PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Lorenzo Benedetti (ranked 181 p4p, 478 weight class) and Odin Markkanen (ranked 17 p4p, 47 weight class). Benedetti kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Gloom, Doom, Heartache & Whiskey - Viking Skull. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Benedetti
vs
Markkanen

173 cm
32
147
26 - 12 - 4

170 cm
32
150
10 - 0 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Conviction

Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 26 - 12 - 4, fighting out of Sydney, Lorenzo Benedetti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Odin Markkanen!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Steven Brown and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Markkanen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Benedetti throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Markkanen.
Markkanen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Benedetti.
Markkanen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Markkanen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Markkanen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Markkanen lands in his opponent's guard.
Benedetti is looking to stand up but Markkanen isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Markkanen postures up in Benedetti's guard and throws a big left but Benedetti blocks it.
Markkanen looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Markkanen throws a big elbow that misses.
Markkanen working some strikes from top position.
Benedetti avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti looking to control.
Markkanen throwing strikes but missing.
Markkanen stopping the sweep attempt from Benedetti.
Markkanen wants to control from the top but Benedetti keeps moving.
Benedetti lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Markkanen working for a triangle but Benedetti defends it easily.
Markkanen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Markkanen wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Markkanen looking for a guillotine here but Benedetti defends easily.

Markkanen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Benedetti defends it easily.

Markkanen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Markkanen throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Benedetti escapes and throws Markkanen's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Markkanen is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Benedetti's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Markkanen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Benedetti trying to control but Markkanen is working from the bottom.

Markkanen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Benedetti is aware though and is defending well.
Markkanen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Benedetti manages to get himself to full guard.

Benedetti wants to stand but Markkanen is controlling the position.
Benedetti working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Markkanen.
Benedetti is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Markkanen is controlling him.
Markkanen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markkanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Benedetti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Markkanen forces his way into half guard.
Benedetti is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Markkanen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Markkanen's back!
Benedetti doesn't have the hooks in and Markkanen manages to turn into his guard.
Markkanen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Benedetti utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Markkanen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Markkanen is still trying to improve position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benedetti avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Markkanen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Markkanen drops back looking for a leg! Benedetti is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Benedetti manages to kick Markkanen off! Markkanen jumps back into Benedetti's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Odin Markkanen 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.

Markkanen misses with a wild combination.
Markkanen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Benedetti has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Markkanen throws a jab but it's blocked by Benedetti.
Markkanen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Benedetti thuds a left hand into Markkanen's body.
A solid body kick from Benedetti.
Markkanen misses with a hook
and Benedetti counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Markkanen avoids a kick to the body.
Benedetti lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Benedetti gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Benedetti displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Markkanen.
Markkanen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Benedetti misses with a looping right.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benedetti looks to land a left hand but Markkanen moved out of range nicely.
Benedetti scores with a hook to the body. Markkanen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markkanen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Markkanen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Benedetti.
Markkanen misses with a body shot
enabling Benedetti to counter with a crisp jab.
Markkanen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Benedetti with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Markkanen connects with a leg kick.
Benedetti scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Markkanen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Benedetti sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Markkanen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Odin Markkanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Decent striking displayed by Benedetti there.
Nice defenses there by Markkanen.
Benedetti defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Markkanen.
Markkanen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Lorenzo Benedetti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Odin Markkanen.
Markkanen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Benedetti sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Markkanen misses with a hook.
Benedetti slips a jab and a cross from Markkanen.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
A slow jab from Markkanen misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Markkanen moves away.
Markkanen let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Markkanen slips under a jab.
Markkanen walks into a stiff left hand from Benedetti.
Lorenzo Benedetti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Benedetti waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Markkanen.
Benedetti slips a jab from Markkanen.
Benedetti lands a leg kick that knocks Markkanen off balance momentarily.
Benedetti bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Benedetti throws a nice inside leg kick.
Markkanen tries to work over Benedetti's front leg with a kick but Benedetti checks it.
Benedetti gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Markkanen.
Benedetti displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Markkanen throws out the jab.
Benedetti blocks a head kick by Markkanen.
Benedetti lands a really nice looking cross but Markkanen seems unphased.
Benedetti with the inside leg kick.
Benedetti bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Markkanen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Markkanen there as he acknowledges the shot.
Markkanen slips under a jab from Benedetti.
Markkanen appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Markkanen moves out of range as Benedetti throws a body kick.
Markkanen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Markkanen throws a jab but it's blocked by Benedetti.
Benedetti ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Benedetti throws a leg kick but Markkanen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Markkanen changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Markkanen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Markkanen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Markkanen throws a series of punches but Benedetti avoids them all with ease.
Markkanen throws a sloppy head kick and Benedetti moves out of range easily.
Markkanen looks to land a combination but Benedetti avoids it well.
Benedetti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Markkanen was well out of range. Poor timing from Benedetti.
Markkanen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Some bone on bone action there as Benedetti checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Benedetti connects with a right hand. Markkanen shakes it off.
Markkanen throws a series of punches but Benedetti avoids them all with ease.
Markkanen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Benedetti moves away.
Benedetti checks a leg kick nicely.
A big right from Benedetti misses.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A telegraphed right hand from Markkanen misses the target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti is looking to land body kicks.
Markkanen defending well as Benedetti loads up on a big left hand.
Markkanen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Markkanen tries to land a leg kick but Benedetti saw it coming and moves away.
Benedetti throws a hook but Markkanen avoids it easily.
Markkanen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Benedetti jabs at Markkanen's body.
A cross from Benedetti lands.
Markkanen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Benedetti connects with a leg kick.
Benedetti swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A solid leg kick lands there for Markkanen.
The fighters circle momentarily. Benedetti darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Markkanen misses with a hook.
Benedetti takes a swing at Markkanen's ribcage but misses.
A nice leg kick from Markkanen, right into the meat of the thigh.
A head kick misses from Markkanen.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenzo Benedetti dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Markkanen tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Markkanen cracks Benedetti with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
A lazy left from Benedetti finds it's target.
A big right from Markkanen misses.
Benedetti misses with a hook.
Nice straight punches there by Benedetti. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Benedetti.
Markkanen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Benedetti. Benedetti circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Benedetti connects with an inside leg kick.
Benedetti closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Lorenzo Benedetti is winning the standup battle so far.
Benedetti throws a one two combo.
Benedetti avoids a punch combination nicely.
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 slips under a jab from Markkanen.
Markkanen shoots in but Benedetti avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Markkanen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Benedetti pinned against the cage. Benedetti gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti throws a hook to the side of Markkanen's head but Markkanen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Benedetti with a nice cross.
Markkanen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Markkanen throws a body punch but Benedetti moves out of range.
Benedetti lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Markkanen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Markkanen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Benedetti scores with a nice strike.
Benedetti misses with a body shot.
A low kick lands for Markkanen.
A telegraphed right hand from Markkanen misses the target.
Markkanen misses with a few strikes there.
Benedetti quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Benedetti throws a push kick but Markkanen slaps the foot to one side.
Markkanen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
A looping hook to the body misses from Markkanen. Benedetti does a little dance to reset his feet.
Markkanen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Benedetti sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Markkanen throws a low kick but Benedetti avoids it.

Markkanen dives in and scores a takedown into Benedetti's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti keeping moving, preventing Markkanen from controlling successfully.
Markkanen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Benedetti works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Benedetti keeping moving, preventing Markkanen from controlling successfully.
Markkanen stopping the sweep attempt from Benedetti.
Markkanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Benedetti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Benedetti controls Markkanen momentarily but Markkanen frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti throws the left hand but Markkanen avoids the punch easily.
Markkanen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Benedetti tests Markkanen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Markkanen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Benedetti on the side of the head.
Markkanen throws a head kick that misses.
Jab from Benedetti.
Benedetti misses with a straight right.
Benedetti looks to score with a jab to the body but Markkanen is just out of range.
Markkanen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Markkanen looks to land a right hand but Benedetti moved out of range.
Markkanen throws a lazy right hand but Benedetti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Markkanen with the inside leg kick.
Markkanen looks for a takedown but Benedetti sprawls well.
Lorenzo Benedetti has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Odin Markkanen.
Markkanen jabs Benedetti right on the nose. Benedetti blinks but takes it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Benedetti misses its intended target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Benedetti. Markkanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Markkanen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Benedetti's sensitive parts.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benedetti's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Markkanen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Benedetti scrambles back to his feet.
Benedetti wants to slow Markkanen down by chopping away at his legs.
Markkanen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Benedetti appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Sloppy strikes from Benedetti. Those never looked like landing.
Markkanen lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Benedetti buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Markkanen slips a straight right by Benedetti.
Benedetti backing away here, and Markkanen unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
A jab from Benedetti misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Benedetti misses the target.
Markkanen lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Benedetti tries to work over Markkanen's front leg with a kick but Markkanen checks it.
Markkanen misses with an uppercut.
Benedetti throwing a counter right hand but Markkanen manages to avoid it.
Benedetti lands a leg kick that knocks Markkanen off balance momentarily.
Markkanen throws a looping overhand right but Benedetti ducks down to avoid it.
Markkanen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Benedetti.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Odin Markkanen.
I think Markkanen 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Odin Markkanen!
A very excited looking Odin Markkanen 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.