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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Weslay Benoit (ranked 3746 p4p, 3234 weight class) and Anthony Manini (ranked 0 p4p, 208 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Anthony Manini was going to win. Let's see if he was right.
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| 150 cm
23
140
0 - 0 - 0 |
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163 cm
25
140
1 - 0 - 0 |
BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily |
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Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Weslay Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anthony Manini!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Robert Douchet and Yves DeLean.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Manini fails with the takedown.
Manini takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Benoit darts in looking for a takedown but Manini gets double underhooks and turns Benoit into the cage.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Manini takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Benoit fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Manini breaks the clinch.
Benoit stuffs the takedown.
Benoit is looking to counter with head kicks.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benoit fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Manini avoids it really well and circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Weslay Benoit. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Manini closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Manini turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Benoit wants to get back to his feet.
Manini trying to control the action but Benoit is working from the bottom.
Manini working away.
Manini throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Benoit is trying to get back to half guard.
Manini controls the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manini working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Manini controlling from side mount.
Benoit tries to improve position but can't.
Benoit is not content to let Manini control the position.
Benoit is letting Manini control him for a moment.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manini forces Benoit back against the cage and clinches.
Manini wants a takedown.
Manini breaks the clinch.
Manini just misses with a punch to the body.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Benoit is defended easily by Manini.
Manini walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manini fails with the takedown
and Benoit counters with a one-two to the body.
Benoit shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Manini as he jumps to the side.
Manini stuffs the takedown attempt from Benoit. Benoit gets slowly back to his feet.
Manini gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Manini looking for a guillotine here but Benoit defends easily.
Benoit has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Benoit tries to free his leg and advance position but Manini is retaining full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Anthony Manini will probably get the nod.
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.
Manini shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Benoit's guard.
Anthony Manini has got the better of the ground game so far.
Manini stands up over Benoit, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Manini stays in close to Benoit's body and controls the position.
Benoit wants to get back to his feet but Manini is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Benoit is trying to keep Manini in close.
Benoit can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Manini controls the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Manini looking to pass the guard.
Manini seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Benoit wants to clinch.
Benoit shoots for a double leg takedown but Manini sprawls well. He's pushed Benoit's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Manini feints the counter takedown.
Benoit throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Manini was covering up waiting for the punch and Benoit finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Manini wants to sweep but no luck.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Manini is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Manini holds on and takes a little breather.
Benoit wants to get up but he can't break Manini's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Benoit trying to control but Manini is working from the bottom.
Benoit has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Manini is proving hard to escape from.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Manini is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Benoit shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Manini eats them both and turns towards Benoit to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Benoit lands a really nice looking cross but Manini seems unphased.
Benoit misses with a low kick.
Benoit moves into the clinch.
Benoit has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Manini after a bit of a struggle.
Manini jumps guard.
Manini seems keen to control Benoit's posture.
Manini keeping moving, preventing Benoit from controlling successfully.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Manini controlling the position.
Manini is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Benoit might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Manini is on top in guard.
Benoit wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Manini's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Anthony Manini will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!
Benoit closes the distance looking to clinch
and Manini counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Benoit lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Manini circles away from the clinch attempt.
Benoit slaps away a takedown attempt from Manini, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Benoit keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Manini dodges the punch combination from Benoit.
Benoit stuns Manini with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Manini closes the distance and clinches up with Benoit, looking for a takedown. Manini pushes Benoit against the cage but Benoit circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Benoit drops down looking for a counter takedown but Manini sprawls and moves away.
Weslay Benoit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anthony Manini.
Benoit dives in and grabs Manini's left leg, looking for a takedown. Manini pushes down on Benoit's head and hops out.
Manini gets a clinch.
Benoit is pressed up against the cage. Manini has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Benoit down to the mat. Benoit avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Manini looks to land a right hand but Benoit moved out of range.
Benoit throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A head kick misses from Benoit.
Manini tries a head kick but it misses.
Manini has managed to clinch.
Manini wants a takedown.
Manini takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Manini prevents a takedown attempt there.
Manini decides to pull guard.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit won't allow Manini to sweep him here.
Manini has his foot on Benoit's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Benoit works his way back into a safe position though.
Manini is trying to control the position but Benoit postures up.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Manini can do anything to dispel that myth.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benoit stopping the sweep attempt from Manini.
Manini is trying to control the position but Benoit postures up.
Benoit wants to pass the guard but Manini is keeping the position.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Manini tries to counter with a clinch but Benoit shakes him off and moves away.
Manini shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Benoit wriggles free and stands up.
A momentary lapse in concentration from Benoit enables Manini to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Benoit manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Benoit wants to get back to his feet but Manini is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Benoit is trying to control the position from the bottom.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Manini controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Manini connects with a couple of short punches.
Manini cracks Benoit with a solid left hand.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Manini with a nice head shot there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benoit looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Manini.
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 Weslay Benoit.
I think Manini 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 28:29
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anthony Manini!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
32% |
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