PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight kickboxing rules bout between Connor McDavid (ranked 21320 p4p, 4487 weight class) and Claudio Benedetti (ranked 679 p4p, 495 weight class). Benedetti has chosen Atrevete te as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Connor McDavid has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

McDavid
vs
Benedetti

185 cm
33
225
16 - 10 - 1

193 cm
33
207
21 - 11 - 0

World class boxer
Granite chin

World class MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Connor McDavid!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Claudio Benedetti!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Patrick Alders and Aafke Stam.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benedetti misses with a right hand
and McDavid counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Benedetti throws a jab when McDavid was well out of range.
Benedetti with a nice cross.
McDavid's jab looks to have found its range, popping Benedetti under the eye.
Benedetti is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McDavid.
McDavid with the inside leg kick.
McDavid takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
McDavid throws a looping overhand right but Benedetti ducks down to avoid it.
A slow jab from Benedetti misses its intended target.
McDavid with a hook.
Benedetti staying out of range there.
McDavid connects with a single shot there.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benedetti swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
McDavid jabbing away but nothing is landing.
That kick from McDavid tenderised Benedetti's leg. Benedetti is trying to keep his angry face on.
McDavid looks to throw the jab but Benedetti is out of range.
Benedetti moves out of range as McDavid strikes.
Benedetti takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Benedetti has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McDavid misses with a wild body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from McDavid. Benedetti does a little dance to reset his feet.
McDavid defending well as Benedetti loads up on a big left hand.
Benedetti ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McDavid moves away.
McDavid slips under a jab from Benedetti.
Benedetti lands with a thumping leg kick.
Benedetti cracks a nice hook into McDavid's ribs.
The fighters circling - McDavid throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McDavid swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Benedetti pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Benedetti misses with a hook.
A big right from Benedetti misses.
McDavid scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Benedetti doesn't seem bothered though.
Benedetti swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Benedetti connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Benedetti lands a leg kick that knocks McDavid off balance momentarily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McDavid misses with a looping right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDavid throws a nice outside leg kick.
Benedetti moves out of range of the strikes.
McDavid slips under a jab from Benedetti.
McDavid fails with an attempt to clinch.
Benedetti bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of McDavid's head.
McDavid just misses with a punch to the body.
Benedetti looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Nice defenses there by Benedetti.
McDavid is looking to slow Benedetti down with leg kicks.
Benedetti moves out of range of the strikes.
McDavid connects with a single shot there.
Benedetti throws a hook to the side of McDavid's head but McDavid sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McDavid tries to counter by clinching up but Benedetti breaks away and moves out of range.
Benedetti doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benedetti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but McDavid was well out of range. Poor timing from Benedetti.
Benedetti gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
McDavid tests Benedetti's chin there with a solid looking shot.
McDavid throws a hook but Benedetti avoids it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Connor McDavid will probably get the nod.
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.

McDavid misses with a few strikes there.
Benedetti checks the leg kick nicely there.
An inside leg kick from Benedetti misses.
McDavid connects with a body shot.
Benedetti lands a jab.
Benedetti swings and misses with a shot to the body
and McDavid connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Benedetti throws an ugly left hook that misses
and McDavid cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McDavid throws a shot from downtown. Benedetti moves away and avoids it.
Benedetti throws a left and a right that both miss
and McDavid counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Connor McDavid is winning the standup battle so far.
A nice inside leg kick there by McDavid. That's going to slow Benedetti down.
Benedetti takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Benedetti throws an uppercut from half a mile away. McDavid sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
McDavid misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Benedetti staying out of range there.
Benedetti is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McDavid.
Benedetti cracks McDavid with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

It looks like Connor McDavid has been cut.
Benedetti looks to land a right hand but McDavid moved out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti throws a front kick aimed at McDavid's knee but McDavid avoids it well.
McDavid misses with a body shot.

Benedetti catches his opponent with a big hook that sends him to the canvas! McDavid stumbles back to his feet but will the referee allow it to continue? McDavid walks forwards and this one will be allowed to continue! Come on!
Benedetti is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by McDavid.
Benedetti takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
McDavid uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Benedetti.
Benedetti blocks the body kick.
McDavid tests Benedetti's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benedetti steps to the side to avoid the strikes from McDavid.
McDavid connects with an inside leg kick.
Benedetti misses with a hook. McDavid ducked under it nicely.
McDavid avoids the head kick by Benedetti.
McDavid scores with a head kick. Benedetti tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
McDavid takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Benedetti misses with a looping left.
Benedetti throws a shot from downtown. McDavid moves away and avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McDavid defending well as Benedetti loads up on a big left hand.
McDavid jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Benedetti throws a lazy right hand but McDavid sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McDavid staying out of range there.
Benedetti misses with a hook.
Benedetti dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
McDavid chopping away at his opponent's legs.
McDavid ducks under a wild hook from Benedetti.
A telegraphed right hand from McDavid misses the target.
McDavid scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
McDavid swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fighters circling - Benedetti throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
McDavid was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benedetti keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from McDavid.
McDavid sizes up Benedetti with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Benedetti throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
McDavid thinks about countering with a body kick.
McDavid throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Benedetti on the side of the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Claudio Benedetti takes that one, thanks to the knockdown.
The cut man is working on Connor McDavid's cut.
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. This is the final round!

McDavid connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Benedetti slips a jab from McDavid.
McDavid throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Benedetti on the side of the head.
Benedetti throws a poor cross that misses
and Benedetti takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
A shot to the liver by McDavid. Beautiful body shot.
Benedetti moves into range and connects with a jab.
McDavid throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Benedetti's head.
Benedetti connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Benedetti cracks McDavid with a left hand that drops him to the canvas, up against the ropes! Can McDavid get back up in time? 3, 4, 5, 6, 7... he's on one knee... 8, 9... he's up! 'Walk towards me' says the referee. McDavid looks steady enough to continue so we're going to continue!

McDavid is rocked!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
McDavid connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Benedetti displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McDavid throws out the jab.
McDavid uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Benedetti.
McDavid tries to counter by clinching up but Benedetti breaks away and moves out of range.
McDavid misses with a low kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Benedetti misses the target.
McDavid ducks under a wild hook from Benedetti.
Benedetti throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Benedetti cracks McDavid with a perfect right hand that drops him to the mat! McDavid is sitting up but I can't see if he's OK from my position. The referee's count has reached 5,6,7 and McDavid is still not up. Can he make it? 8,9, he's up! Wow, he cut that one a bit fine!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti moves forwards but McDavid connects with a nice, crisp jab.
McDavid bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Benedetti circles away before darting back in with a big straight right hand. It connects beautifully and sends McDavid tumbling to the canvas! He's out cold! Benedetti wins by KO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:14 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Claudio Benedetti!
Our winner, Claudio 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.