PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sean Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Xavier Sanchez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Xavier Sanchez has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Benoit
vs
Sanchez

180 cm
26
185 lbs
15 - 3 - 0

188 cm
21
180 lbs
11 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Sean Benoit!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Xavier Sanchez!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Daniel Franklin and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Benoit misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sanchez pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sanchez misses with a wild body shot.
Benoit throws and low kick but Sanchez moves out of range easily.
Benoit tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Sanchez lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Benoit throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Xavier Sanchez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Benoit moves away from the strike by Sanchez.
Benoit moves out of range of the body kick.
Benoit is looking to chop away at Sanchez's legs.
Benoit digs a good body shot into Sanchez's ribs.
Sanchez getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Benoit misses with an uppercut. Sanchez saw that one coming.
Sanchez tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sanchez looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Benoit jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Sanchez lands a nice leg kick that just misses Benoit's sensitive parts.
Sanchez checks a low kick from Benoit.
Sanchez checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Benoit takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sanchez takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A cross from Benoit lands.
Jab by Benoit.
Benoit swings for the body but Sanchez moves out of range.
Benoit works over Sanchez's head and body with a nice combination.
Benoit missing with a left hand there. Sanchez was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanchez throws a wild body kick that Benoit sees coming a mile off.
Sanchez tries to land a front kick but Benoit steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sanchez lands a head shot.
The crowd cheers as Benoit lands an impressive looking overhand right. Sanchez doesn't seem phased though.
Benoit thows a body shot but no joy.
Benoit moves out of range of the body kick from Sanchez.
Sanchez scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Sanchez connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Nice body kick there by Sanchez.
Sanchez lands a head shot.
Sanchez comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sanchez has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Benoit misses with a jab, cross combination.

Sanchez moves into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sanchez.
Benoit tries to throw a body punch but Sanchez avoids it by throwing Benoit back against the cage.
Benoit throws a punch but it's blocked by Sanchez.
A short right from Sanchez on the inside.
Benoit is pressed up against the cage. Sanchez 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.
Benoit motions for Sanchez to come forward. Benoit throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Benoit misses with a few strikes there.
Benoit checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Benoit lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Benoit looks to land a right hand but Sanchez moved out of range.
Sanchez fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Sanchez on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

Sanchez has managed to clinch.
Benoit working aggressively here.
Benoit tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sanchez lands a right hand.
Sanchez lands a hook to the side of the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Benoit creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A nice left hand lands by Sanchez.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sanchez swings wildly with an uppercut but Benoit uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sanchez has Benoit pressed against the cage, preventing Benoit from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Sanchez misses with some punches.
Sanchez misses with a body punch.
Benoit stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Benoit working hard to break the clinch.
Benoit misses with a short punch on the inside.
Benoit has a couple of punches blocked by Sanchez.
Benoit wants to break free but Sanchez has control.
Sanchez misses with some punches.
Benoit tries to throw a body punch but Sanchez avoids it by throwing Benoit back against the cage.
A short left from Sanchez.

Benoit breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sanchez moves out of range as Benoit strikes.
Benoit misses with a jab, cross combination.
Benoit lands a nice shot that snaps Sanchez's head back.
Benoit chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sanchez can pounce on him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit misses with a body shot.
Benoit throws a leg kick that is checked
and Sanchez cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Benoit misses with a hook.
Benoit lands an overhand right.
Sanchez moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Sanchez checks a leg kick.
Sanchez lands with a nice body kick.
Sanchez changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Benoit misses with an uppercut. Sanchez saw that one coming.
Sanchez checks a leg kick.
Benoit walks into a straight right hand from Sanchez.
A slow jab from Benoit misses its intended target.
Benoit throws a nice outside leg kick.
Sanchez connects with a solid leg kick.
Benoit takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Benoit throws a series of punches but Sanchez avoids them all with ease.
Sanchez keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sanchez fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benoit manages to avoid it.
Benoit's corner calls for a 1-2. Benoit obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Sanchez connects with a crisp jab.
Sanchez tries to land a front kick but Benoit steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sanchez thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Sanchez.
Sanchez dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Benoit. That did some damage!
Benoit thows a body shot but no joy.
Benoit looks to land a right hand but Sanchez moved out of range.
A punch combination from Sanchez misses.
Sanchez is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Benoit had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Benoit attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Sanchez shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Sanchez lands with a thumping leg kick.
Sanchez thows a body shot but no joy.
Sanchez connects with a jab.
Sanchez misses with a low kick.

Sanchez shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Sanchez drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Benoit dives on top into guard.
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!
Sanchez wants to control but Benoit passes easily into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sanchez digs a good hook to Benoit's body.
Xavier Sanchez seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Benoit checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
A clash of legs there as Benoit blocks the low kick.
Benoit is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Sanchez has a takedown stuffed.
Benoit scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
An inside leg kick lands from Sanchez.
Benoit looks to score with a jab to the body but Sanchez is just out of range.
Benoit moves out of range of the body kick from Sanchez.
Sanchez throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Benoit!
Benoit swings for the body but Sanchez moves out of range.
Benoit misses the shot to the body.
A clash of legs there as Sanchez blocks the low kick.
Sanchez slips a straight right by Benoit.
Sanchez dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Benoit. That did some damage!
Sanchez thuds his shin into the meat of Benoit's side.
Sanchez throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Benoit goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Benoit ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sanchez moves away.
Benoit misses with a leg kick.
Nice straight punches there by Benoit. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Benoit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit misses with a wild body shot.
Benoit connects with a solid leg kick.
Benoit throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sanchez works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sanchez ducks under a wild hook from Benoit.
Sanchez throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Benoit's head.
Sanchez looks to score with a jab to the body but Benoit is just out of range.
Benoit with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sanchez to score with a decent uppercut.
A low kick from Benoit misses
and Sanchez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sanchez fakes the leg kick and cracks Benoit in the body.
Sanchez shoots in for a takedown but Benoit shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sanchez uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Benoit has time to react.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Benoit, right into the meat.
Benoit throws a front kick aimed at Sanchez's knee but Sanchez avoids it well.
Benoit moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Benoit swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Nice takedown defense from Benoit. No joy for Sanchez on that attempt.
Sean Benoit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Xavier Sanchez.
Benoit dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sanchez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Benoit's waist but Benoit gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Sanchez off to one side.
A low kick from Benoit is predictable there
and Sanchez counters with a left to the body.
Sanchez throws a sloppy body shot
and Benoit counters with a nice low kick that buckles Sanchez's knee momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Sanchez shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sanchez showed some decent athleticism there.
Sanchez is stalling here. Benoit is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Sanchez seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Benoit has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Sanchez tries to bench press Benoit off him but Benoit keeps the position.
Benoit wants to stand but Sanchez has his arm trapped.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanchez is trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four 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.
Sanchez wants to control but Benoit postures up.
Sanchez is looking to regain half guard here but Benoit keeps moving and retains side control.
Sanchez is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Benoit off and has taken his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Xavier Sanchez showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Benoit's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sanchez moves in looking to clinch but Benoit pushes him off.
Sanchez looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Sanchez misses with a low kick.
Benoit dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Sanchez. That did some damage!
Benoit misses with a double jab
and Sanchez counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Sanchez closes the distance and clinches.
A short left from Sanchez.
Benoit misses with some punches.
Sanchez blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Sanchez blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Sanchez will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Benoit up against the cage.

Benoit pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Benoit swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A low kick from Sanchez is predictable there
and Benoit counters with an inside leg kick.
Sanchez is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Benoit rather than just go for the knockout.
Nice cross by Benoit.
Sanchez feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Benoit's calf.
Jab, jab by Sanchez - just one landing.

Sanchez looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Sanchez stands up over Benoit, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit can't keep his opponent in guard - Sanchez advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Sanchez with the ground and pound but Benoit uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Sanchez tries to free his leg and advance position but Benoit is retaining full guard.
Sanchez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Benoit keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Sanchez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Sean Benoit has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Benoit keeping moving, preventing Sanchez from controlling successfully.
Sanchez throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Benoit works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sanchez stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Benoit swivels though and keeps the full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Sanchez takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Sanchez lands a nice looking kick to the body. Benoit takes a step back to recover.
Sanchez punishes Benoit's body with a nice straight punch.
Benoit throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Benoit throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A shot to de liver by Sanchez. Beautiful body shot.
Benoit throws a leg kick but Sanchez moved away.
Benoit fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Sanchez checks it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit misses with a wild combination.
Benoit takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sanchez digs a good body shot into Benoit's ribs.
Benoit misses with a few strikes there.
Sanchez looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanchez misses with a straight right.
Sanchez misses with the body kick
and Benoit connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Sanchez throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Benoit with a hook.
Sanchez misses with a hook.
Sanchez wants to land a leg kick but Benoit is out of range.
Benoit lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Sanchez thows a body shot but no joy.
Sanchez looks for the body kick but Benoit saw that one coming.
Sean Benoit is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Sanchez throws a leg kick that is checked
and Benoit counters with a stiff right hand.
Benoit will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
A clash of legs there as Benoit blocks the low kick.
Benoit lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Benoit wants to land a leg kick but Sanchez is out of range.
Benoit misses with a combination
and Sanchez counters with a lovely shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit is looking to score with low kicks.
Benoit checks a low kick from Sanchez.
Benoit throws a leg kick
and Sanchez counters with a nice low kick that buckles Benoit's knee momentarily.
Benoit scores with a shot to the body.
Sanchez fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Benoit.
A bone on bone clash there as Sanchez blocks the leg kick.
Benoit checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Sanchez, right into the meat.
Sanchez lands a nice leg kick that just misses Benoit's sensitive parts.
Benoit misses with a head kick.
Sanchez misses with an attempted mid kick.
Benoit fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sanchez manages to avoid it.
Sanchez connects with a looping right hand.
Sanchez throws a front kick aimed at Benoit's knee but Benoit avoids it well.
A leg kick checked by Benoit.
Sanchez avoids the head kick by Benoit.
Sanchez looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Sanchez throws a leg kick but Benoit sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Benoit gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Benoit sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A slapping leg kick lands for Benoit.

And that's the end of the fight!
Xavier Sanchez comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Sanchez 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 George Francis scores the fight for Xavier Sanchez!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Xavier Sanchez!
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight for Xavier Sanchez!

Xavier Sanchez wins by unanimous decision!