PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Benedetti (ranked 2412 p4p, 2763 weight class) and Chad Mendoza (ranked 260 p4p, 291 weight class). Chad Mendoza is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Benedetti
vs
Mendoza

175 cm
19
155
2 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
150
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Rafael Benedetti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Chad Mendoza!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Anthony Taglia and Steve Montenegro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Mendoza chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Benedetti can pounce on him.
Benedetti cracks a nice hook into Mendoza's ribs.
Benedetti throws a leg kick which misses Mendoza's front leg but catches the back leg as Mendoza tries to avoid it.
Benedetti lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Benedetti connects with a high kick.

It looks like Chad Mendoza has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benedetti looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Benedetti throws a head kick that misses

and Mendoza decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Benedetti's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benedetti is keeping the position for now.
Mendoza throwing strikes from guard but Benedetti blocks nicely.
Mendoza stopping the sweep attempt from Benedetti.
Mendoza forces his way into half guard.
Mendoza is trying to control the action in half guard but Benedetti is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mendoza throwing shots but Benedetti is blocking nicely.
Mendoza not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mendoza throwing shots but Benedetti is blocking nicely.
Benedetti is pressing down on Mendoza's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Benedetti is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Benedetti controls Mendoza momentarily but Mendoza frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Benedetti pulls Mendoza in close to prevent any damage.
Benedetti keeping moving, preventing Mendoza from controlling successfully.
My spies in London MMA Club inform me that Mendoza has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Benedetti controlling the position.
Mendoza working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Benedetti not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mendoza cracks Benedetti with a solid left hand.
Mendoza has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mendoza throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Benedetti works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Mendoza drops back looking for a leg! Benedetti is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Benedetti manages to kick Mendoza off! Mendoza jumps back into Benedetti's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benedetti is trying to control the position but Mendoza postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza wants to pass the guard but Benedetti is keeping the position.
Benedetti tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Mendoza postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Mendoza trying to control the position from guard on top but Benedetti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benedetti has Mendoza pulled in close to control his posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Benedetti lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Benedetti clobbers Mendoza with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Benedetti fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mendoza tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Mendoza stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Benedetti.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Benedetti dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Chad Mendoza's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Benedetti fakes the leg kick and cracks Mendoza in the body.
Benedetti is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mendoza can do to turn this around?
Benedetti paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Benedetti throws a front kick that sends Mendoza stumbling back into the cage.
Benedetti connects with an inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benedetti uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mendoza has time to react.
Rafael Benedetti is winning the standup battle so far.
Benedetti fakes the leg kick and cracks Mendoza in the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mendoza sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Benedetti dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Mendoza. That did some damage!
Benedetti lands a high kick!
Benedetti throws a shot to the body.
Benedetti scores with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mendoza stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Benedetti.
Benedetti takes a swing at Mendoza's ribcage but misses.
Mendoza changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Benedetti throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Benedetti lands with a hook. Mendoza tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Benedetti throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Good exchange - Benedetti coming out on top.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Benedetti.
Mendoza takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Benedetti throws a sloppy head kick and Mendoza moves out of range easily.
Mendoza tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Benedetti lands a body shot.
Jab by Benedetti.
A head kick misses from Benedetti.
Benedetti misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mendoza.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Benedetti dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Chad Mendoza's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Benedetti ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mendoza moves away.
Benedetti seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Benedetti just misses with a punch to the body.
Mendoza with the counter takedown but Benedetti avoids it easily.
A solid body kick from Benedetti.
Chad Mendoza is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mendoza on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slapping body kick lands there for Benedetti.
Benedetti fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mendoza has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Mendoza crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Benedetti - the referee stops the clock and Mendoza gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Benedetti. Mendoza manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Benedetti lands a leg kick that knocks Mendoza off balance momentarily.
Mendoza has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Benedetti.
Benedetti throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Benedetti lands a head kick!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mendoza's head.
Benedetti lands a head kick!
Benedetti throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Benedetti ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Benedetti throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rafael Benedetti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mendoza with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Benedetti to score with a decent uppercut.
Mendoza moves out of range of the body kick from Benedetti.
Mendoza changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
An inside leg kick lands from Benedetti.
Benedetti connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.

That has opened up Chad Mendoza's cut even more.
Benedetti buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benedetti dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Benedetti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Benedetti, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 30:25
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 30:25
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Benedetti!
Our winner, Rafael Benedetti, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.