|
|
PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Benedetti (ranked 1989 p4p, 1910 weight class) and Dick Ekelund (ranked 214 p4p, 206 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
 |
|
 |
| 175 cm
26
155
10 - 6 - 0 |
|
178 cm
25
150
4 - 4 - 0 |
Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible |
|
Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank |
|
| |
|
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 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rafael Benedetti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Dick Ekelund!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Paul Tew and Sam Margolis.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benedetti tries to keep at a distance but Ekelund has taken the fight into the clinch.
Ekelund misses with some punches.
Ekelund blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Benedetti lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ekelund backwards.
Benedetti tries a body shot but Ekelund blocks it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ekelund.
Ekelund misses with a punch on the inside.
Ekelund prevents a body shot from Benedetti.
Benedetti tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ekelund's elbow.
Ekelund throws a head punch that misses.
Benedetti misses with the head strike.
A head punch on the inside from Ekelund fails to land.
Ekelund tries to land knees in the clinch but Benedetti avoids the damage to the body.
I was talking to Benedetti's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Benedetti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benedetti fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekelund blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Benedetti tries a body shot but Ekelund blocks it.
Ekelund lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ekelund misses with some punches.
Benedetti tries to throw a body punch but Ekelund avoids it by throwing Benedetti back against the cage.
Benedetti tries to work over Ekelund's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekelund throws a punch but it's blocked by Benedetti.
Benedetti doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Benedetti misses with a punch on the inside.
A body shot lands from Benedetti.
A frustrated look appears on Ekelund's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Benedetti breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ekelund tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
It looked like Benedetti wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Ekelund clinches with his opponent.
Ekelund swings wildly with an uppercut but Benedetti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ekelund has a couple of punches blocked by Benedetti.
Benedetti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benedetti.
Benedetti tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ekelund's elbow.
Benedetti misses with a body punch.
Ekelund fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Benedetti working aggressively here.
Benedetti avoiding damage as Ekelund throws knees to the body.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ekelund.
Ekelund's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekelund softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Benedetti lands a body shot in the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Benedetti.
Benedetti tries a body shot but Ekelund blocks it.
Benedetti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ekelund trying to land knees to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ekelund.
Benedetti blocking some punches.
Benedetti is leaning against Ekelund and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Benedetti goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ekelund lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Benedetti struggles to land a body shot inside as Ekelund controls his hands.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ekelund.
Ekelund scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Ekelund takes a shot to the head.
Benedetti lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Benedetti.
Benedetti lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Ekelund working aggressively here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekelund tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benedetti breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Benedetti tries to clinch there but Ekelund circles away.
Ekelund has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Ekelund gets a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Benedetti.
Ekelund working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Benedetti escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Benedetti gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Ekelund lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Ekelund instigates a clinch.
Ekelund misses with the head strike.
Ekelund lands with a left to the head.
Benedetti lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benedetti tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ekelund's elbow.
Ekelund misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Ekelund fails to land.
Ekelund throws a punch but it's blocked by Benedetti.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti stalls.
Benedetti manages to break the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ekelund is defended easily by Benedetti.
Benedetti swats away the attempt to clinch by Ekelund.
Ekelund moves out of range of the strikes.
Dick Ekelund seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ekelund bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ekelund moves in looking to clinch but Benedetti pushes him off.
Benedetti swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Ekelund throws an off balance right hand
and Benedetti counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ekelund tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Benedetti paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Benedetti pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ekelund wants to counter with a clinch but Benedetti pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Dick Ekelund will probably get the nod.
That's time! Benedetti's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.
Benedetti throws a hook but Ekelund blocks it.
Benedetti swats away the attempt to clinch by Ekelund.
Ekelund has managed to clinch.
Benedetti breaks from the clinch.
Benedetti takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Benedetti moves out of range as Ekelund strikes.
Ekelund misses with an uppercut
and Benedetti counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Ekelund throws a jab but it's blocked by Benedetti.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benedetti gets tackled into the cage by Ekelund. Ekelund maintains the clinch.
Benedetti lands a left hand.
Ekelund misses with a hook from the clinch.
Ekelund lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benedetti.
Benedetti scores with a hook to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekelund tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benedetti tries to work over Ekelund's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ekelund tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ekelund lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Ekelund swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Benedetti misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Benedetti misses with the head strike.
Benedetti misses with a punch to the body.
A head punch on the inside from Ekelund fails to land.
Ekelund lands with a right to the head.
Benedetti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benedetti swings wildly with an uppercut but Ekelund uses good head movement to avoid it.
Benedetti blocks an uppercut.
Benedetti tries a body shot but Ekelund blocks it.
Benedetti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ekelund fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Benedetti struggles to land a body shot inside as Ekelund controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from Benedetti fails to land.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekelund blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ekelund.
Ekelund gets through Benedetti's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Ekelund misses with the head strike.
Benedetti lands a shoulder strike.
Benedetti blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benedetti works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Benedetti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Ekelund.
Benedetti lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Benedetti goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Benedetti lands a left hand that snaps the head of Ekelund backwards.
Ekelund throws a punch but it's blocked by Benedetti.
Benedetti lands with a short shot to the head.
Benedetti lands with a right to the head.
Benedetti tries to throw a body punch but Ekelund avoids it by throwing Benedetti back against the cage.
Ekelund will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Benedetti up against the cage.
Benedetti managing to block the knees to the body from Ekelund.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekelund misses with a punch on the inside.
Benedetti misses with a punch on the inside.
Ekelund tries to land knees in the clinch but Benedetti avoids the damage to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ekelund lands a hook that snaps the head of Benedetti backwards.
Ekelund lands a left hand that snaps the head of Benedetti backwards.
Benedetti working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ekelund working aggressively here.
Benedetti is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benedetti.
Benedetti can't find room to land a body shot as Ekelund controls the action.
Ekelund blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Benedetti blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ekelund misses with a punch on the inside.
Benedetti throws a punch but it's blocked by Ekelund.
Benedetti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benedetti goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Benedetti tries to throw a body punch but Ekelund avoids it by throwing Benedetti back against the cage.
Benedetti goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ekelund blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Dick Ekelund seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Ekelund swings wildly with an uppercut but Benedetti uses good head movement to avoid it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ekelund creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Ekelund misses with some punches.
Ekelund misses with a punch on the inside.
Ekelund fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benedetti tries to break the clinch but Ekelund is controlling the position.
Ekelund swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Benedetti breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Benedetti gets tackled into the cage by Ekelund. Ekelund maintains the clinch.
Benedetti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ekelund is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ekelund closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Dick Ekelund will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!
Ekelund is looking to clinch.
Ekelund throws the left hand but Benedetti avoids the punch easily.
Ekelund throws a big shot that misses.
Benedetti scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Ekelund throws out a loose jab but Benedetti uses good head movement to avoid it.
As Ekelund looks to move away, Benedetti throws a big counter combo but Ekelund just gets out of the way.
Benedetti doesn't manage to clinch there - Ekelund circles away.
Benedetti throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Benedetti gets tackled into the cage by Ekelund. Ekelund maintains the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ekelund.
Ekelund throws a punch but it's blocked by Benedetti.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ekelund misses with a hook from the clinch.
Benedetti lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A body shot lands from Benedetti.
Benedetti working aggressively here.
Ekelund throws a head punch that misses.
Benedetti stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Benedetti attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Ekelund tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Benedetti paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Benedetti connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ekelund. Ekelund circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ekelund looks to land a right hand but Benedetti moved out of range.
Ekelund fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Benedetti, pushing him back against the cage.
A short right from Ekelund.
Ekelund working aggressively here.
Benedetti misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ekelund misses with the head strike.
Benedetti blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Benedetti lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Ekelund backwards.
Benedetti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benedetti misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Benedetti tries to throw a body punch but Ekelund avoids it by throwing Benedetti back against the cage.
Benedetti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rafael Benedetti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti blocking some punches.
A short right from Benedetti on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benedetti.
A short left from Ekelund.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ekelund missing with knees to the body.
Ekelund blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Benedetti misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ekelund swings wildly with an uppercut but Benedetti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Benedetti misses with a punch to the body.
Benedetti tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ekelund's elbow.
Ekelund lands with a right to the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benedetti.
Benedetti can't find room to land a body shot as Ekelund controls the action.
Ekelund swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Benedetti fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Benedetti doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ekelund lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Benedetti backwards.
Ekelund scores with an uppercut up the middle.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti throws a head punch that misses.
Benedetti lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Ekelund swings away with an uppercut that misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ekelund.
Benedetti breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ekelund is looking to clinch but Benedetti is avoiding it.
Rafael Benedetti is winning the standup battle so far.
Ekelund wants to clinch up but Benedetti keeps it at a distance.
Ekelund looks to clinch
enabling Benedetti to counter with a crisp jab.
Dick Ekelund is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ekelund checks a low kick from Benedetti.
Ekelund doesn't manage to clinch there - Benedetti circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Benedetti on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Ekelund throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ekelund looks to throw the jab but Benedetti is out of range.
Benedetti is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ekelund.
Ekelund tries to counter with a clinch but Benedetti shakes him off and moves away.
Benedetti lands a jab to the head.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ekelund drives through and clinches with Benedetti against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Benedetti.
Benedetti tries to work over Ekelund's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Benedetti lands a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head punch on the inside from Benedetti fails to land.
Benedetti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benedetti misses with a short punch on the inside.
Benedetti tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benedetti lands a nice uppercut.
Ekelund swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Benedetti misses with a punch to the body.
Benedetti pushes Ekelund back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Ekelund takes a shot to the head.
And that's the end of the fight!
Rafael Benedetti showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ekelund has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 29:28
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rafael Benedetti!
During a confident post fight interview, Rafael Benedetti thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
|
S |
C |
G |
|
energy
A | B |
|
hype
A | B |
|
pop
A | B |
|
mgr
A | B |
|
FIGHT
RATING
62% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
