PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between James King (ranked 1039 p4p, 1838 weight class) and Rafael Benedetti (ranked 101 p4p, 166 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

King
vs
Benedetti

170 cm
40
146
37 - 24 - 2

175 cm
34
155
25 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Furnace Performance 🔥
Silverguard Outfitters 🛡

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 37 - 24 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, James King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Rafael Benedetti!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Don Winkell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
King fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Benedetti.
Benedetti throws a hook to the side of King's head but King sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
King throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A big right from Benedetti misses.
A good leg kick by King.
A bone on bone clash there as King blocks the leg kick.
King throws a body kick that misses.
King missing with a left hand there. Benedetti was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
King misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Benedetti.

Benedetti has closed the distance and engaged King in a clinch.
Benedetti swings away with an uppercut that misses.
King misses with a punch to the body.
Benedetti works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Benedetti misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A frustrated look appears on King's face as he tries to break the clinch.

King manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Benedetti moves into range and clinches up with King.
King tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benedetti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benedetti working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Benedetti gets through King's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Benedetti struggles to land a body shot inside as King controls his hands.
Benedetti lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of King backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
King with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Benedetti digs a right hand underneath King's ribcage. King let out a lung full of air as it connected.

Benedetti breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Benedetti throws a lazy right hand but King sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Benedetti lands a straight punch to the body, keeping King at a distance.
King misses with a body shot
and Benedetti counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice defenses there by Benedetti.
King checks a leg kick nicely.
A jab from King does it's job there.
Benedetti keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from King.
Benedetti throws a body shot but no joy.
Benedetti steps to the side to avoid the strikes from King.
King looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
King is looking to chop away at Benedetti's legs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
A short right from Benedetti on the inside.
King throws a knee to the head but misses.
Benedetti tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benedetti misses with a punch on the inside.
Benedetti misses with a punch on the inside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Benedetti throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
King wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
King throws a head kick that Benedetti semi-blocks.

Benedetti clinches up with King and pushes him back against the cage.
King misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Benedetti.
Benedetti misses with a body punch.
King blocks a body shot from Benedetti.
Benedetti tried to land a shot to the body but connects with King's elbow.
Benedetti managing to block the knees to the body from King.
Benedetti lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Benedetti misses with some punches.

King breaks from the clinch.
King uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Benedetti.
King tries to counter by clinching up but Benedetti breaks away and moves out of range.
King pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Benedetti back to the cage. King follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Benedetti swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Benedetti gets cracked with a nice right hand there by King.
Nice defenses there by Benedetti.
King uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Benedetti.
Benedetti attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
King tries to counter by clinching up but Benedetti breaks away and moves out of range.
King scores with a kick to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Benedetti lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Benedetti swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Benedetti slips under a jab from King.
King takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
King fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Benedetti.
Benedetti swinging wildly here.
Benedetti looks to score with a jab to the body but King is just out of range.
King fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benedetti manages to avoid it.
King takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A nice inside leg kick there by King. That's going to slow Benedetti down.
King tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Benedetti let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
King needs to keep his hands up - Benedetti had a free shot at his head there.
Benedetti tries a head kick but it misses.
King throws a front kick that sends Benedetti stumbling back into the cage.
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!
King is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Benedetti.
Benedetti blocks a jab.
Benedetti appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

Benedetti has managed to clinch.
Benedetti has King pressed against the cage, preventing King from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
King throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Benedetti blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King misses with a punch on the inside.
Benedetti throws a head punch that misses.
King putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Benedetti in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
King misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Benedetti.
Benedetti lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Benedetti scores with a shoulder strike.
A short right from Benedetti on the inside.
King blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Benedetti.
Benedetti lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt King or not.

King breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Benedetti thows a left - swing and a miss!
Benedetti avoids the head kick by King.
King walks into a straight right hand from Benedetti.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A leg kick checked by Benedetti.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Benedetti lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and King has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from King and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
King misses with the combination.
Benedetti throws a sloppy head kick and King moves out of range easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Benedetti dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Benedetti moves into the clinch.
A short uppercut from Benedetti.
Benedetti avoiding damage as King throws knees to the body.

King breaks the clinch.
Benedetti takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A jab from Benedetti misses.
Benedetti works King's body with a nice hook.

Benedetti forces King back against the cage and clinches.
Benedetti misses with the head strike.
Benedetti has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. King seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Benedetti can turn it around.
King tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benedetti lands with a short punch from the clinch.
King blocks a body shot from Benedetti.
King trying to land knees to the body.
King throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Benedetti blocks it with crossed arms.

King breaks the clinch.
Benedetti scores with a nice right hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benedetti stalks King and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into King's face. King staggers backwards, shaken.
Benedetti finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
King misses with a looping right.
Benedetti appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
A leg kick checked by King.
King steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Benedetti.
King is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Benedetti.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
King throws a jab but it's blocked by Benedetti.
King looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
King misses with an uppercut.
Benedetti swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Benedetti is looking to slow King down with leg kicks.
Benedetti bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Benedetti scores with a nice strike.
Rafael Benedetti seems to be getting the better of the standup.
King drops his hands momentarily and Benedetti takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Benedetti goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Benedetti lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Benedetti pushes King up against the cage in a clinch.
King utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Benedetti is struggling to control the position.
King is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Benedetti is defending well for now.
Benedetti stalling in the clinch but King improves position.
King swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti misses with the head strike.
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!
King cracks Benedetti with a nice body shot.
Benedetti misses with a punch on the inside.
A body shot lands from King.
King using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Benedetti tries to work over King's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
King lands a left hand that snaps the head of Benedetti backwards.
Benedetti misses with a short punch on the inside.
King is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Benedetti lands a hook that snaps the head of King backwards.
Good body shot from Benedetti.
King lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Benedetti or not.
Rafael Benedetti seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Benedetti struggles to land a body shot inside as King controls his hands.
Benedetti struggles to land a body shot inside as King controls his hands.
Benedetti swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Benedetti is trying to stall.

King breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Good work by King as he checks the leg kick.
Benedetti goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Benedetti.
Benedetti misses the jab.
King catches Benedetti with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Benedetti ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
King looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
King throws a head kick that misses.
Benedetti lands a head shot.
Benedetti throws a nice inside leg kick.
King waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Benedetti.
Benedetti is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
King throws a hook but Benedetti blocks it.
King catches Benedetti with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Benedetti misses with a hook.
King moves out of range as Benedetti strikes.
Benedetti buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
King checks a leg kick nicely.
King tries to counter by clinching up but Benedetti breaks away and moves out of range.
Benedetti throws a chopping leg kick but King manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
King lands with a hook. Benedetti tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
King keeps Benedetti at a distance using the push kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benedetti throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King looks for the body kick but Benedetti saw that one coming.
A low kick from Benedetti misses

and King holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Benedetti lands with a short head shot on the inside.
King misses with a knee strike.
Benedetti just leaning against King, taking a breather.
King missing with knees to the body.
Benedetti misses with a short punch on the inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by King.
Benedetti has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
King is looking to break free of the clinch but Benedetti has double underhooks.
Benedetti stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Benedetti misses with a punch to the body.
Benedetti misses with the head strike.
King misses with a punch on the inside.
Benedetti lands a shoulder strike.
King is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
King throws a head punch that misses.
Benedetti doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
King lands with a light punch inside.
Benedetti works on King's body with a couple of short punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Rafael Benedetti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

King throws a leg kick but Benedetti sees it coming and checks it nicely.
A nice inside leg kick there by Benedetti. That's going to slow King down.
King wants to slow Benedetti down by chopping away at his legs.
King stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Benedetti.
King is looking to score with low kicks.
Benedetti scores with a hook.
Benedetti connects with a looping right hand.
Benedetti scores with the left hand. King knows he should have avoided that one.
King lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
King lands a nice leg kick that just misses Benedetti's sensitive parts.
A cross from Benedetti lands.
The fighters circling - King throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
An inside leg kick lands from Benedetti.
King listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
King throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Benedetti with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
No joy there for Benedetti, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Benedetti moves out of range of the body kick from King.

Benedetti moves into the clinch.
Benedetti lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King takes a shot to the head.
Benedetti goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Benedetti managing to block the knees to the body from King.
Benedetti fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Benedetti doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
King lands a left hand that snaps the head of Benedetti backwards.
Benedetti takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. King obliges.
Benedetti lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

King's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
King throws a head kick that Benedetti semi-blocks.
Benedetti throws a big shot that misses.
Benedetti scores with a head kick. King tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Benedetti walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. King checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Benedetti moves into range and connects with a jab.
Benedetti throws a hook but King avoids it easily.
A head kick from Benedetti lands but King takes it in his stride.
Benedetti avoids the head kick by King.
Benedetti throws a right and a left that both miss.
James King has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King tries a head kick but it misses.

Benedetti pushes King up against the cage in a clinch.
King is trying to break the clinch but Benedetti is controlling him.

King breaks from the clinch.
Benedetti scores with a nice strike.
A jab from King misses.
Benedetti lands a nice leg kick that just misses King's sensitive parts.
A leg kick checked by King.
Benedetti tests King's chin there with a solid looking shot.
King throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Benedetti throws a jab but it's blocked by King.
King looks to score with a jab to the body but Benedetti is just out of range.
King throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
King misses with a body kick.
King lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
King getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
King is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Benedetti.
Benedetti moves out of range of the body kick from King.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Benedetti slips a jab and a cross from King.
Benedetti checks the leg kick.
King bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A head kick misses from King.
King looks for the body kick but Benedetti saw that one coming.
King has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Benedetti.
Benedetti is looking to slow King down with leg kicks.
Benedetti is looking to score with low kicks.
King chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Benedetti can pounce on him.
A good leg kick by Benedetti.
Benedetti with a nice calf kick.
King fails to land with a series of punches.
King misses with a hook. Benedetti ducked under it nicely.
King lands a front kick.
Benedetti fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt King.
Benedetti throws a leg kick that misses.
King smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Benedetti lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Benedetti uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by King.
King takes a swing at Benedetti's ribcage but misses.
A low kick lands for Benedetti.
King takes a jab right on the kisser.
Benedetti takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Benedetti throws a low kick, looking for King's leg but King calmly moves out of range.
Benedetti moves out of range of the strikes.
Benedetti on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by King. King obviously looking to wear him down.
Benedetti lands a nice looking body shot.
Benedetti sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Benedetti uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Benedetti throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
It looked like King was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Benedetti throws a body punch but King moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benedetti cracks King with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
King lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
King tries to land a leg kick but Benedetti saw it coming and moves away.
Nice cross by King.
King misses with a body kick.
Benedetti throws out a counter right but King avoids it with no problem.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rafael Benedetti.
Well Benedetti has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 27:30
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:30
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rafael Benedetti!
A very excited looking Rafael Benedetti 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.