PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Michael Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Augusto Ricardo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Augusto Ricardo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Benoit
vs
Ricardo

170 cm
20
140 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

155 cm
27
140 lbs
13 - 8 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Michael Benoit!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Augusto Ricardo!
The judges for this bout are Damien Edna, Skip Squint and Winston Howard.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ricardo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Benoit.
Ricardo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benoit manages to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Ricardo.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ricardo.
Benoit takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ricardo tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Benoit swivels and escapes.
Ricardo shoots in for a takedown but Benoit shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Michael Benoit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Augusto Ricardo.
Ricardo throws the left hand but Benoit avoids the punch easily.
Ricardo takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Ricardo throws a big shot that misses.
Benoit pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Benoit connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ricardo misses with a takedown attempt - Benoit sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ricardo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Benoit lunges at Ricardo with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Ricardo's hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ricardo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Benoit is fending him off so far but Ricardo persists. Nope, Benoit circles away and we're back to standing.
Benoit scores with a nice strike.
Ricardo closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Ricardo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ricardo takes one on the button.
Benoit keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ricardo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benoit manages to avoid it.
Benoit is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Benoit thuds his right hand into Ricardo's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Benoit throws a jab but it's blocked by Ricardo.

Ricardo decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ricardo wants to pass the guard but Benoit is defending well.
Ricardo throwing shots but Benoit is blocking nicely.
Ricardo content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ricardo thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Benoit to regain full guard.
Benoit wants to stand and escape but Ricardo is having none of it.
Benoit tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Benoit is pulling down on Ricardo's head to control his posture.
Ricardo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ricardo wants to pass the guard but Benoit is keeping the position.
Ricardo postures up in Benoit's guard and throws a big left but Benoit blocks it.
Ricardo preventing the sweep.
Ricardo trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Benoit gets caught flat footed, as Ricardo shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Benoit has his hands on Ricardo's head, controlling the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ricardo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ricardo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Benoit works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Benoit wants to stand but Ricardo is controlling the position.
Ricardo won't allow Benoit to sweep him here.
Benoit has Ricardo pulled in close to control his posture.
Benoit's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ricardo throws a big right hand that misses.
Ricardo loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Left hook, right uppercut from Benoit.

Ricardo shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Benoit gets back to full guard.
Ricardo throws a strike but Benoit rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ricardo keeping moving, preventing Benoit from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Benoit dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Benoit missing with a left hand there. Ricardo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ricardo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ricardo fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benoit manages to avoid it.
Benoit slaps away a takedown attempt from Ricardo, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Ricardo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ricardo showed some decent athleticism there.

Ricardo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Benoit defends it well.
Benoit makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Benoit.
Ricardo in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ricardo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ricardo is in close to Benoit's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ricardo looking to sit in guard and control but Benoit gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Benoit tries to free his leg and advance position but Ricardo is retaining full guard.
Ricardo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ricardo trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

Benoit stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Benoit displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ricardo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit missing with a left hand there. Ricardo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ricardo misses with a double jab
and Benoit counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Benoit fails to land with a series of punches.
Benoit is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Benoit avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ricardo throws a combination that misses
and Benoit counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ricardo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Benoit counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Michael Benoit has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Augusto Ricardo.
Ricardo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Benoit connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Benoit connects with a single shot there.
Ricardo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Benoit counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ricardo is breathing heavily.
Benoit fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Benoit looks to throw the jab but Ricardo is out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Danga de danga de dang - Benoit scores with a four punch combination!

Ricardo is rocked!
Ricardo walks into a left hand.
Ricardo is still on wobbly legs! Can Benoit finish him?
Ricardo moves out of range as Benoit strikes.
Benoit misses the jab.
Ricardo keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Benoit.
Ricardo seems to have recovered his senses.
Ricardo shoots and misses
and Benoit counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Benoit scores with a nice right hand.
Ricardo has his takedown stuffed
and Benoit counters with a straight right hand.
Ricardo on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Ricardo has his takedown stuffed
and Benoit counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Benoit closes the distance and lands a vicious right hand that drops Ricardo! Benoit dives in looking to finish! Ricardo is still trying to defend himself but he's taking too many shots and the referee has no choice but to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Michael Benoit!
Michael Benoit retains his bantamweight title!