PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jose Benevidez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryoma Echizen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryoma Echizen will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Benevidez
vs
Echizen

170 cm
25
135 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

210 cm
19
134 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jose Benevidez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ryoma Echizen!
The judges for this bout are Emerson Jorge, Alexandre Firmino and Mauricio Rocha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Echizen shoots and misses
and Benevidez counters with a one-two to the body.
Echizen tries for a takedown but Benevidez sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Benevidez clinches up with Echizen and pushes him back against the ropes.
Benevidez looking to throw knees to the head but Echizen is blocking nicely.
Echizen has Benevidez pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Benevidez manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Jose Benevidez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryoma Echizen.
Benevidez tries to circle away but Echizen has him pinned against the ropes.
Echizen is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Echizen has Benevidez pressed against the ropes, preventing Benevidez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Benevidez lands with a short punch from the clinch.

Benevidez breaks from the clinch.

Benevidez gets in close and instigates a clinch.
A short body shot lands from Benevidez as the two fighters clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Benevidez breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Benevidez throws a right hand that Echizen ducks under and follows up with a left that Echizen also avoids with ease.

Benevidez fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Echizen, pushing him back against the ropes.

Benevidez breaks the clinch.

Benevidez gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Benevidez.
Benevidez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Echizen wants a takedown but no success here.

Benevidez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Echizen checks a leg kick.
Benevidez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Benevidez wants it to stay on the feet.
Jose Benevidez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Echizen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Benevidez throws an elbow that misses. Echizen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Benevidez's guard. Nice move by Echizen!
Echizen preventing the sweep.

Echizen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Benevidez dives on top into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Echizen is trying to control the position but Benevidez postures up.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Benevidez's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Benevidez pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Echizen is keeping the position for now.
Benevidez passes Echizen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benevidez is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Benevidez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Benevidez thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Echizen's head.
Benevidez tries to stand and escape but Echizen actually recovers to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Echizen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Benevidez defends well.
Benevidez in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Echizen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Benevidez manages to get himself to full guard.
Benevidez keeping moving, preventing Echizen from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benevidez has Echizen pulled in close to control his posture.
Echizen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Ryoma Echizen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Benevidez looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Echizen!
Echizen is looking to get to half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Benevidez thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Poor strikes thrown by Benevidez there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Benevidez trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Benevidez lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Echizen hang on?
Benevidez lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

Benevidez goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Echizen is on top in guard.
Benevidez keeping moving, preventing Echizen from controlling successfully.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Echizen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benevidez is keeping the position for now.
Echizen passes Benevidez's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Echizen is looking to pass Benevidez's guard but actually Benevidez recovers to full guard.
Echizen passes Benevidez's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Echizen trying to work for an americana but Benevidez has managed to regain full guard.
Benevidez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Benevidez might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Echizen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Benevidez is pushing Echizen's head away, looking to escape. Echizen manages to hold on to the position though.
Echizen looking to control but instead Benevidez has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Benevidez is not content to let Echizen control the position.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Echizen is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Benevidez reverses the position - he's now on top in Echizen's guard.
Echizen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Benevidez tries to free his leg and advance position but Echizen is retaining full guard.
Benevidez has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Echizen is proving hard to escape from.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Echizen is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Benevidez throws an elbow that misses. Echizen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Benevidez's guard. Nice move by Echizen!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jose Benevidez dominated that round.
That's time! Benevidez's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Echizen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Benevidez counters with a one-two to the body.
Echizen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Benevidez counters with a one-two to the body.
Echizen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Benevidez counters with a single leg into guard. Echizen didn't expect that.
Jose Benevidez has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryoma Echizen.
Benevidez makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Benevidez works over Echizen with some ground and pound from guard.
Benevidez postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Benevidez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Echizen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Echizen has escaped and now he's on top!
Echizen is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benevidez controlling the position.
Benevidez keeping moving, preventing Echizen from controlling successfully.
Echizen prevents Benevidez from getting back to his feet.
Echizen tries to free his leg and advance position but Benevidez is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Benevidez gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Echizen wants a takedown but no success here.
Benevidez tries to break the clinch but Echizen is controlling the position.
Benevidez lands a shot to the body.
Benevidez is trying to force a seperation but Echizen has the dominant position.
Benevidez working aggressively here.
Echizen is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Benevidez is defending well.
Echizen avoiding damage as Benevidez throws knees to the body.
Echizen wants a takedown.
Echizen is breathing heavily.
Benevidez stops a takedown attempt from Echizen.
Benevidez is trying to push Echizen away but Echizen has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Echizen wants a takedown but no success here.
Benevidez working hard to break the clinch.

Benevidez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benevidez darts in and clinches Echizen up against the ropes.

Benevidez breaks the clinch.
Benevidez throws a series of punches but Echizen moves out of range.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Benevidez lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Echizen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Echizen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.

Benevidez takes the fight into the clinch.
Benevidez throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Benevidez tries to circle away but Echizen has him pinned against the ropes.
Benevidez looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Benevidez breaks from the clinch.
Echizen misses with a takedown attempt - Benevidez sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Some wild striking there from Benevidez.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benevidez closes the distance and clinches.
Echizen is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Benevidez gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Echizen has Benevidez pressed against the ropes, preventing Benevidez from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A short uppercut from Benevidez.
Benevidez lands a hook to the side of the head.
Benevidez lands a left hand that snaps the head of Echizen backwards.
Echizen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Benevidez prevents it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Echizen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Benevidez prevents it.
Benevidez wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Benevidez has picked Echizen up - he's going for a ride! Benevidez dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Benevidez takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Benevidez trying to control the action but Echizen is working from the bottom.
Echizen has hold of Benevidez's hands but Benevidez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Benevidez throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Echizen to regain full guard.
Benevidez tries to free his leg and advance position but Echizen is retaining full guard.
Benevidez throws an elbow that misses. Echizen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Benevidez's guard. Nice move by Echizen!
Benevidez pulls Echizen in close to prevent any damage.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Echizen tries to free his leg and advance position but Benevidez is retaining full guard.
Echizen trying to control the position from guard on top but Benevidez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Echizen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Benevidez defends it nicely.

Benevidez closes the distance and clinches.
Jose Benevidez has scored more points in the clinch so far.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Benevidez's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Benevidez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Echizen is looking to control Benevidez's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Echizen avoid being mounted?
Benevidez looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Echizen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Benevidez wants to stand up but Echizen manages to regain full guard.
Echizen trying to control the position.

Benevidez gets to his feet - Echizen follows without any prompting.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Benevidez throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Benevidez closes the distance and clinches.
Echizen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Benevidez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Echizen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Benevidez is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Benevidez lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benevidez is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.
Echizen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Benevidez escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Benevidez moves into the clinch.
Echizen tries for a takedown but Benevidez manages to get underhooks.

Benevidez pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Benevidez has Echizen up against the ropes in a clinch.
Echizen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Benevidez gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Benevidez tries to circle away but Echizen has him pinned against the ropes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Benevidez breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Echizen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Benevidez circles away.
Ryoma Echizen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jose Benevidez is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Benevidez closes the distance and clinches.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jose Benevidez showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Benevidez 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 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight for Jose Benevidez!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Jose Benevidez!
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight for Jose Benevidez!

Jose Benevidez wins by unanimous decision!
Jose Benevidez made sure to give a little speech post fight, saying 'Soy el mejor en todo, no hay nadie nunca va a traerme abajo!'.