PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vance Chimaev (ranked 2971 p4p, 4445 weight class) and Graffagnino Benito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Chimaev
vs
Benito

194 cm
25
185
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
23
185
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vance Chimaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Graffagnino Benito!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Gwen Towbar and Wesley Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Benito gets caught flat footed, as Chimaev shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Benito is looking to stand back up but Chimaev counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Benito.

Chimaev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Benito doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Chimaev.

Chimaev stands up and beckons Benito to join him on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Chimaev looking to score a takedown here. Benito is defending well but Chimaev drives through and ends up in Benito's guard.
Chimaev slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Benito wants to sweep here but Chimaev controlling him for the moment.
Chimaev will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Benito is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Chimaev is aware though and is defending well.
Chimaev slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Chimaev stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Nice sprawl there from Chimaev as Benito shoots in.
Benito tries to close the distance and clinch up but Chimaev swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Chimaev feints and as Benito raises his hands in defense, Chimaev changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Chimaev stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Benito shoots in and gets a takedown into Chimaev's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benito stopping the sweep attempt from Chimaev.
Chimaev pulls Benito in close to his closed guard and prevents Benito from doing any damage or advancing position.
Benito wants to control from the top but Chimaev keeps moving.
Benito wants to pass the guard but Chimaev is keeping the position.
Chimaev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Chimaev working over Benito with some ground and pound. Benito looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Chimaev lands strikes from half guard.
Chimaev takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Chimaev lands with a punch from half guard.

Chimaev is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Benito has managed to free his arm - good work.

Chimaev is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Chimaev seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chimaev trying to work for an americana but Benito has managed to regain full guard.
Chimaev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Chimaev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chimaev passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Benito takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Chimaev gets a double leg takedown into Benito's guard.
Benito is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Chimaev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Benito's head.

Chimaev stands up from Benito's guard - Chimaev perhaps looking for a knockout.

Chimaev shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Benito napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benito gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Chimaev working the head and body with strikes.
Chimaev working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Chimaev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chimaev tries to pass to full mount but Benito defends it.
Chimaev lands with a punch from half guard.
Benito is trying to stand up here but Chimaev is controlling him well.
Chimaev trying to control the action but Benito is working from the bottom.
Chimaev content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Chimaev looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two 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.
Chimaev tries to pass the half guard into mount. Benito knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Chimaev scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Benito pushes Chimaev off looking to stand but Chimaev dives back in and keeps control.
Chimaev trying to mount his opponent but Benito defends it.

Chimaev 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.
Chimaev works his foot free and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benito takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Chimaev has control of Benito's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Benito regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Chimaev is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chimaev dives in and scores a takedown into Benito's guard.
Benito being controlled here, momentarily.

Chimaev stands and steps away. Benito gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benito wants to clinch up but Chimaev keeps it at a distance.
Benito wants to clinch up but Chimaev keeps it at a distance.
Chimaev drops down looking for a counter takedown but Benito sprawls and moves away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Vance Chimaev dominated that second round.
That's time! Chimaev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Chimaev shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Benito is trying to defend but Chimaev finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Chimaev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Still in half guard, Chimaev seems content to control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benito is looking for a sweep. Chimaev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Chimaev is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Chimaev postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Benito to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Benito enables Chimaev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Benito manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Benito has his feet on Chimaev's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Chimaev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Benito looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Chimaev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Benito can do to turn this around?

Chimaev decides to stand back up.
Benito fails with an attempt to clinch.
Chimaev is looking to counter the offense by Benito and move into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Chimaev scores with a takedown into Benito's guard.
Chimaev is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benito wants to sweep but no luck.
Chimaev is stalling in the full guard.
Chimaev passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chimaev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Benito is just riding it out for now. Chimaev eventually gives up the hold.

Benito is defending against the submission attempts here by Chimaev.

Chimaev is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Benito has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Chimaev tries to stand and escape but Benito actually recovers to full guard.
Chimaev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Benito is working an open guard so Chimaev takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vance Chimaev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Chimaev 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 30:27
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vance Chimaev!