PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bot Botanovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sean Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Botanovic
vs
Benoit

180 cm
29
175 lbs
18 - 7 - 0

180 cm
29
181 lbs
24 - 12 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Great elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Rōnin

Milwaukee's Best Nutrition $55 - 159's

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 18 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bot Botanovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Sean Benoit!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Yves DeLean and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benoit uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Botanovic has time to react.
Sean Benoit seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Botanovic avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Botanovic connects with a high kick.
Benoit scores with a leg kick.
Benoit stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Botanovic.
Benoit dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Benoit misses with a wild body shot.
A chopping leg kick lands by Benoit.
Botanovic throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Benoit's head.
Botanovic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Benoit paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit digs a good body shot into Botanovic's ribs.
Botanovic throws a low kick but Benoit avoids it.
Botanovic attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Botanovic throws a low kick but Benoit avoids it.

Benoit moves into the clinch.
Botanovic is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Botanovic tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Botanovic is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Benoit managing to block the knees to the body from Botanovic.
Botanovic is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Botanovic breaks the clinch.
Benoit misses the jab.
Sean Benoit is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Benoit misses with a hook.
Botanovic shoots in and drives through. Benoit sprawls well.
Botanovic is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Botanovic looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Benoit throws a leg kick that is checked
and Botanovic counters with a nice low kick that buckles Benoit's knee momentarily.
Benoit fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Botanovic manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Botanovic is able to avoid easily.
Benoit misses with the combination.
Benoit throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Benoit has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Botanovic.
Botanovic shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Benoit as he jumps to the side.
Botanovic throws a wild body kick that Benoit sees coming a mile off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Botanovic takes one on the button.
Benoit swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Botanovic throws a leg kick but Benoit moved away.
Benoit throws a jab when Botanovic was well out of range.
Benoit thuds a left hand into Botanovic's body.
Botanovic takes one to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Botanovic shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Botanovic shoots in looking for a takedown but Benoit manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Botanovic's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sean Benoit will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Benoit throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
An inside leg kick lands from Benoit.
Botanovic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Benoit tries to avoid it but Botanovic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Benoit to the ground. Benoit escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Botanovic checks a leg kick nicely.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Benoit, right into the meat.
Botanovic throws a nice outside leg kick.
Botanovic attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Bot Botanovic is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Benoit avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Botanovic tries to close the distance and clinch up but Benoit swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Botanovic has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Benoit.
Benoit misses the shot to the body.
Botanovic takes a jab right on the kisser.
A leg kick checked by Benoit.
Sean Benoit seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Botanovic fails to land the takedown.
A slow jab from Benoit misses its intended target.
Botanovic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Benoit throws a leg kick that is checked

and Botanovic counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Botanovic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Benoit is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Botanovic is controlling him.
Botanovic slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Botanovic tries for a kimura but Benoit is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Botanovic trying to control the action but Benoit is working from the bottom.
Benoit prevents Botanovic from improving position.
Botanovic trying to control the position but Benoit is working away.

That's four 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.
Benoit is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Botanovic has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Benoit really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Botanovic. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Botanovic wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Benoit, who protects the arm well.
An elbow from Botanovic crashes against the mat.

Botanovic tries for a kimura but Benoit is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bot Botanovic dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Benoit fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Botanovic on the side of the head.
Botanovic tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Benoit throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Botanovic goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Botanovic walks into a jab.
Benoit blocks a head kick by Botanovic.
Benoit fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Botanovic thows a body kick. Benoit tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Benoit throws a leg kick
and Botanovic counters with an inside leg kick.
Benoit swings for the body but Botanovic moves out of range.
Botanovic connects with a solid leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benoit. Botanovic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Botanovic checks a low kick from Benoit.
Botanovic shoots in looking for a takedown. Benoit tries to sprawl out of it but Botanovic keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Benoit manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Botanovic cracks the inside of Benoit's front leg.
Benoit keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Botanovic throws a front kick that sends Benoit stumbling back into the cage.
A low kick from Benoit is predictable there
and Botanovic counters with an inside leg kick.

Botanovic closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Benoit's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Botanovic is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Benoit is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Benoit has escaped and now he's on top!
Botanovic working a defensive guard here.
Benoit wanted to stand there but Botanovic had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Botanovic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sean Benoit hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Botanovic uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Benoit.
Benoit checks the leg kick nicely there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bot Botanovic showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Botanovic 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 29:28
Judge William Peck scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bot Botanovic!