PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rafael Benedetti (ranked 127 p4p, 134 weight class) and Ispa Perkele (ranked 20 p4p, 21 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Benedetti
vs
Perkele

175 cm
30
155
19 - 9 - 0

178 cm
27
165
21 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Conviction
Bondi MMA 🏝️

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Hoarse Pills

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 19 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Rafael Benedetti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Ispa Perkele!
The judges for this bout are Shirou Masuda, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Perkele lands a slapping body shot.
Benedetti blocks a low kick nicely.
Perkele misses with a hook. Benedetti ducked under it nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Benedetti clobbers Perkele with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Benedetti misses with a body shot.
Benedetti tries to work over Perkele's front leg with a kick but Perkele checks it.
Perkele lands a glancing blow to the side of Benedetti's head.
Perkele comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Benedetti throws a shot to the body.
Benedetti throws a shot to the body.
Benedetti looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Perkele ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Benedetti tries to bum rush Perkele with a series of wild strikes but Perkele uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Perkele stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Benedetti.
A jab from Perkele misses.
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!
Perkele fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benedetti manages to avoid it.
Benedetti jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Benedetti connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Perkele throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Benedetti tries a head kick but it misses.
Perkele steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Benedetti. That one must have hurt.
Perkele throws a shot from downtown. Benedetti moves away and avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti lands a nice looking body shot.
Benedetti just misses with a punch to the body.
Benedetti throws a low kick but Perkele avoids it.
Benedetti connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Perkele momentarily.
Rafael Benedetti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Benedetti clinches with his opponent.
Benedetti throws a punch but it's blocked by Perkele.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Perkele.
A nice left hand lands by Perkele.
A shot in the inside from Benedetti.
Perkele lands a nice shot to the body.
Benedetti lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Perkele backwards.
Perkele lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Benedetti swings wildly with an uppercut but Perkele uses good head movement to avoid it.
Perkele prevents a body shot from Benedetti.
Still in the clinch, Benedetti scores with a nice short uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Perkele is leaning against Benedetti and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Benedetti lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Perkele backwards.
Perkele swings wildly with an uppercut but Benedetti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Perkele softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perkele misses with a hook to the ribs.
Perkele blocks an uppercut.

Benedetti breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Good shot there by Perkele.
Perkele connects with an inside leg kick.
Benedetti throws a leg kick that misses.
Perkele scores with a hook to the body. Benedetti takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Perkele chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Perkele throws a body punch but Benedetti moves out of range.
Benedetti throws a big shot that misses.
Perkele throws a big shot that misses.
Perkele throws a hook but Benedetti blocks it.
Benedetti swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Benedetti throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Perkele! But no joy.
Benedetti closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Perkele counter with a right hand.
A slow jab from Perkele misses its intended target.
Benedetti moves away from the strike by Perkele.
The fighters circling - Perkele throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Benedetti connects with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkele throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Perkele misses with a wild body shot.

Benedetti takes the fight into the clinch.
Perkele has a couple of punches blocked by Benedetti.
Benedetti tries to throw a body punch but Perkele avoids it by throwing Benedetti back against the cage.
Benedetti misses with some punches.
Benedetti lands a shoulder strike.
Nice body punch from Benedetti.
Benedetti goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Benedetti lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Benedetti struggles to land a body shot inside as Perkele controls his hands.
Perkele blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Perkele.

Benedetti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Perkele looks to land a right hand but Benedetti moved out of range.
Perkele misses with a looping left.

Perkele gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Perkele misses with a punch to the body.
Perkele is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkele is trying to stall.
Benedetti swings wildly with an uppercut but Perkele uses good head movement to avoid it.
Perkele struggles to land a body shot inside as Benedetti controls his hands.
Perkele blocking some punches.
Benedetti lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Perkele has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Benedetti seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Perkele can turn it around.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Perkele lands a hook that snaps the head of Benedetti backwards.
Benedetti takes a shot to the head.
Perkele blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Perkele.
Benedetti throws a punch but it's blocked by Perkele.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Perkele.
Benedetti misses with some punches.
Benedetti tries a body shot but Perkele blocks it.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Perkele is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Perkele trying to stall but Benedetti improves his position.
Benedetti throws a head punch that misses.
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 Rafael Benedetti will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

A jab from Perkele finds it's way through Benedetti's defenses.
Benedetti dips to his left and cracks Perkele with an uppercut!
Perkele will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Benedetti. Perkele shrugs it off though.
Benedetti moves out of range of the body kick from Perkele.
Benedetti throwing a counter right hand but Perkele manages to avoid it.
Benedetti turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Perkele scores with a jab to the body.
A low kick lands for Benedetti.
Benedetti throws a leg kick which misses Perkele's front leg but catches the back leg as Perkele tries to avoid it.
Perkele swings for the body but Benedetti moves out of range.
Benedetti fires out a quick counter leg kick but Perkele just manages to avoid it.
Benedetti slips a straight right by Perkele.
Benedetti lands a glancing blow to the side of Perkele's head.
Perkele 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.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benedetti lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Perkele drops his hands momentarily and Benedetti takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Benedetti takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Benedetti jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Benedetti throws the left hand but Perkele avoids the punch easily.
Perkele avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Perkele looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Benedetti throws a looping overhand right but Perkele ducks down to avoid it.
Perkele looks like he wants to counter punch here.
The fighters circling - Benedetti throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
The fight stays on the outside here - Benedetti looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Benedetti scores with a nice strike.
Perkele jabs at Benedetti's body.
Benedetti blocks a low kick nicely.
Perkele looks to land a right hand but Benedetti moved out of range.
Benedetti steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Perkele.
A slow jab from Benedetti misses its intended target.
Perkele throws out a counter right but Benedetti avoids it with no problem.
Benedetti tests Perkele's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Benedetti lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Good leg kick by Benedetti.
A chopping leg kick lands by Benedetti.
Benedetti fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Perkele manages to avoid it.
Perkele's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perkele looks to land a left hand but Benedetti moved out of range nicely.
It looked like Benedetti wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Perkele avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Benedetti is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benedetti misses with a body kick.
Rafael Benedetti is winning the standup battle so far.
A leg kick checked by Perkele.
Benedetti scores with a head kick.
Benedetti throws a body punch but Perkele moves out of range.
Benedetti fakes the leg kick and cracks Perkele in the body.
Perkele dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Benedetti. That did some damage!
Benedetti misses with a few strikes there.
Perkele moves out of range of the leg kick from Benedetti.
Benedetti throws a half hearted mid kick.
Benedetti thumps Perkele with a low kick.
A good leg kick by Perkele.
A big left from Perkele misses.
Benedetti fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Perkele is out of range.
Perkele misses with a straight right.
Benedetti looks to score with a jab to the body but Perkele is just out of range.
A slapping leg kick lands for Benedetti.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Perkele looks to throw the jab but Benedetti is out of range.
Perkele scores with a punch to the head.
Perkele pivots, looking for a leg kick but Benedetti is out of range and Perkele settles back down.
Perkele connects with a good right hand that stumbles Benedetti. Benedetti circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Benedetti jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Benedetti throws a right hand that misses
and Perkele counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Benedetti connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Benedetti misses with a looping left.
Benedetti wants to slow Perkele down by chopping away at his legs.
Benedetti uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Perkele.
Benedetti uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Perkele.
A punch lands to the side of Perkele 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Perkele throws a jab when Benedetti was well out of range.
Benedetti works the jab nicely.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Perkele finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Benedetti shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Perkele drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Benedetti avoids the head kick by Perkele.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Perkele does no damage.
Benedetti pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Perkele moves into range and connects with a jab.
Perkele checks a low kick from Benedetti.
Perkele checks the leg kick nicely there.
Benedetti bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Perkele throws a jab but it's blocked by Benedetti.
Perkele throws a body punch but Benedetti moves out of range.
Benedetti looked to counter that last move with a leg kick but didn't pull the trigger.
Benedetti thumps Perkele with a low kick.
Perkele misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
A low kick lands for Benedetti.
A decent looking cross lands there for Benedetti.
Perkele stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Benedetti.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Perkele throws a shot from downtown. Benedetti moves away and avoids it.
Benedetti connects with a body shot that sends Perkele's belly button to the back.
Benedetti moves in looking to clinch but Perkele pushes him off.
Perkele uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Benedetti misses with a few strikes there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Benedetti dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Benedetti throws a hook but Perkele avoids it easily.
Perkele looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Perkele throws a body punch but Benedetti moves out of range.
Benedetti moves out of range as Perkele strikes.
Benedetti throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Perkele checks a leg kick.
Benedetti misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A big right from Perkele misses.

Benedetti instigates a clinch.
Perkele misses with a hook to the ribs.
Perkele tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benedetti throws a head punch that misses.
Benedetti lands a right hand that snaps the head of Perkele backwards.
Perkele blocks a body shot from Benedetti.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Perkele misses with a hook from the clinch.
Perkele has a couple of punches blocked by Benedetti.
Nice body punch from Perkele.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Benedetti.
Benedetti prevents Perkele from breaking the clinch.
Benedetti prevents a body shot from Perkele.
Perkele throws a head punch that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Perkele tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Benedetti scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Perkele blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Perkele lands a left hand.
Perkele scores with a shoulder strike.
Benedetti tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Perkele's elbow.
Benedetti is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Perkele to keep the fight standing.
Benedetti can't find room to land a body shot as Perkele controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Perkele.
Perkele blocks a body shot from Benedetti.
Perkele misses with a punch to the body.
Perkele misses with a hook to the ribs.
Benedetti tries to throw a body punch but Perkele avoids it by throwing Benedetti back against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Benedetti goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Benedetti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Benedetti misses with a few strikes there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Perkele is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Benedetti throws a looping overhand right but Perkele ducks down to avoid it.
Perkele slips under a jab from Benedetti.
Benedetti pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nice defenses there by Benedetti.
An attempted straight right counter from Benedetti misses the target.
Benedetti slips a straight right by Perkele.
The fight stays on the outside here - Benedetti looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benedetti ducks under a wild hook from Perkele.
Benedetti looks to score with a jab to the body but Perkele is just out of range.
Perkele misses with an uppercut. Benedetti saw that one coming.
It looked like Benedetti wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Benedetti needs to keep his hands up - Perkele had a free shot at his head there.
A clash of legs there as Perkele blocks the low kick.
Benedetti moves out of range as Perkele strikes.
Some bone on bone action there as Perkele checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Perkele chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Benedetti can pounce on him.
Benedetti throws a low kick, looking for Perkele's leg but Perkele calmly moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Benedetti throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Perkele is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Benedetti with a body shot.
Benedetti scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Benedetti scores with a jab. Perkele acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Benedetti throws a low kick but it's checked well by Perkele.
A telegraphed right hand from Benedetti misses the target.
Benedetti tried to score with a low kick but Perkele checks it.
Benedetti bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Perkele's head backwards.
Benedetti uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Perkele.
A head kick from Perkele lands but Benedetti takes it in his stride.
Perkele throws a jab when Benedetti was well out of range.
Benedetti swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
As Benedetti backs off Perkele throws a huge counter combo but Benedetti manages to avoid it all.
Perkele pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Perkele misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benedetti.
The fighters circle momentarily. Benedetti darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Benedetti wants to clinch but Perkele slips to the side
and Perkele counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Perkele tries to clinch but Benedetti moves out of range.
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 throws out a powerful jab.
Benedetti defending well as Perkele loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Perkele throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Benedetti defending well as Perkele loads up on a big left hand.
Benedetti is looking to slow Perkele down with leg kicks.
Benedetti misses with a series of wild punches.
Benedetti throws out a loose jab but Perkele uses good head movement to avoid it.
Perkele has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Perkele looks to score with a jab to the body but Benedetti is just out of range.
Benedetti lands with a good body shot.
Perkele lands a jab to the nose.
Benedetti ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Perkele throws a head kick but Benedetti moves out of range.
Perkele tries to land a leg kick but Benedetti saw it coming and moves away.
Benedetti throws a lazy right hand but Perkele sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Benedetti uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Perkele.
The fighters circling - Benedetti throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Perkele misses with an uppercut.
Ispa Perkele has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Benedetti has taken the fight to the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Rafael Benedetti.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Benedetti, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Shirou Masuda scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 29:28
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Benedetti!
A victorious Rafael Benedetti thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.