PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kazuo Imanari (ranked 1436 p4p, 2041 weight class) and Youssef Bennani (ranked 80 p4p, 115 weight class). Imanari's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, 吉田兄弟 Rising. Youssef Bennani will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Imanari
vs
Bennani

165 cm
26
145
4 - 0 - 0

176 cm
19
146
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

HELLBENT
The Dirty Needle Project

Arcticus University: London
Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kazuo Imanari!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Youssef Bennani!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, John Roberts and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bennani misses with an uppercut.
Imanari blocks a jab.

Imanari fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Bennani to the ground. Imanari is now in Bennani's guard.
Bennani looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bennani lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Bennani wants to stand but Imanari has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Bennani is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Bennani really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Imanari. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Imanari is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Bennani pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Imanari is keeping the position for now.
Bennani is looking to stand up but Imanari won't let him.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Youssef Bennani seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Imanari slips a jab from Bennani.
Imanari tries to move into range but Bennani moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Bennani throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A little feinted left hand from Imanari on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Bennani jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imanari on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Bennani misses with a left hand
enabling Imanari to counter with a crisp jab.

Imanari moves into the clinch successfully.
Imanari takes a shot to the head.
Bennani has had enough of the clinch but Imanari keeps him there for the moment.
Imanari blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Bennani's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Bennani misses with the head strike.
Bennani tries to break free but Imanari pushes him back against the cage.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bennani.
Imanari taking a breather.
Bennani is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Imanari is keeping busy.

Bennani pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Imanari wants to clinch up but Bennani keeps it at a distance.
Bennani throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Imanari counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imanari defending well as Bennani loads up on a big left hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bennani misses with a straight left.
An attempted straight right counter from Imanari misses the target.
Bennani misses with a jab, cross combination.
Bennani throws a right and a left that both miss.
Imanari slips a jab from Bennani.
No joy there for Bennani, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
An attempted straight right counter from Imanari misses the target.
Bennani looks to throw the jab but Imanari is out of range.
Imanari throwing a counter right hand but Bennani manages to avoid it.

Imanari closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Bennani quickly recovers to half guard.

Bennani kicks Imanari off and gets back to his feet.
Bennani's coach down at Paris & Sons Training Yard was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Bennani's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Bennani punishes Imanari's body with a nice straight punch.
Bennani looks to throw the jab but Imanari is out of range.
Imanari swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Youssef Bennani dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

A looping hook to the body misses from Bennani. Imanari does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bennani misses with a straight left.
Bennani throws a lazy right hand but Imanari sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.

Imanari shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Imanari showed some decent athleticism there.

Imanari is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Bennani is just riding it out for now. Imanari eventually gives up the hold.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennani is controlling Imanari's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Imanari wants to pass the guard but Bennani is defending well.
Bennani trying to hold on to Imanari's head to control him but Imanari postures up.
Imanari is looking to take a break and control but Bennani is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Bennani trying to control but Imanari postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Imanari is working for a kimura but Bennani is defending it quite comfortably.
Youssef Bennani has got the better of the ground game so far.
Bennani tries to roll over but Imanari keeps him under control.

Imanari is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Bennani tries to roll over but Imanari keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imanari wants to free his trapped foot but Bennani is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bennani has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Imanari looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Bennani tries to roll over but Imanari keeps him under control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four 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.
Imanari avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bennani with a jab.

It looks like Kazuo Imanari has been cut.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bennani rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Imanari counters with a nice uppercut.
Imanari staying out of range there.
Bennani misses with a lunging right hand
letting Imanari counter with a right hand.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kazuo Imanari will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kazuo Imanari's cut.
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.

A jab from Bennani misses.
Imanari thuds a left hand into Bennani's body.
Bennani misses the shot to the body.
Bennani throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bennani misses with the combination.

Imanari closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bennani looking for a sweep but Imanari has passed into full mount! Oh no!

Imanari has isolated one of Bennani's arms. Bennani looking to fight him off but Imanari twists into an armbar. It's tight... Will he tap?? YES, he's tapped! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Kazuo Imanari!
Kazuo Imanari is the new bantamweight champion!
A very excited looking Kazuo Imanari made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.