PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Paolo Benedetti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Da Giant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benedetti comes to the cage accompanied by A Voice in the Dark (Blind Guardian). Giant is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Eye of the Tiger. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Benedetti
vs
Giant

190 cm
20
225 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

225 cm
20
300 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Paolo Benedetti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Da Giant!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Yamamoto, Hirohito Nitta and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Giant closes the distance and clinches up with Benedetti, looking for a takedown. Giant pushes Benedetti against the cage but Benedetti circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Benedetti tries for a takedown but Giant circles away easily

and Giant counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Giant trying to control but Benedetti is working from the bottom.
Giant stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Benedetti swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Giant wants to control from the top but Benedetti keeps moving.
Giant loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Giant really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Benedetti. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Giant wants to control from the top but Benedetti keeps moving.

Benedetti looking for a guillotine here but Giant defends easily.
Giant must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Benedetti trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giant pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benedetti is keeping the position for now.
Benedetti keeping moving, preventing Giant from controlling successfully.
Benedetti is trying to control the position but Giant postures up.
Giant trying to control but Benedetti is working from the bottom.
Giant 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.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Giant wanted to stand there but Benedetti had control of the position.
Giant is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Giant moves into range and clinches up with Benedetti.
Giant gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Benedetti.

Benedetti lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Benedetti working the head and body with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti working over Giant with some ground and pound. Giant looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Giant on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Giant is refusing to be controlled, as Benedetti sits in half guard.
Benedetti looks to land a strike but Giant avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Benedetti won't allow Giant to get back to his feet.
Benedetti is looking to work some ground and pound but Giant has wrist control.
Giant looking to control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Giant can do anything to dispel that myth.
Giant is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Benedetti thows a big elbow that misses.
Giant is trying to control the position but Benedetti postures up.
Giant looks gassed!

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Giant tries to clinch up but Benedetti circles away and keeps his distance.
Benedetti with a poor takedown
and Giant counters with a right hand to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paolo Benedetti. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Giant shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Benedetti napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Giant swings around for an armbar but Benedetti sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Giant's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Benedetti accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Benedetti chips away with some ground and pound.
Benedetti is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Benedetti is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Da Giant will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Giant misses with a takedown attempt

and Benedetti counters with a takedown into side control.
Giant tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Benedetti wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Benedetti working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Benedetti thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Giant wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Giant takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti looks up at the clock and then as Giant takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Benedetti smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Giant is trying to get back to half guard.
Giant is trying to control Benedetti's posture but Benedetti avoids it.
Benedetti lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
You can see the frustration on Giant's face as Benedetti controls the position.
Benedetti looks up at the clock and then as Giant takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Benedetti smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Benedetti grinds an elbow into Giant's temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giant is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

Benedetti is trying to get an arm triangle but Giant is defending well.
Benedetti working away.

Benedetti thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Giant manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Benedetti wants to lay and pray for a moment but Giant keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Giant keeping control of the position.
Paolo Benedetti overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Giant punching from the bottom.
Benedetti slips a nice elbow through Giant's hands, connecting with Giant's forehead.
Giant keeping hold of Benedetti's head, controlling as best he can.
Benedetti is nestled in close to Giant, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

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.
Giant is looking to control Benedetti's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Giant avoid being mounted?
Benedetti working the head and body with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Benedetti takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Benedetti lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Benedetti not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Benedetti is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Giant doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Benedetti.
Giant looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paolo Benedetti dominated that second round.
That's time! Benedetti's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Benedetti looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Benedetti working over Giant with some ground and pound. Giant looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Giant gets full guard.
Benedetti won't allow Giant to sweep him here.
Benedetti postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Giant wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Benedetti is now in half guard.
Benedetti wants to take a breather but Giant is having none of it.
Giant wants to get back to his feet.
Giant takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Giant is staying active underneath Benedetti, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Benedetti is thwarting Giant's attempts to control the position.
Benedetti is trying to control. Giant wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

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

Benedetti got a little sloppy there for a moment and Giant has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Benedetti has managed to get both his arms back between Giant's legs - danger averted.
Giant looking to control but Benedetti passes into half guard.

Benedetti seems to be looking for submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Giant pushes Benedetti off looking to stand but Benedetti dives back in and keeps control.
Giant tries to get to full guard but Benedetti has control of the leg.
Giant trying to control from the bottom.
Giant on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Benedetti scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Benedetti slips a nice elbow through Giant's hands, connecting with Giant's forehead.

Benedetti is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Giant has managed to free his arm - good work.
Benedetti wants to take a breather but Giant is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti working over Giant with some ground and pound. Giant looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Benedetti lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Giant trying to control but Benedetti postures up.
Benedetti seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Giant does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Giant is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Benedetti is trying to work for a kimura but Giant is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Giant looks like he's trying to stand up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Benedetti is trying for a kimura here. Giant looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Benedetti wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:43 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Paolo Benedetti!