PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between D J Benn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexei Savickiy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

J Benn
vs
Savickiy

176 cm
19
167 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

169 cm
25
167 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, D J Benn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexei Savickiy!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Illya Tyunina and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Savickiy will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Savickiy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Savickiy tries to clinch but Benn is having none of it.
Benn tries to close the distance and clinch but Savickiy swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Savickiy scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

It looks like D J Benn has been cut.
Savickiy tries to clinch but Benn moves away

and Benn moves into the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Savickiy.
Benn wants a takedown.
Nice body punch from Savickiy.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Benn.
Benn has Savickiy pressed against the cage, preventing Savickiy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Savickiy wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Benn has him pressed against the cage.
Savickiy can't break the clinch.
Savickiy lands a right hand.
Savickiy working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Savickiy working some nice short punches in the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Savickiy is trying to force a seperation but Benn has the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savickiy is looking to break free of the clinch but Benn has double underhooks.
Benn is looking to break free of the clinch but Savickiy has double underhooks.
Benn tries to pull guard but Savickiy won't allow it.
Benn has Savickiy pressed against the cage, preventing Savickiy from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Savickiy pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Savickiy stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Savickiy wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for D J Benn. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A punch combination from Savickiy misses.
Savickiy misses with a combination

so Benn counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Benn works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Savickiy really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Benn. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Benn missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Savickiy controlling the position for now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benn wants to control but Savickiy is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savickiy is trying to stand back up but Benn is controlling him

D J Benn has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Savickiy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Savickiy throws a series of strikes that have Benn backpedaling.
Savickiy tries to close the distance and clinch up but Benn swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Savickiy throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Alexei Savickiy seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Savickiy moves into range and clinches up with Benn.
Savickiy is pressed up against the cage. Benn has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Savickiy down to the mat. Savickiy avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Savickiy throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Benn.
Benn avoids a punch combination nicely.
Savickiy looks gassed!
Savickiy fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Savickiy throws a big shot that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savickiy throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Benn has Savickiy up against the cage in a clinch.
Benn tries to pull guard but Savickiy won't allow it.
A short uppercut from Savickiy.

Savickiy breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Benn throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Savickiy's waist but Savickiy gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Benn off to one side.
Savickiy lands the left hand.
Savickiy throws a right and a left that both miss.
A combination from Savickiy does no damage.
Benn swats away the attempt to clinch by Savickiy.
Benn fails with a takedown attempt.
Savickiy throws a series of punches but Benn moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Savickiy throws a series of punches but Benn moves out of range.
Benn shoots for a double leg takedown but Savickiy sprawls well. He's pushed Benn's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Savickiy misses with a two punch combination.
Savickiy misses with a combination

and Benn counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Benn is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Savickiy has managed to free his arm - good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benn prevents Savickiy from improving his position.
Benn missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Savickiy looks like he's trying to stand up.

Benn wants to work for an arm triangle but Savickiy is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexei Savickiy will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on D J Benn's cut.
That's time! Benn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Savickiy doesn't manage to clinch there - Benn circles away.
Benn shoots in for a double leg but Savickiy sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
No joy there for Savickiy, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Savickiy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Savickiy tries to close the distance and clinch but Benn swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Savickiy throws a nice looking combination but Benn bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Savickiy is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Savickiy is looking to clinch.
Benn shoots in looking for a takedown. Savickiy tries to sprawl out of it but Benn keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Savickiy manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for D J Benn. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Savickiy forces Benn back against the cage and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Savickiy breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Benn takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Benn tries to clinch up but Savickiy circles away and keeps his distance.
Sloppy strikes from Savickiy. Those never looked like landing.
D J Benn is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Savickiy fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Savickiy has Benn up against the cage in a clinch.
Savickiy wants to break the clinch but can't.

Savickiy's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Savickiy misses with a jab, cross combination.
Savickiy is breathing heavily.
Savickiy keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Benn looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The crowd cheers as Savickiy lands an impressive looking overhand right. Benn doesn't seem phased though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benn shoots in but no luck this time.

Savickiy has closed the distance and engaged Benn in a clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Savickiy lands a left hand that snaps the head of Benn backwards.
Savickiy lands with a light punch inside.
Benn fails to pull guard.

Savickiy breaks the clinch.
Savickiy fails with an attempt to clinch.
Benn tries to clinch there but Savickiy circles away.
Savickiy slaps away a takedown attempt from Benn, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Savickiy misses with a few strikes there.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Savickiy enables Benn to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Savickiy manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Benn wants to control from the top but Savickiy keeps moving.
Benn preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Savickiy utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Benn tries to free his leg and advance position but Savickiy is retaining full guard.
Benn sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Savickiy's guard.
Benn wants to control but Savickiy is keeping him busy.
Savickiy is trying to maintain the position but Benn is very close to passing his half guard.
Savickiy tries to get to full guard but Benn has control of the leg.
Savickiy trying to hold on to Benn's head to control him but Benn postures up.
Savickiy tries to get to full guard but Benn has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benn is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Benn wants to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Benn. No joy for Savickiy on that attempt.

Savickiy has closed the distance and engaged Benn in a clinch.
Savickiy is trying to break the clinch but Benn has him pressed against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benn keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Savickiy's efforts to push away.
Benn prevents Savickiy from breaking the clinch.
Benn is trying to drag Savickiy to the mat but Savickiy just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Savickiy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on D J Benn's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Benn avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Savickiy misses with a combination

and Benn counters with a takedown into side control.

Benn working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Savickiy misses with a strike from the bottom.
Savickiy is not content to let Benn control the position.

Benn tries for a kimura but Savickiy is defending well.
D J Benn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savickiy wants to control but Benn postures up.
Benn trying to control the position but Savickiy is working away.

Benn working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Savickiy tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Benn wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Savickiy is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Benn's leg. Oh but that's left an opportunity for Benn! He's got an arm triangle... it looks tight! He's rotating and Savickiy has tapped! This one is allllll over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). D J Benn!
A victorious D J Benn thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.