PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jarrod The Hulk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rachid Benali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

The Hulk
vs
Benali

192 cm
25
250 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

191 cm
25
225 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jarrod The Hulk!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rachid Benali!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The Hulk shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Benali is trying to defend but The Hulk finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
The Hulk missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The Hulk throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Benali kicks off The Hulk and gets to his feet.
The Hulk moves out of range of the body kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - The Hulk looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The Hulk fails with an attempt to clinch.

The Hulk shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
The Hulk prevents Benali from getting the reversal.
The Hulk thowing shots but they're missing.
Benali tries to lock up and control but The Hulk gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Benali's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The Hulk goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Benali turns into him and now he's in The Hulk's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benali trying to control but The Hulk is working from the bottom.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Rachid Benali wasn't active enough on the ground.
The Hulk tries to clinch up but Benali circles away and keeps his distance.
The Hulk throws a chopping leg kick but Benali manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Benali gets a double leg takedown into The Hulk's guard.

Benali stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice combination there by The Hulk.

The Hulk gets caught flat footed, as Benali shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benali won't allow The Hulk to sweep him here.
Benali distracts The Hulk with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Benali content to stall in guard here.
Benali stops The Hulk from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Benali postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! The Hulk is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Benali, into his guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
The Hulk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benali looking to hit a scissor sweep but The Hulk is one step ahead there.
Benali manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. The Hulk manages to get himself to full guard.

Benali stands up and waves to The Hulk to follow him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benali closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Benali trying to control the position but The Hulk is working away.

Benali looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Benali working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rachid Benali dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rachid Benali's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

The Hulk misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

The Hulk shoots in and gets a takedown into Benali's guard.
The Hulk postures up.
The Hulk wants to control from the top but Benali keeps moving.

The Hulk avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Benali keeping moving, preventing The Hulk from controlling successfully.

Benali is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

The Hulk drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Benali dives on top into guard.
Benali throws an elbow that misses. The Hulk uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Benali's guard. Nice move by The Hulk!

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Hulk is looking to work some ground and pound but Benali has wrist control.
The Hulk trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The Hulk trying to control the position from guard on top but Benali is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The Hulk makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Benali is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. The Hulk is aware though and is defending well.
The Hulk missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The Hulk distracts Benali with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benali avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The Hulk is looking to work some ground and pound but Benali has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benali preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Benali working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. The Hulk doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. The Hulk manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The Hulk postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Benali looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The Hulk wants to stand but Benali is controlling his posture from full guard.
The Hulk is looking to work some ground and pound but Benali has wrist control.
The Hulk loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The Hulk with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Hulk trying to control but Benali is working from the bottom.
Benali pulls The Hulk in close to his closed guard and prevents The Hulk from doing any damage or advancing position.

Benali scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Jarrod The Hulk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The Hulk moves in looking to clinch but Benali pushes him off.

The Hulk scores with a takedown into Benali's guard.
Benali working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from The Hulk.

Benali looking for submissions from the bottom but instead The Hulk passes into half guard.
Benali is breathing heavily.
The Hulk is nestled in close to Benali, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

The cut above Rachid Benali's eye is starting to cause him problems now.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Rachid Benali's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:29 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Jarrod The Hulk!