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Albini trying to control the position from guard on top but Benavidez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Albini stands and throws Benavidez's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Albini trying to control the action but Benavidez is working from the bottom.
Check out the look on Albini's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Albini is staying tight to Benavidez's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Benavidez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Benavidez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Albini's head.
Albini keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Benavidez thows a huge punch but Albini dodges it nicely.
Benavidez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Albini is positioning himself well to prevent Benavidez advancing to mount.
Albini works his way to full guard. Good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Albini avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Albini avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Benavidez is looking to work some ground and pound but Albini has wrist control.
Benavidez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Albini works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Albini throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez throws a big right hand that misses.
Albini preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Benavidez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Benavidez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Benavidez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benavidez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Albini swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Albini manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Benavidez manages to get himself to full guard.
Albini wants to control from the top but Benavidez keeps moving.

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

Benavidez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Albini is aware though and is defending well.
Albini lands a couple of digs.
Renzo Albini is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Albini lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Albini works over Benavidez with some ground and pound from guard.
Albini preventing the sweep.
Albini working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Albini works over Benavidez with some ground and pound from guard.
Albini stays in close to Benavidez's body and controls the position.
Albini scoring with some ground and pound.
Albini scoring with punches to the head and body.
Albini sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Benavidez's guard.
Albini prevents Benavidez from improving his position.
Albini working over Benavidez with some ground and pound. Benavidez looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Benavidez looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Joesph Benavidez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Albini performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Renzo Albini showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Albini 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 30:27
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Renzo Albini!