PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight kickboxing rules bout between Stevo Benoit (ranked 6921 p4p, 269 weight class) and Emeritus Forge (ranked 13172 p4p, 440 weight class). Forge is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Cirice. Stevo Benoit has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Benoit
vs
Forge

190 cm
25
143 lbs
0 - 2 - 1

170 cm
27
140 lbs
0 - 1 - 1

Lethal high kicks
KO power

Basic striking
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Stevo Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Emeritus Forge!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Paulsen Ambrosius and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Benoit.
Forge works Benoit's body with a nice hook.
Benoit is looking to clinch but Forge is avoiding it.
Forge on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Forge misses with a two punch combination.
Benoit tries to close the distance and clinch but Forge swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Forge throws a jab when Benoit was well out of range.
Benoit wants to clinch up but Forge keeps it at a distance.
A head kick by Forge misses
and Benoit counters with a three punch combo that has Forge backing up. Forge nods at Benoit to acknowledge the strikes.
Forge misses the shot to the body.
Forge swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Forge lands with a good body shot.
Emeritus Forge seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benoit swinging wildly here.
Benoit keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Forge.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Forge throws an off balance right hand
letting Benoit counter with a right hand.
Forge throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Benoit works the jab nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forge throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benoit connects with a high kick.
Forge throws a jab when Benoit was well out of range.
Forge throws a leg kick but Benoit sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Forge is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Benoit.
Some wild striking there from Benoit.
Benoit wants to clinch.
Forge looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Benoit tries to clinch up.
Forge takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Forge misses with a double jab.
Forge misses with a jab, cross combination.
Forge tries a low kick but Benoit avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Forge tries to bum rush Benoit with a series of wild strikes but Benoit uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Benoit throws a good cross that connects.
Forge goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Forge misses with a combination
and Benoit counters with a stiff right hand.
Benoit slips under a jab.
Benoit wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Forge misses with a wild combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Benoit wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Forge has him pressed against the ropes.
Benoit is trying to break the clinch but Forge has him pressed against the ropes.
Benoit is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the ropes.

Forge breaks the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Benoit looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Forge tries to counter by closing the distance.
Benoit really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit moves in looking to clinch but Forge pushes him off.
Forge blocks a head kick by Benoit.
Forge lands a jab.
Forge throws a push kick but Benoit slaps the foot to one side.
Forge throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Benoit is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Forge blocks a head kick by Benoit.
Forge steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Benoit.
Forge takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Benoit slips a jab from Forge.
Benoit tries to counter by clinching up but Forge breaks away and moves out of range.
Forge looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Forge misses with a jab to the body
and Benoit counters with a left and a right that stings Forge.
Forge throws a right and a left that both miss.
Forge swats away the attempt to clinch by Benoit.
Forge fails to land with a series of punches.
Benoit feints a jab promting Forge to slip. Benoit then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Forge slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Forge misses with a jab to the body
and Benoit counters with a nice uppercut.
Benoit blocks a head kick by Forge.
Benoit throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benoit is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Forge missing with a left hand there. Benoit was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Benoit tries to clinch there but Forge circles away.
Forge has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Benoit.
Benoit tests Forge's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Forge misses with a looping left.
Benoit tries to clinch up but Forge circles away and keeps his distance.
A swing and a miss from Forge.
Benoit defending well as Forge loads up on a big left hand.
Forge throws a wild body kick that Benoit sees coming a mile off.
Benoit tries to clinch up.
Forge takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Benoit throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benoit defending well as Forge loads up on a big left hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Stevo Benoit will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Forge swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Forge takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Benoit tries to clinch there but Forge circles away.
Benoit tries to clinch there but Forge circles away.
Benoit getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Forge avoids the head kick by Benoit.
Forge throws a push kick but Benoit slaps the foot to one side.
Forge misses with the combination.
Forge throws a body punch but Benoit moves out of range.
Benoit lands a head kick!
Benoit is looking to clinch but Forge is avoiding it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Forge throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Forge throws a hook but Benoit avoids it easily.
Forge has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Forge there as he acknowledges the shot.
Benoit keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Forge.
Benoit lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Stevo Benoit is winning the standup battle so far.
Forge avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forge looks to land a left hand but Benoit moved out of range nicely.
It looked like Benoit was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Benoit moves in looking to clinch but Forge pushes him off.
Benoit throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Forge.
Forge throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Forge misses with a wild combination.
Forge missing with a left hand there. Benoit was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
As Forge looks to move away, Benoit throws a big counter combo but Forge just gets out of the way.
Benoit wants to clinch up but Forge keeps it at a distance.
Forge throws an off balance right hand
and Benoit counters with a good, hard body kick but Forge shrugs it off.
Stevo Benoit is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Benoit connects with a high kick.
Benoit avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Forge is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Benoit with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Forge waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Benoit.
Forge will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Forge throws a nice looking combination but Benoit bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Benoit scores with a three punch combo!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benoit slips a straight right by Forge.
Benoit avoids the head kick by Forge.
Forge throws a jab when Benoit was well out of range.
Benoit wants to clinch up but Forge keeps it at a distance.
Benoit fails in his attempt to clinch.
Benoit chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Benoit is looking to clinch but Forge is avoiding it.
Forge throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Benoit.
Benoit scores with a nice body kick.
Forge waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Benoit.
Benoit steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Forge. That one must have hurt.
Forge throws a poor cross that misses
and Benoit counters with a stiff right hand.
Forge misses with a straight right.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit is looking to clinch.
Forge misses with a looping right.
Benoit scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Forge throws the left hand but Benoit avoids the punch easily.
Forge looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Forge keeps the fight on the outside.
Benoit tries to clinch there but Forge circles away.
Benoit is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Benoit tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Forge throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Forge throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Forge takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Benoit bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Benoit slips under a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Forge misses with a combination
and Benoit counters with a nice body shot.
Benoit slips a straight right by Forge.
Forge looks to land a left hand but Benoit moved out of range nicely.
Forge throws a combination that misses
and Benoit makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Benoit lands a jab to Forge's midsection.
Forge lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Benoit backs up against the ropes.
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!
Forge misses with a looping left.
It looked like Benoit was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Forge misses with a body shot.
Nice defenses there by Benoit.
Forge looks to throw a body kick
and Benoit counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Forge misses with a body shot.
Benoit dodges the punch combination from Forge.
Forge throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Emeritus Forge will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Benoit fails in his attempt to clinch.
Forge swinging wildly here.
Benoit thinks about countering with a body kick.
Benoit fails with an attempt to clinch.
Forge throws a shot from downtown. Benoit moves away and avoids it.
Benoit fails with an attempt to clinch.
Forge thinks about the counter body kick.
Forge swings widly with a right hand
and Benoit counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Benoit tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Forge paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Forge throws a jab when Benoit was well out of range.
Forge throws a looping overhand right but Benoit ducks down to avoid it.
Forge misses the jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benoit moves away from the strike by Forge.
Benoit fails in his attempt to clinch.
Benoit scores with a head kick. Forge tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Forge throws a head kick that misses.
Benoit is looking to counter the offense by Forge and move into the clinch.
Forge has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Forge missing with a left hand there. Benoit was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Forge will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A big left from Forge misses.
Benoit blocks the body kick.
Benoit connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Forge momentarily.
Forge throws a looping overhand right but Benoit ducks down to avoid it.
Crunch! Benoit slams his shin into Forge's torso.
Benoit scores with a push kick.
Forge misses with a few strikes there.
Forge misses with a series of wild punches.
Forge swinging wildly here.
Forge tries to clinch but Benoit moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Forge tries a head kick but it misses.
Benoit wants to clinch.
Benoit thuds his right hand into Forge's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Benoit tries to close the distance and clinch but Forge swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Forge throws a lazy uppercut
and Benoit counters with a body kick.
Forge throws a sloppy head kick and Benoit moves out of range easily.
Benoit throws a big counter combination but Forge scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Benoit tries to clinch up but Forge circles away and keeps his distance.
A chopping leg kick lands by Benoit.
Forge throws a sloppy head kick and Benoit moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit blocks the body kick.
Benoit tries to clinch up.
A head kick misses from Benoit.
Benoit works over Forge's head and body with a nice combination.
Benoit feints a jab promting Forge to slip. Benoit then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Forge slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Forge misses with a double jab.
Benoit tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Benoit tries to close the distance and clinch up but Forge swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The fighters circling - Forge throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Forge jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Benoit works over Forge's head and body with a nice combination.
Forge fails to land with a series of punches.
Benoit tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Forge manages to circle out of the way.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benoit throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Forge scores with a leg kick.
Benoit dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Forge. That did some damage!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Forge misses the jab.
Forge cracks Benoit with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Benoit cracks a nice hook into Forge's ribs.
Benoit tries to clinch up but Forge circles away and keeps his distance.
Forge throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Benoit sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Benoit keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Forge misses with an uppercut. Benoit saw that one coming.
Left hook, right uppercut from Benoit.
Forge misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Benoit misses with a series of wild punches.
Forge misses with an uppercut.
Benoit thinks about countering with a head kick.
Forge looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Benoit dodges the punch combination from Forge.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Stevo Benoit.
I think Benoit has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stevo Benoit!