PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pentti Hirvonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Richard Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Richard Bennett enters the cage!

Hirvonen
vs
Bennett

185 cm
34
196 lbs
30 - 17 - 0

180 cm
32
196 lbs
32 - 17 - 1

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

ACME-Blood Red Q158 Always $30 (5% Laundry SALE)
Hell's Balls Recovery (160)

Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 17 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pentti Hirvonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 17 - 1, fighting out of New York, Richard Bennett!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hirvonen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Bennett napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Bennett is trying to improve his position.
Hirvonen throws an elbow but Bennett slips to the side and avoids it well.
Bennett wants to get back to his feet.
Bennett is trying to control Hirvonen's posture but Hirvonen avoids it.
Hirvonen throws a strike aimed at the side of Bennett's head but Bennett avoids it well.
Hirvonen working the ground and pound from side control.
Bennett is not content to let Hirvonen control the position.
Hirvonen misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Hirvonen working the head with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hirvonen throws an elbow but Bennett slips to the side and avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett is looking for a sweep.
Hirvonen tries to move into full mount but can't pass Bennett's legs.
Bennett is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hirvonen off and has taken his back!
Bennett controlling well, preventing Hirvonen from escaping the position.
Hirvonen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hirvonen turns into Bennett and is now in his guard.
Bennett avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bennett has Hirvonen pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hirvonen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bennett is keeping the position for now.
Bennett pulls Hirvonen in close to prevent any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hirvonen wants to pass the guard but Bennett is keeping the position.
Hirvonen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Bennett's guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bennett is not content to let Hirvonen control the position.

Hirvonen wants to work for an arm triangle but Bennett is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hirvonen thows a huge punch but Bennett dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirvonen throws a strike but Bennett avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Hirvonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Bennett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bennett is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Hirvonen throwing strikes from guard but Bennett blocks nicely.
Bennett can't keep his opponent in guard - Hirvonen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirvonen wants to pass the guard but Bennett is defending well.
Hirvonen wants to take a breather but Bennett is having none of it.
Hirvonen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bennett knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Hirvonen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hirvonen is looking to advance position but Bennett won't allow it.
Hirvonen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Bennett is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Hirvonen scores with a couple of nice shots.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hirvonen wants to work for an arm triangle but Bennett is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Hirvonen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pentti Hirvonen dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bennett tries a low kick but Hirvonen avoids it.
Bennett throws a push kick but Hirvonen slaps the foot to one side.
Hirvonen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bennett was well out of range. Poor timing from Hirvonen.
Bennett lands with a nice body punch.
Bennett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hirvonen.
Bennett scores with a push kick.
Hirvonen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Bennett.
Hirvonen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Hirvonen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bennett misses with a body kick.
Bennett slaps away a takedown attempt from Hirvonen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Good shot there by Bennett.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hirvonen throws a body punch but Bennett moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirvonen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bennett manages to avoid it.
Jab, jab by Bennett - just one landing.
Bennett takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Hirvonen misses with an uppercut. Bennett saw that one coming.
Bennett waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hirvonen.
Hirvonen avoids the body shot from Bennett.
Bennett walks into a stiff left hand from Hirvonen.
Hirvonen looks to land a right hand but Bennett moved out of range.
Bennett lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hirvonen misses with a takedown attempt - Bennett sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Hirvonen closes the distance and lands a one-two.
No luck for Hirvonen with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pentti Hirvonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bennett tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bennett connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hirvonen just misses with a punch to the body.
Richard Bennett seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hirvonen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Bennett throws a lazy body kick

so Hirvonen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Hirvonen wants to pass the guard but Bennett is keeping the position.
Bennett trying to control the position here.
Hirvonen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirvonen looking to sit in guard and control but Bennett gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Hirvonen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Bennett wants to get up but he can't break Hirvonen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Bennett won't allow Hirvonen to sweep him here.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hirvonen throws his legs up looking for a submission but Bennett uses it to pass to side control.
Hirvonen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hirvonen tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Richard Bennett will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Hirvonen lands a right hook to the body.
Hirvonen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Hirvonen misses with a body shot.
Bennett slips a jab from Hirvonen.
Hirvonen is looking to wear down Bennett with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Bennett takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hirvonen throws a lazy head kick
and Bennett counters with a body kick that stops Hirvonen in his tracks momentarily.

Hirvonen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Bennett regains half guard.
Bennett wants to control but Hirvonen is keeping busy.
Hirvonen throwing shots but Bennett is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bennett working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hirvonen.
Hirvonen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bennett utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hirvonen looking to pass the guard.
Hirvonen is looking to advance position but Bennett has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Hirvonen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Hirvonen is working hard here to advance position.
Hirvonen tries to lock up and control but Bennett gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pentti Hirvonen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Bennett get's back to his feet.
Hirvonen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bennett ducks under a wild hook from Hirvonen.
Jab by Hirvonen.
Bennett is looking to clinch but Hirvonen is avoiding it.
Hirvonen fails with a takedown attempt.
Hirvonen fails with a takedown attempt.
Bennett slips under a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bennett uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Hirvonen.
Hirvonen throws an off balance right hand
and Hirvonen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Bennett throws a lazy right hand but Hirvonen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hirvonen misses with a body shot.
Hirvonen missing with a left hand there. Bennett was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Bennett misses with a body kick.
Hirvonen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bennett manages to avoid it.
Hirvonen shoots in looking for a takedown. Bennett tries to sprawl out of it but Hirvonen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bennett manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pentti Hirvonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bennett looks to land a left hand but Hirvonen moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirvonen tries a low kick but Bennett avoids it.
Hirvonen avoids the head kick by Bennett.
Hirvonen checks a leg kick nicely.
Bennett stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bennett wants it to stay on the feet.
Bennett misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bennett stuffs the takedown attempt from Hirvonen. Hirvonen gets slowly back to his feet.
Hirvonen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bennett.
Bennett takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A leg kick checked by Bennett.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hirvonen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Bennett looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Bennett just misses with a punch to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Richard Bennett.
I think Bennett has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Pentti Hirvonen!
A relieved looking Pentti Hirvonen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.