PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Benitez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Zakarian (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ryan Zakarian has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Carlos Benitez's chin.

Benitez
vs
Zakarian

168 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

169 cm
24
152 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Carlos Benitez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ryan Zakarian!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zakarian's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Zakarian duly obliges.
Benitez on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Benitez drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Benitez is pushing down on Zakarian's leg trying to pass to half guard. Zakarian is fighting to maintain full guard but Benitez has managed to sneak the leg through.
Benitez stops Zakarian from getting back to his feet.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Benitez in particular looking to stall.

Benitez wants to work for an arm triangle but Zakarian is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zakarian tries to kick Benitez off but Benitez keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zakarian is defending against the submission attempts here by Benitez.
Zakarian is trying to stand up here but Benitez is controlling him well.
Zakarian looks gassed!
Benitez stalling.
Benitez seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Zakarian for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Benitez landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Benitez perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Benitez works his foot free and advances to mount.
Benitez controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Benitez connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Benitez controlling from the full mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zakarian can do anything to dispel that myth.
Benitez with the ground and pound from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Benitez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Benitez is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Zakarian can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
A nice elbow there by Benitez.
Zakarian is in a horrible position here. Benitez smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Benitez takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benitez with shots to the head and body - Zakarian looks very uncomfortable down there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carlos Benitez dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Zakarian leaves Benitez with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zakarian comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Zakarian scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Zakarian moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Benitez on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Benitez shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zakarian defends it nicely.
Zakarian swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Zakarian scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Zakarian lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Benitez on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Zakarian lands with a right hand.
Good standup being displayed there by Zakarian as he connects with a hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Benitez.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Benitez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zakarian misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benitez fails to land the takedown.
Zakarian scores with a decent looking hook.
Zakarian keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A punch combination from Zakarian misses.
Ryan Zakarian seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zakarian misses with a wild combination.
Benitez shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Zakarian as he avoids it easily.
Benitez fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zakarian avoids it really well and circles away.
Carlos Benitez is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zakarian bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Benitez's head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zakarian.
Zakarian uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Benitez has time to react.
Zakarian connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Benitez's hands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benitez shoots in for a takedown but Zakarian shows good takedown defense.
Benitez shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Zakarian scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Zakarian lands a jab-cross combination.
Zakarian ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zakarian connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

Benitez scores a takedown into full mount!
Benitez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Benitez looking to finish with strikes here!
Zakarian is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benitez has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Zakarian's face.
Benitez tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benitez'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.
Benitez has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Benitez landing strikes from the mount.

Benitez is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Zakarian has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Benitez controlling the position easily from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benitez lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Zakarian hang on?
Carlos Benitez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Benitez controlling the pace for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Benitez punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Zakarian showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Benitez throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zakarian's waist but Zakarian gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Benitez off to one side.
Zakarian lands with a nice combination. Benitez backs away looking to recover.
Zakarian looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Benitez looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Zakarian is trying to stand.
Benitez content to control rather than advance.
Benitez is looking to advance position but Zakarian won't allow it.
Benitez passes to side control.
Zakarian takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benitez moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Benitez trying to control the position but Zakarian is working away.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benitez wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zakarian keeps working.
Benitez tries to advance to mount but Zakarian denies him.
Benitez scoring with punches from side control.
Benitez trying to control the position but Zakarian is working away.
Zakarian on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benitez lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Benitez tries to move into full mount but can't pass Zakarian's legs.
Benitez working the ground and pound.
Benitez content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Benitez works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Benitez scoring with punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benitez just content to control the position.
Benitez trying to control the position but Zakarian is working away.
You can see the frustration on Zakarian's face as Benitez controls the position.
Check out the look on Benitez's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Benitez working the body and head with strikes.
Benitez advances to full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carlos Benitez showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Benitez has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Andi Peters scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gordon Ramsey scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Skinner scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carlos Benitez!