PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lorenzo Benedetti (ranked 310 p4p, 1173 weight class) and Bobby Mercer (ranked 40 p4p, 131 weight class). Benedetti comes to the cage accompanied by Gloom, Doom, Heartache & Whiskey - Viking Skull. The crowd seem to be enjoying Mercer's choice of entrance music: Why Can't We Be Friends by WAR. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Benedetti
vs
Mercer

173 cm
27
147
17 - 5 - 3

166 cm
25
158
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 5 - 3, fighting out of Sydney, Lorenzo Benedetti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bobby Mercer!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Luis Engracia and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benedetti misses with a head kick.
Benedetti misses with a straight left.
Mercer swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mercer throws a right hand that misses
and Benedetti counters with a nice body shot.
Mercer misses with the combination.
Mercer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Benedetti.
Mercer takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Mercer misses with a few strikes there.
Mercer misses with an uppercut.
Benedetti connects with a jab.
Mercer throws a looping overhand right but Benedetti ducks down to avoid it.
Mercer lands with a slapping head kick.
Nice shot lands for Mercer.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benedetti misses with a wild body shot.
Mercer throws a low kick but Benedetti avoids it.
A lazy left from Benedetti finds it's target.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Mercer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti throws a front kick that sends Mercer stumbling back into the cage.
Mercer takes one on the button.
A head kick misses from Benedetti.
Mercer fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benedetti manages to avoid it.
Mercer throws the left hand but Benedetti avoids the punch easily.
Benedetti fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Mercer avoids the body shot from Benedetti.
Mercer slips under a jab from Benedetti.
Benedetti throws a sloppy head kick and Mercer moves out of range easily.
Benedetti moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mercer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Benedetti feints and then cracks Mercer's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Mercer down.
Mercer shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Benedetti scores with a hook.
A clash of legs there as Mercer blocks the low kick.
Benedetti has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Far-Q Fight Club in the buildup to the fight.
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!
Benedetti ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mercer moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti lands the left hand.
Mercer moves out of range as Benedetti strikes.
Mercer ducks under a wild hook from Benedetti.
Benedetti lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Benedetti throws a head kick that half lands.
A right-left combo lands from Benedetti.
Benedetti scores with a nice head shot.
Mercer on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Benedetti. Benedetti obviously looking to wear him down.
Lorenzo Benedetti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mercer cracks Benedetti with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Benedetti tries to work over Mercer's front leg with a kick but Mercer checks it.
A little jabbing left from Mercer on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mercer misses with a body shot.
Benedetti swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Benedetti is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Nice uppercut lands for Benedetti. That snapped Mercer's head back.
Benedetti keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mercer.
Mercer throws a nice outside leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Benedetti. Beautiful body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Benedetti misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Mercer.
Mercer misses with a straight right.
Benedetti lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Benedetti is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Mercer takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Mercer throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Benedetti is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Benedetti throws a leg kick
and Mercer counters with a nice body shot.
Mercer throws a big shot that misses.
Benedetti looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Mercer takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benedetti lands with a nice body punch.
Mercer throws a hook to the side of Benedetti's head but Benedetti sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Mercer scores with a jab to the body.
Benedetti fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mercer.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer avoids a kick to the body.
Benedetti avoids the body shot from Mercer.
Benedetti ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Benedetti thinks about countering with a head kick.
Benedetti looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Mercer scores with a one two! Benedetti had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Benedetti pushes Mercer away with a front kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benedetti. Mercer does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mercer scores with a push kick.
Benedetti works Mercer's body with a nice hook.
Benedetti plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Mercer misses with a kick to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benedetti uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Mercer.
Mercer keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mercer takes one to the chin there.
Benedetti misses the jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenzo Benedetti dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Benedetti moves out of range of the leg kick from Mercer.
Mercer slips under a jab from Benedetti.
It seemed like Mercer was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Benedetti misses the shot to the body.
Mercer uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Benedetti.
Benedetti clobbers Mercer with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Benedetti misses with a looping right.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Mercer! But no joy.
Mercer ducks right into an uppercut from Benedetti.
Benedetti takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mercer lands a nice looking body kick.
Benedetti keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mercer.
Benedetti ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mercer throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Benedetti - that will leave a mark!
Bobby Mercer is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Benedetti uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Mercer has time to react.
Jab, jab by Benedetti - just one landing.
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!
Benedetti fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Mercer on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer swings for the body but Benedetti moves out of range.
Mercer 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 Mercer moves out of range easily.
Benedetti is looking to score with low kicks.
A little jabbing left from Mercer on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Mercer is looking to land body kicks.
A lazy left from Benedetti finds it's target.
A decent looking cross lands there for Mercer.
Mercer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mercer misses with a kick to the body.
Benedetti moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Benedetti lands with a cross.
Benedetti slips under a jab from Mercer.
Mercer throws a wild body kick that Benedetti sees coming a mile off.
Mercer shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benedetti lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Benedetti fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Benedetti lands with a shot to the body.
Benedetti connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Mercer's hands.
Mercer chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Benedetti can pounce on him.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Mercer might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Benedetti has got the better of the exchanges.
Benedetti comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Benedetti bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Mercer's head.
Mercer misses with a looping right.
Benedetti feinted there with a counter leg kick.
A good leg kick by Benedetti.
Mercer has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Benedetti.
Benedetti lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Lorenzo Benedetti is winning the standup battle so far.
Benedetti cracks a nice hook into Mercer's ribs.
Mercer misses with a kick to the body.
Mercer has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Benedetti is looking to score with low kicks.
Benedetti blocks a head kick by Mercer.
Mercer's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Benedetti connects with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Benedetti counters with a stiff right hand.
Benedetti's corner calls for a 1-2. Benedetti obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Mercer missing with a left hand there. Benedetti was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A quick step to the side and Benedetti tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Mercer throws the kick towards the body but Benedetti avoids it.
Benedetti ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mercer moves away.
Mercer avoids the body shot from Benedetti.
Mercer throws out a counter right but Benedetti avoids it with no problem.
Benedetti fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mercer has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Mercer lands with a good body shot.
Benedetti is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mercer can do to turn this around?
Benedetti darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Mercer is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Benedetti.
Mercer looks to land a body kick but Benedetti moved away.
Mercer misses with an uppercut.
Mercer looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Mercer takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
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!
Mercer fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mercer is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mercer.
Benedetti is looking to counter punch.
Benedetti looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A big right from Benedetti misses.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Benedetti 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 Mercer has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Mercer and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Mercer goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mercer moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Benedetti fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Mercer looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Good exchange - Benedetti coming out on top.
Mercer throws a nice looking combination but Benedetti bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mercer takes a swing at Benedetti's ribcage but misses.
Mercer lands a head shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benedetti's jab looks to have found its range, popping Mercer under the eye.
Mercer on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Benedetti looks to throw the jab but Mercer is out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenzo Benedetti dominated that second round.
That's time! Benedetti's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mercer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Mercer's corner calls for a 1-2. Mercer obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Nice shot lands for Benedetti.
Mercer waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Benedetti.
Benedetti was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
The fighters circle momentarily. Benedetti darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Benedetti throws a good cross that connects.
Benedetti cracks a nice hook into Mercer's ribs.
Benedetti works the jab nicely.
A shot to the liver by Benedetti. Beautiful body shot.
Both fighters circling a little - Benedetti finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Benedetti digs a good hook to Mercer's body.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mercer takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Mercer blocks a jab.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Mercer! But no joy.
A solid body kick from Benedetti.
Mercer throws a body punch but Benedetti moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer misses with an attempted mid kick.
Mercer takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Benedetti throws a front kick that sends Mercer stumbling back into the cage.
Benedetti lands with a cross.
Benedetti misses with a hook. Mercer ducked under it nicely.
Mercer throws a sloppy head kick and Benedetti moves out of range easily.
A nice leg kick from Benedetti, right into the meat of the thigh.
Benedetti avoids a kick to the body.
Mercer doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Nice jab there from Benedetti.
Nice body punch from Benedetti.
Benedetti throws a quick inside leg kick.
Mercer on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Benedetti. Benedetti obviously looking to wear him down.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benedetti fakes the leg kick and cracks Mercer in the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mercer is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Mercer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Crunch! Benedetti slams his shin into Mercer's torso.
Mercer takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mercer fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Benedetti digs a good body shot into Mercer's ribs.
Benedetti swings widly with a right hand
and Mercer counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Benedetti connects with an inside leg kick.
Benedetti thuds his right hand into Mercer's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Benedetti is looking to slow Mercer down with leg kicks.
Benedetti connects with a leg kick.
Benedetti displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Benedetti scores with a push kick.
Mercer walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Mercer looks to land a right hand but Benedetti moved out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti moves out of range of the body kick.
Nice uppercut there from Benedetti.
Mercer is looking to land body kicks.
Mercer looks to land a body kick but Benedetti moved away.
Benedetti is looking to slow Mercer down with leg kicks.
Benedetti throws a lazy right hand but Mercer sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mercer drops his hands momentarily and Benedetti takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Benedetti explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Mercer throws a looping overhand right but Benedetti ducks down to avoid it.
Benedetti was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Mercer misses with an uppercut.
Mercer takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
A thudding body kick lands there by Benedetti!
Mercer tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A lazy left from Benedetti finds it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
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!
Mercer lands a lovely overhand right.
Benedetti dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Mercer. That did some damage!
Benedetti cracks Mercer with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Benedetti throws out a loose jab but Mercer uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mercer looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A slow jab from Benedetti misses its intended target.
Benedetti with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Mercer throws a nice looking combination but Benedetti bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Benedetti works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Benedetti throws a leg kick that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mercer blocks a head kick by Benedetti.
Benedetti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mercer was well out of range. Poor timing from Benedetti.
Benedetti connects with a solid leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenzo Benedetti clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Benedetti misses with a straight right.
Mercer swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
A decent looking cross lands there for Benedetti.
Mercer looks to score with a jab to the body but Benedetti is just out of range.
Benedetti moves out of range of the body kick.
Mercer looks to land a combination but Benedetti avoids it well.
Benedetti connects with a jab.
Mercer misses with a hook
and Benedetti counters with a leg kick.
Mercer moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Benedetti lands a head kick!
Benedetti throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Mercer on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Benedetti. Benedetti obviously looking to wear him down.
Mercer looks to throw the jab but Benedetti is out of range.
Mercer throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti connects with a jab.
Benedetti is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.

Mercer is rocked!
Mercer defending well as Benedetti loads up on a big left hand.
Mercer is still on wobbly legs! Can Benedetti finish him?
Benedetti lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Benedetti goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Mercer misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benedetti.
Benedetti lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Mercer seems to have recovered his senses.
Benedetti throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Mercer lands a right hook to the body.
Mercer jabs Benedetti right on the nose. Benedetti blinks but takes it well.
Benedetti blocks a jab.
Benedetti darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Mercer takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Mercer throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A cross from Benedetti lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Mercers jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
A head kick from Benedetti lands but Mercer takes it in his stride.
A solid leg kick lands there for Benedetti.
A big left from Benedetti misses.
Mercer blocks a jab.
Benedetti throws a push kick but Mercer slaps the foot to one side.
Mercer takes a swing at Benedetti's ribcage but misses.
Mercer takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Mercer checks a low kick from Benedetti.
Benedetti lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Benedetti dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Benedetti looks to land a left hand but Mercer moved out of range nicely.
Benedetti showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mercer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mercer uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Benedetti.
Mercer tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Mercer throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Benedetti sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Benedetti misses with a straight right.
Mercer throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Mercer misses with a looping right.
Benedetti slips under a jab from Mercer.
Benedetti tries to land a body kick
and Mercer connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Benedetti lands the left hand.
Benedetti lands a slapping body shot.
Benedetti throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Benedetti takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Mercer misses with a looping right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mercer misses with a body shot.
Benedetti stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Mercer.
Mercer throws a jab when Benedetti was well out of range.
Benedetti swinging wildly here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benedetti with a nice calf kick.
A jab from Mercer does it's job there.
Benedetti showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Mercer.
As Mercer backs away, Benedetti returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
A left lands for Benedetti.
Benedetti connects with a crisp jab.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenzo Benedetti had his way with Bobby Mercer in 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. This is the final round!

Mercer takes a swing at Benedetti's ribcage but misses.
Jab from Benedetti.
Mercer misses with a straight right.
Benedetti avoids a kick to the body.
Benedetti jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Mercer checks the leg kick.
A slow jab from Benedetti misses its intended target.
Benedetti stuns Mercer with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Benedetti catches Mercer with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Benedetti tests Mercer's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benedetti scores with a hook.
Benedetti misses with a low kick.
Mercer closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mercer slips a straight right by Benedetti.
Mercer misses with a kick to the body.
Mercer on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Mercer throws a sloppy head kick and Benedetti moves out of range easily.
Mercer on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Mercer tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Benedetti was well out of range. Poor timing from Mercer.
Mercer throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Decent striking displayed by Mercer there.
Mercer displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Benedetti throws out the jab.
And Mercer responds with a good body kick, but Benedetti manages to step out the way in time.
Benedetti scores with the left hand. Mercer knows he should have avoided that one.
Benedetti misses the shot to the body.
Benedetti lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Benedetti chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Benedetti fakes the leg kick and cracks Mercer in the body.
Lorenzo Benedetti is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti tried to score with a low kick but Mercer checks it.
Mercer takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benedetti lands a really nice looking cross but Mercer seems unphased.
Benedetti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Mercer misses the target.
Benedetti misses with a body shot.
A head kick from Benedetti lands but Mercer takes it in his stride.
Benedetti fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Mercer on the side of the head.
An inside leg kick lands from Benedetti.
Benedetti blocks a head kick by Mercer.
A head kick misses from Mercer.
Benedetti throws a nice outside leg kick.
Nice defenses there by Benedetti.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti throws a head kick but Mercer moves out of range.
Benedetti with a nice calf kick.
Mercer on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Mercer wants to land a leg kick but Benedetti is out of range.
That kick from Benedetti tenderised Mercer's leg. Mercer is trying to keep his angry face on.
Mercer lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Mercer throws a nice looking combination but Benedetti bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Mercer is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Mercer takes a swing at Benedetti's ribcage but misses.
Benedetti throws a body punch but Mercer moves out of range.
Benedetti lands a nice leg kick that just misses Mercer's sensitive parts.
Mercer takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
A punch lands to the side of Mercer 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Benedetti scoring well with a low kick there.
Benedetti swings for the body but Mercer moves out of range.
Mercer throws a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mercer walks forward, straight into a front kick from Benedetti.
Benedetti keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Mercer.
Benedetti with a jab.
Benedetti scoring well with a low kick there.
A slow jab from Benedetti misses its intended target.
And Mercer responds with a good body kick, but Benedetti manages to step out the way in time.
Mercer misses with a wild body shot.
Benedetti throws a big shot that misses.
Benedetti fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mercer looks to land a right hand but Benedetti moved out of range.
Bobby Mercer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters circling a little - Benedetti finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Benedetti tries to land a front kick but Mercer steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Mercer is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Benedetti chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Mercer can pounce on him.
Benedetti uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Mercer looks to score with a jab to the body but Benedetti is just out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lorenzo Benedetti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Benedetti has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 50:45
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight 50:45
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lorenzo Benedetti!
Lorenzo Benedetti took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.
Bobby Mercer spoke after the fight, saying 'These 145 pounders don't go down as easy. I gotta get used to the extra weight. I know I have what it takes to be a champion here. I have to be a better fighter and keep training hard. I'll be better. '.