PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Roy Benavidez (ranked 2286 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaakko Ilmarinen (ranked 7043 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Benavidez
vs
Ilmarinen

180 cm
29
197 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

186 cm
22
197 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

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 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Roy Benavidez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jaakko Ilmarinen!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ilmarinen throws an overhand right that lands on Benavidez's shoulder, as Benavidez tries to avoid the shot.
Benavidez tries to work over Ilmarinen's front leg with a kick but Ilmarinen checks it.
Benavidez delivers a nice body kick.
Benavidez takes one to the chin there.
Ilmarinen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Benavidez went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
We've been informed that Ilmarinen has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.
Benavidez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A combination from Ilmarinen does no damage.
Ilmarinen blocks a head kick by Benavidez.
Ilmarinen throws a shot from downtown. Benavidez moves away and avoids it.
Jaakko Ilmarinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benavidez throws a front kick aimed at Ilmarinen's knee but Ilmarinen avoids it well.
Benavidez throws a front kick that sends Ilmarinen stumbling back into the cage.
Benavidez definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Benavidez throws a sloppy head kick and Ilmarinen moves out of range easily.
Ilmarinen looks to land a combination. Benavidez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Benavidez throws a leg kick that misses.
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!
Ilmarinen misses with a series of wild punches.
Benavidez lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benavidez throws a front kick that sends Ilmarinen stumbling back into the cage.
Ilmarinen tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ilmarinen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A punch combination from Ilmarinen misses.
Benavidez throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Benavidez tries to score with a low kick but Ilmarinen moves his leg out of the way.
Ilmarinen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Benavidez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ilmarinen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Benavidez stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Benavidez throws a front kick aimed at Ilmarinen's knee but Ilmarinen avoids it well.
Ilmarinen takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Benavidez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Benavidez looks to land a body kick but Ilmarinen moved away.
Ilmarinen is looking for the big counter here.
Benavidez throws a sloppy head kick and Ilmarinen moves out of range easily.
Ilmarinen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ilmarinen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benavidez staying out of range there.
Ilmarinen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Benavidez.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Benavidez.
Benavidez misses with a low kick.
Benavidez moves out of range of the body kick from Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Benavidez circles away quickly and effectively.
Benavidez throws a sloppy head kick and Ilmarinen moves out of range easily.
Ilmarinen misses with a double jab.
Ilmarinen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Benavidez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
It seemed like Ilmarinen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Benavidez tries to work over Ilmarinen's front leg with a kick but Ilmarinen checks it.
Benavidez tries a low kick but Ilmarinen avoids it.
Ilmarinen throws a series of punches but Benavidez avoids them all with ease.
Benavidez thinks about countering with a head kick.
Benavidez on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Benavidez lands with a kick to the ribs.
Ilmarinen throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ilmarinen.
Benavidez is looking to land body kicks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
An inside leg kick from Benavidez misses.
Ilmarinen blocks a head kick by Benavidez.
Benavidez misses with a low kick.
A head kick misses from Benavidez.
Ilmarinen moves out of range of the body kick from Benavidez.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Ilmarinen.
Benavidez misses with a low kick.
Ilmarinen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Benavidez circles away quickly and effectively.
Benavidez tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ilmarinen throws a right and a left that Benavidez avoids nicely.
Ilmarinen lands a jab-cross combination.
Ilmarinen avoids the head kick by Benavidez.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benavidez tries a head kick but it misses.
Benavidez throws a low kick, looking for Ilmarinen's leg but Ilmarinen calmly moves out of range.
Benavidez avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benavidez throws a push kick but Ilmarinen slaps the foot to one side.
Benavidez misses with a low kick.
Ilmarinen thuds his right hand into Benavidez's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Ilmarinen scores with a shot to the body.
Ilmarinen looks to land a body kick but Benavidez moved away.
Ilmarinen misses with a wild combination.
Ilmarinen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Benavidez lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Ilmarinen has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Ilmarinen and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Benavidez is looking to chop away at Ilmarinen's legs.
Benavidez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benavidez throws a chopping leg kick but Ilmarinen manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Despite the aggression on Ilmarinen's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ilmarinen looks to land a combination. Benavidez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Benavidez throws a leg kick but Ilmarinen moved away.
Benavidez throws a head kick that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Ilmarinen dominated that round.
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.

Benavidez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Benavidez might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
A combination from Ilmarinen does no damage.
It appears Benavidez was looking to counter with a kick there.
Benavidez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Benavidez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ilmarinen checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Benavidez avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ilmarinen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Benavidez throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Ilmarinen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Benavidez circles away quickly and effectively.
Benavidez fires out a quick counter leg kick but Ilmarinen just manages to avoid it.
A head kick misses from Benavidez.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ilmarinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ilmarinen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Benavidez looks to land a body kick but Ilmarinen moved away.
Ilmarinen throws a right hand that Benavidez ducks under and follows up with a left that Benavidez also avoids with ease.
Ilmarinen misses with a two punch combination.
Benavidez tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benavidez throws a sloppy head kick and Ilmarinen moves out of range easily.
Jaakko Ilmarinen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ilmarinen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Ilmarinen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Benavidez throws a sloppy head kick and Ilmarinen moves out of range easily.
Benavidez throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Benavidez throws a head kick that misses.
Benavidez throws a head kick but Ilmarinen moves out of range.
Ilmarinen misses with a double jab.
Jaakko Ilmarinen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Benavidez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ilmarinen pushes Benavidez away with a front kick.
Benavidez misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ilmarinen works over Benavidez's head and body with a nice combination.
Benavidez moves out of range of the leg kick from Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen stalks Benavidez and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Benavidez's face. Benavidez staggers backwards, shaken.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benavidez avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A bone on bone clash there as Ilmarinen blocks the leg kick.
A good leg kick by Benavidez.
Benavidez throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ilmarinen.
Benavidez tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ilmarinen is able to avoid easily.
Ilmarinen moves out of range of the body kick.
A jab from Ilmarinen finds it's way through Benavidez's defenses.
Benavidez misses with an attempted mid kick.
Despite the aggression on Ilmarinen's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ilmarinen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Benavidez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
No joy there for Ilmarinen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A combination from Ilmarinen does no damage.
Ilmarinen misses with a double jab.
Ilmarinen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ilmarinen misses with the combination.
Ilmarinen looks to land a combination. Benavidez sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez scores with a nice body kick.
Benavidez looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Benavidez misses with a head kick.
Ilmarinen is trying to counter with his kicks.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ilmarinen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ilmarinen blocks a head kick by Benavidez.
Ilmarinen just misses with a punch to the body.
A leg kick checked by Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Benavidez on the side of the head.
Benavidez fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Ilmarinen.
A head kick misses from Benavidez.
Ilmarinen blocks a head kick by Benavidez.
Ilmarinen just misses with a punch to the body.
Ilmarinen moves out of range of the leg kick from Benavidez.
A bone on bone clash there as Ilmarinen blocks the leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen fails to land with a series of punches.
Ilmarinen lands with a nice body kick.
Ilmarinen moves out of range of the leg kick from Benavidez.
Benavidez misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ilmarinen looks to land a left hand but Benavidez moved out of range nicely.
Benavidez throws a counter high kick but Ilmarinen was just alert enough to avoid it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benavidez throws a leg kick but Ilmarinen sees it coming and moves out of range.
Benavidez tries a low kick but Ilmarinen avoids it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Benavidez thinks about countering with a head kick.
Ilmarinen avoids the head kick by Benavidez.
Benavidez throws a head kick but Ilmarinen moves out of range.
Benavidez slips a jab from Ilmarinen.
Benavidez steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ilmarinen.
Benavidez tries a head kick but it misses.
Ilmarinen checks a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Ilmarinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Ilmarinen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ilmarinen.
Benavidez tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ilmarinen is able to avoid easily.
Benavidez goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ilmarinen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Benavidez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ilmarinen lands with a nice combination. Benavidez backs away looking to recover.
Ilmarinen scores with a sloppy right hand. Benavidez should have avoided that one.
Benavidez motions for Ilmarinen to come forward. Benavidez throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ilmarinen checks a leg kick.
Ilmarinen's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Ilmarinen duly obliges.
Benavidez throws a low kick, looking for Ilmarinen's leg but Ilmarinen calmly moves out of range.
It seemed like Ilmarinen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Benavidez dodges the punch combination from Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen just manages to avoid a counter high kick fromBenavidez.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benavidez throws a leg kick but Ilmarinen moved away.
Ilmarinen is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Benavidez throws a front kick aimed at Ilmarinen's knee but Ilmarinen avoids it well.
Ilmarinen has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Benavidez.
Ilmarinen feints a jab promting Benavidez to slip. Ilmarinen then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Benavidez slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Ilmarinen throws a right and a left that Benavidez avoids nicely.
Benavidez looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benavidez on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
A low kick from Benavidez misses
enabling Ilmarinen to counter with a crisp jab.
Benavidez buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Ilmarinen moves out of range of the leg kick from Benavidez.
Ilmarinen scores with a jab to the jaw.
Ilmarinen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Benavidez circles away quickly and effectively.
Ilmarinen misses with a series of wild punches.
Ilmarinen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Benavidez.
Ilmarinen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ilmarinen moves out of range of the body kick from Benavidez.
As Benavidez backs off Ilmarinen throws a huge counter combo but Benavidez manages to avoid it all.
A head kick misses from Benavidez.
Ilmarinen blocks the body kick.
Ilmarinen is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Ilmarinen throws a series of punches but Benavidez moves out of range.
Benavidez misses with a head kick.
Ilmarinen misses with a series of wild punches.
Roy Benavidez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benavidez throws a low kick, looking for Ilmarinen's leg but Ilmarinen calmly moves out of range.
Some bone on bone action there as Ilmarinen checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Benavidez connects with a leg kick. Ilmarinen looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head kick misses from Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen lands a two punch combo.
Benavidez tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ilmarinen throws a counter combo.
A punch combination from Ilmarinen misses.
Benavidez throws a leg kick but Ilmarinen moved away.
Ilmarinen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Benavidez moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Benavidez looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Ilmarinen misses with the combination.
Sloppy strikes from Ilmarinen. Those never looked like landing.
Benavidez misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Ilmarinen misses its intended target.
Ilmarinen throws a series of punches but Benavidez avoids them all with ease.
Ilmarinen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Benavidez half committed to a counter leg kick.
Benavidez throws a head kick that Ilmarinen semi-blocks.
Ilmarinen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Benavidez throws a quick counter kick to the body but Ilmarinen avoids it.
Benavidez throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Ilmarinen looks to land a combination but Benavidez avoids it well.
Benavidez appeared to be looking to counter that last move with a leg kick.
Ilmarinen avoids a kick to the body.
Benavidez motions for Ilmarinen to come forward. Benavidez throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Ilmarinen swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Ilmarinen checks the leg kick.
Benavidez attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Ilmarinen throws a right hand that Benavidez ducks under and follows up with a left that Benavidez also avoids with ease.
Benavidez on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Benavidez steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Ilmarinen. That one must have hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen lands a jab-cross combination.
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!
Benavidez finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Benavidez cracks the inside of Ilmarinen's front leg.
Benavidez tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Ilmarinen is able to avoid easily.
Ilmarinen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Ilmarinen throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Benavidez.
Benavidez throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Benavidez misses with a low kick.
Benavidez throws a low kick but it's checked well by Ilmarinen.
Benavidez misses with a low kick.
Despite the aggression on Ilmarinen's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ilmarinen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Benavidez circles away quickly and effectively.
Jaakko Ilmarinen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ilmarinen checks a low kick from Benavidez.
Benavidez throws the kick towards the body but Ilmarinen avoids it.
Benavidez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jaakko Ilmarinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ilmarinen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jaakko Ilmarinen!