PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stu Bennett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rustam Khabilov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khabilov has chosen Rihanna Bitch Better Have My Money as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Bennett
vs
Khabilov

183 cm
30
170 lbs
25 - 12 - 0

182 cm
24
187 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Good kicks
Good gas tank

Sin City Allstars

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 25 - 12 - 0, fighting out of New York, Stu Bennett!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Rustam Khabilov!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Stewart Dunkirk and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Khabilov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Bennett tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Khabilov is in Bennett's guard.
Bennett is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bennett is looking to take a break and control but Khabilov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khabilov tries to roll over but Bennett keeps him under control.
Khabilov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Bennett is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khabilov is controlling Bennett's trapped leg to prevent Bennett from advancing to side control.
Khabilov manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khabilov trying to control the position.
Khabilov looking for a sweep. Not yet Khabilov, not yet.
Bennett has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Khabilov is proving hard to escape from.
Bennett preventing the sweep.
Khabilov pulls Bennett in close to prevent any damage.
Bennett has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Khabilov looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Khabilov working a defensive guard but Bennett passes into half guard.
Khabilov tries to roll over but Bennett keeps him under control.
Bennett wants to stand up but Khabilov has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Khabilov gets full guard.
Bennett not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Khabilov keeping moving, preventing Bennett from controlling successfully.
Bennett controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bennett throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Khabilov with the counter takedown but Bennett avoids it easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Khabilov.
A counter left hand to the body from Bennett misses its target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennett misses with a left hand

and Khabilov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Bennett!
An elbow from Khabilov crashes against the mat.
Bennett managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Khabilov.
Khabilov 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.
Bennett parries the strikes from Khabilov easily there. Khabilov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Bennett to escape.
Bennett managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Khabilov.
Khabilov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Bennett prevents Khabilov from improving position.
Bennett is trying to control Khabilov's posture but Khabilov avoids it.
Khabilov is looking to take a break and control but Bennett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov working the ground and pound but Bennett is defending the strikes.
Khabilov is looking to take a break and control but Bennett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Khabilov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Khabilov trying to control the position but Bennett is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rustam Khabilov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Khabilov fails with the takedown.
Khabilov moves out of range as Bennett strikes.

Khabilov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Khabilov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Bennett is keeping the position for now.
Khabilov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bennett works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Khabilov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bennett works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Khabilov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Khabilov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bennett's head.
Bennett keeping full guard, as Khabilov tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett pulls Khabilov in close to prevent any damage.
Bennett avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Khabilov chips away with some ground and pound.
Khabilov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Bennett is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Khabilov presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Khabilov has Bennett pressed against the cage, preventing Bennett from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Bennett is trying to break free.

Khabilov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Khabilov trying to control the pace.
Bennett is trying to maintain the position but Khabilov is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Khabilov connects with a nice short shot to Bennett's temple.
Bennett trying to control from the bottom.
Bennett is trying to stand up here but Khabilov is controlling him well.
Khabilov is looking to take a break and control but Bennett is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Khabilov stands up and beckons Bennett to join him on the feet.
Khabilov moves away from the strike by Bennett.
Khabilov with the counter takedown but Bennett avoids it easily.
Khabilov moves out of range as Bennett strikes.

Bennett gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Khabilov to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Bennett is looking to stand up but Khabilov isn't so interested in that idea.
Bennett has Khabilov pulled in close to control his posture.
Bennett's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Khabilov trying to control but Bennett is working from the bottom.
Khabilov passes Bennett's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Khabilov is trying to control the action in half guard but Bennett is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Bennett avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Khabilov.
Khabilov not doing much here.
Khabilov trying to mount his opponent but Bennett defends it.
Khabilov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Khabilov misses with a head shot. Bennett uses the momentum to regain guard.
Bennett keeping full guard, as Khabilov tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khabilov throws a big right hand that misses.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rustam Khabilov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Bennett's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Khabilov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bennett.
Khabilov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Khabilov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Bennett is looking to control Khabilov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Bennett avoid being mounted?
Khabilov throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Bennett to regain full guard.
Khabilov wants to pass the guard but Bennett is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennett keeping moving, preventing Khabilov from controlling successfully.
Rustam Khabilov has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennett trying to control the position here.
Khabilov wants to control from the top but Bennett keeps moving.
Khabilov tries to free his leg and advance position but Bennett is retaining full guard.
Bennett working a defensive guard here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bennett jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Bennett keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bennett misses with a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Khabilov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Bennett defends well and Khabilov ends up having to push Bennett into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A slow jab from Bennett misses its intended target.
And Khabilov tries to counter it with a takedown but Bennett pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Stu Bennett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Bennett enables Khabilov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Bennett manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Bennett working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Khabilov.
Bennett wants to get back to his feet but Khabilov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Khabilov postures up in Bennett's guard and throws a big left but Bennett blocks it.
Bennett keeping moving, preventing Khabilov from controlling successfully.
Bennett seems keen to control Khabilov's posture.
Bennett is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khabilov is looking to work some ground and pound but Bennett has wrist control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Khabilov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bennett works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bennett displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Khabilov.
A swing and a miss from Bennett.
Bennett throws a jab but it's blocked by Khabilov.
Bennett lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
No joy there for Bennett, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Khabilov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Bennett is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Khabilov presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennett wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Khabilov has him pressed against the cage.
Khabilov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Stu Bennett has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rustam Khabilov.
Bennett is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Khabilov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Rustam Khabilov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Khabilov prevents a takedown attempt there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Khabilov looking for a takedown.
Bennett jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Khabilov walks away with a smile on his face. Bennett gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Bennett slips a jab from Khabilov.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Khabilov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bennett just misses with a punch to the body.
Stu Bennett has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Khabilov misses with a takedown attempt - Bennett sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stu Bennett showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Khabilov 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rustam Khabilov!
Rustam Khabilov made sure to mention his sponsor, Mohito Fightwear (Laundry) in his post fight interview.