PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mahmed Salidov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brice Benoit (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Salidov
vs
Benoit

198 cm
21
221 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

225 cm
26
251 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mahmed Salidov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Brice Benoit!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Benoit gets the takedown into side control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
You can see the frustration on Salidov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Benoit blocks the strikes from Salidov.
Salidov tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Salidov trying to control the position but Benoit manages to sink in the hooks.
Salidov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Benoit is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Salidov breaks Benoit's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Benoit is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Benoit trying to pass the guard but Salidov defending well.
Benoit is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Salidov looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benoit sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Salidov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Salidov is trying to maintain the position but Benoit is very close to passing his half guard.

Brice Benoit has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Benoit throws a sloppy head kick and Salidov moves out of range easily.
Salidov shoots and misses

and Benoit counters with a shoot takedown. Salidov fights it but they end up in guard.
Salidov trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salidov wants to stand but Benoit is controlling the position.
Benoit is stalling in the full guard.
Benoit being controlled here momentarily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Salidov pushes Benoit off and scrambles back to his feet.

Salidov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Benoit to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Salidov is breathing heavily.

Benoit is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salidov wants to stand up but Benoit is controlling him.

Benoit stands up and waves to Salidov to follow him.
Salidov shoots for a takedown but Benoit saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Benoit misses with a takedown attempt - Salidov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benoit is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Salidov's half guard.
Salidov taking some punishment here, with Benoit in his half guard.
Benoit takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Benoit stops Salidov from getting back to his feet.
Benoit slows the pace down in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benoit lands strikes from half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brice Benoit dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Benoit misses with a wild combination.
Salidov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Benoit tries to avoid it but Salidov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Benoit to the ground. Benoit escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Benoit tries to clinch there but Salidov circles away.
Benoit shoots in for a takedown but Salidov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Salidov misses with a takedown attempt - Benoit sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Salidov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Benoit counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mahmed Salidov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
You can see the frustration on Salidov's face as Benoit controls the position.
Benoit trying to control the position but Salidov is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salidov has one of Benoit's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Salidov tries to improve position but can't.
Benoit working away.

Benoit decides to stand back up. Benoit steps back and let's Salidov get back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Benoit looks for a takedown but Salidov sprawls well.
Benoit tries to clinch but Salidov moves out of range.
Benoit tries to clinch up but Salidov circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benoit has a takedown stuffed.
Salidov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Benoit circles away.
Salidov shoots for a double leg takedown but Benoit sprawls well. He's pushed Salidov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Benoit fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Salidov to the ground. Benoit is now in Salidov's guard.
Benoit controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Salidov keeping full guard, as Benoit tries to pass.
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!

Salidov pushes Benoit off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benoit misses with a takedown attempt - Salidov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Benoit tries to clinch up

and Salidov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Salidov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Benoit is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Benoit wants to control but Salidov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Benoit is looking for a sweep. Salidov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benoit trying to control here.
Salidov wants to control but Benoit is keeping him busy.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Benoit trying to hold on to Salidov's head to control him but Salidov postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Brice Benoit.
Salidov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Benoit sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Benoit gets a double leg takedown into Salidov's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benoit controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Salidov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Benoit postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Brice Benoit 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!

Benoit misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Salidov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Benoit defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Salidov.

Benoit shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Salidov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Salidov wants to stand but Benoit is controlling the position.
Benoit postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Benoit wants to control from the top but Salidov keeps moving.
Brice Benoit has got the better of the ground game so far.
Salidov wants to stand but Benoit is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Salidov feints and as Benoit raises his hands in defense, Salidov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Salidov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Salidov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Benoit wants to sweep here but Salidov controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salidov wanted to stand there but Benoit had control of the position.
Benoit wants to sweep but no luck.
Benoit is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Benoit looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Benoit is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Brice Benoit wasn't active enough on the ground.
Salidov keeps the fight on the outside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Benoit shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Salidov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Salidov is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Salidov is trying to control Benoit's posture but Benoit avoids it.
Salidov wants to get back to his feet but Benoit drags him back down.
Benoit looks up at the clock and then as Salidov takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Benoit smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Benoit is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Salidov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Benoit working away.
Benoit trying to control the action but Salidov is working from the bottom.
Salidov is trying to control Benoit's posture but Benoit avoids it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Benoit decides to stand back up. Benoit steps back and let's Salidov get back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Benoit fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Salidov to the ground. Benoit is now in Salidov's guard.
Salidov wants to stand but Benoit is controlling the position.
Benoit is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Benoit's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

And that's the end of the fight!
Brice Benoit comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Benoit 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Brice Benoit!