PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Massimo Benvenuti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrigo Rojas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rojas is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Apaga Mas Não Bate. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Benvenuti
vs
Rojas

182 cm
27
185 lbs
17 - 4 - 0

195 cm
27
200 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

GREEN!160

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 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Massimo Benvenuti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Rodrigo Rojas!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, William Gold and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benvenuti throws a push kick but Rojas slaps the foot to one side.
Rojas with the counter takedown but Benvenuti avoids it easily.
Rojas takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Benvenuti just misses with a punch to the body.
Rojas throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Benvenuti's waist but Benvenuti gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rojas off to one side.
Benvenuti looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rojas tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Benvenuti chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Benvenuti throws a body punch but Rojas moves out of range.
A jab from Benvenuti does it's job there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benvenuti lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Rojas tries to close the distance and clinch but Benvenuti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Benvenuti tries to counter by clinching up but Rojas breaks away and moves out of range.
Benvenuti throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rodrigo Rojas seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rojas tries to clinch but Benvenuti is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown attempt by Rojas or perhaps it was just good defense by Benvenuti, which made it look bad.
Rojas takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Benvenuti misses with a jab, cross combination.
Benvenuti lands a right hook to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Benvenuti as Rojas shoots in.
Massimo Benvenuti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rodrigo Rojas.
Rojas takes a jab right on the kisser.
Rojas shoots in but no luck this time.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rojas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benvenuti thuds a left hand into Rojas's body.
We've been told by Benvenuti's head coaches at Canadian Top Team that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Benvenuti throws a body shot but no joy.
Rojas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Benvenuti. No joy for Rojas on that attempt.
A shot to the liver by Benvenuti. Beautiful body shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benvenuti throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rojas takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Rojas with a lazy takedown attempt
and Benvenuti makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Benvenuti bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Rojas's head backwards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benvenuti lands a jab to Rojas's midsection.
Rojas looks winded!

Benvenuti has closed the distance and engaged Rojas in a clinch.
Rojas fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Good body shot from Benvenuti.
Rojas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Benvenuti just stands there and leans against the cage.
Rojas tries to pull guard but Benvenuti forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rojas tries to pull guard but Benvenuti forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Rojas tries to pull guard but Benvenuti forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Benvenuti throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Benvenuti is pushing Rojas up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Nice body punch from Benvenuti.
A right hook to the body lands for Benvenuti.
Rojas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Benvenuti working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Benvenuti lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rojas backwards.
Rojas is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Benvenuti to keep the fight standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rojas tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Benvenuti just stands there and leans against the cage.
Benvenuti makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rojas tries to pull guard but Benvenuti won't allow it.
Rojas is trying to pull guard but Benvenuti turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Benvenuti throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Benvenuti is stalling here.
Rojas fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Benvenuti lands a body punch in the clinch.
Benvenuti pushes off an throws an elbow but Rojas leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
A right hand to the body from Benvenuti.
A right handed body shot lands from Benvenuti.

Benvenuti's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Rojas stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Benvenuti.
The crowd cheers as Benvenuti lands an impressive looking overhand right. Rojas doesn't seem phased though.
Benvenuti lands a right hook to the body.
Benvenuti connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Massimo Benvenuti 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.

Rojas takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Benvenuti throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rojas stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Rojas takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Benvenuti throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Benvenuti drops Rojas with a beautiful combination! Rojas stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Benvenuti is looking for the KO!

Rojas is rocked!
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!
Rojas throws a big shot that misses.
Rojas is still on wobbly legs! Can Benvenuti finish him?
Massimo Benvenuti is winning the standup battle so far.
Benvenuti throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Benvenuti is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rojas can do to turn this around?
Benvenuti wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Rojas seems to have recovered his senses.
Benvenuti with a body punch. A glancing blow.

Benvenuti clinches up against the cage.
Benvenuti controlling the action here for a moment.
Rojas is breathing heavily.
Benvenuti is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rojas is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benvenuti lands an uppercut.
Rojas fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A short left from Benvenuti.
Benvenuti content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Rojas looking to stall.
Rojas fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Benvenuti works on Rojas's body with a couple of short punches.
Benvenuti lands a shot to the body.

Benvenuti escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Benvenuti darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Benvenuti works Rojas's body with a nice hook.
Benvenuti scores with a body shot.
Benvenuti misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Benvenuti sets himself, and Rojas steps forward looking for the clinch! Benvenuti avoids it this time.
Rojas walks right into a perfectly timed right hook and goes down hard! He's out cold! The ref cradles Rojas limp body while Benvenuti jumps on to the cage and waves to the roaring crowd. Wow that was just a brutal knockout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Massimo Benvenuti!
In his post fight interview, Massimo Benvenuti started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.