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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Grant Benton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexandr Kuznetsov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benton kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is I get Knocked Down. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!
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| 180 cm
36
185 lbs
19 - 11 - 1 |
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182 cm
25
170 lbs
8 - 4 - 0 |
Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine |
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Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
19 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Grant Benton!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexandr Kuznetsov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Konstantin Menshow and Dmitry Maklakov.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kuznetsov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Benton counters by clinching up.
Kuznetsov throws a punch but it's blocked by Benton.
Kuznetsov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Benton changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kuznetsov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A lazy left from Kuznetsov finds it's target.
Benton looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kuznetsov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
It looked like Benton wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
A jab from Benton misses.
Kuznetsov has Benton up against the cage in a clinch.
Kuznetsov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Benton has hold of one of Kuznetsov's legs. Kuznetsov is fighting the takedown attempt but Benton gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Benton wants to control from the top but Kuznetsov keeps moving.
Benton wanted to stand there but Kuznetsov had control of the position.
Benton wants to control from the top but Kuznetsov keeps moving.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Benton drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kuznetsov dives on top into guard.
Benton throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kuznetsov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kuznetsov throwing strikes but missing.
Kuznetsov throws a big elbow that misses.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov trying to control but Benton is working from the bottom.
Kuznetsov postures up.
Kuznetsov wants to stand but Benton is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kuznetsov postures up.
Kuznetsov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Benton swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Benton wants to sweep here but Kuznetsov controlling him for the moment.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Benton is working hard here to advance position.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton throws a hook but Kuznetsov avoids it easily.
Kuznetsov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kuznetsov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Benton connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A big left from Kuznetsov misses.
Kuznetsov's coach down at St Petersburg MMA Gym was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Kuznetsov's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Kuznetsov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benton lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Benton throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kuznetsov is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.
Kuznetsov lands a front kick.
Kuznetsov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Benton dodges the punch combination from Kuznetsov.
Benton shoots for a double leg takedown but Kuznetsov sprawls well. He's pushed Benton's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kuznetsov tries to bum rush Benton with a series of wild strikes but Benton uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kuznetsov dodges the punch combination from Benton.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Benton throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuznetsov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kuznetsov blocks a jab.
Benton throws the left hand but Kuznetsov avoids the punch easily.
Kuznetsov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Benton has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kuznetsov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grant Benton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benton breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kuznetsov ducks under a wild hook from Benton.
Kuznetsov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Benton moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kuznetsov has taken the fight to the clinch.
A hook to the body from Kuznetsov.
Benton has a couple of punches blocked by Kuznetsov.
Benton manages to break the clinch.
Kuznetsov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kuznetsov takes the fight into the clinch.
Kuznetsov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Benton's elbow.
Kuznetsov prevents the takedown attempt.
Kuznetsov lands a good knee to the midsection. Benton won't want to take too many of those.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kuznetsov.
Benton is breathing heavily.
Kuznetsov stalling in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close round but Alexandr Kuznetsov will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.
Benton throws a nice looking combination but Kuznetsov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kuznetsov takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Benton stuns Kuznetsov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Nice shot lands for Benton.
Sloppy strikes from Benton. Those never looked like landing.
Kuznetsov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Kuznetsov lands a lovely overhand right.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Benton swinging wildly here.
Kuznetsov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Benton throws out the jab.
Benton misses with a lunging right hand
and Kuznetsov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Benton takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kuznetsov closes the distance and pushes Benton back into the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kuznetsov lands a knee to the head.
Kuznetsov lands an elbow that stopped Benton in his tracks for a moment.
Benton takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kuznetsov stops a takedown attempt from Benton.
Benton doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Benton has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Benton misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kuznetsov obliges.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Benton misses with the head strike.
Benton is looking for a takedown.
Kuznetsov blocking some punches.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kuznetsov takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kuznetsov misses with a body punch.
Kuznetsov stalling.
Benton misses with a body punch.
Benton tries to work over Kuznetsov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kuznetsov connects with a knee to the head.
Benton working aggressively here.
Benton is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kuznetsov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Kuznetsov utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kuznetsov lands a shoulder strike.
Kuznetsov lands with a right to the head.
Kuznetsov blocks a body shot from Benton.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benton throws a head punch that misses.
A frustrated look appears on Benton's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kuznetsov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kuznetsov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kuznetsov gets underhooks to prevent Benton's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grant Benton. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kuznetsov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kuznetsov with a knee to the head.
Kuznetsov lands a knee to the body.
Kuznetsov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kuznetsov prevents a takedown attempt there.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
The referee calls for Kuznetsov to work.
Kuznetsov continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Kuznetsov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
It looks like Grant Benton has been cut.
Kuznetsov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Benton can't break the clinch.
Kuznetsov gets through Benton's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benton has had enough of the clinch but Kuznetsov keeps him there for the moment.
Kuznetsov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kuznetsov lands an elbow just above Benton 's eye.
Kuznetsov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
A right hook to the body lands for Kuznetsov.
Benton is trying to drag Kuznetsov to the mat but Kuznetsov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Benton goes for a takedown attempt but Kuznetsov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Benton keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Benton's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kuznetsov under the eye.
Grant Benton is winning the standup battle so far.
Kuznetsov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kuznetsov steps in looking to counter with the mid kick but it doesn't connect.
Kuznetsov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Benton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Benton throws a body punch but Kuznetsov moves out of range.
Kuznetsov lands with an uppercut that bounces Benton off the cage and back into range.
Benton misses with a straight left.
Kuznetsov lands a front kick.
Kuznetsov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Benton gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kuznetsov.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kuznetsov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kuznetsov moves into range and clinches up with Benton.
Kuznetsov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Benton wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Benton is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kuznetsov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Benton breaks the clinch.
Benton shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kuznetsov but Kuznetsov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kuznetsov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Bentons jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Benton just misses with a punch to the body.
Kuznetsov throws out a counter right but Benton avoids it with no problem.
Kuznetsov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Benton.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kuznetsov darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kuznetsov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Benton on the side of the head.
Grant Benton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuznetsov connects with a right hand. Benton shakes it off.
Benton is rocked!
Benton takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Alexandr Kuznetsov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Grant Benton's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!
Kuznetsov throws a body shot but no joy.
Kuznetsov avoids the body shot from Benton.
Benton misses with a wild body shot.
Benton's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kuznetsov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Benton scrambles back to his feet.
Kuznetsov doesn't manage to clinch there - Benton circles away.
Benton throws a nice looking combination but Kuznetsov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kuznetsov tests Benton's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Oh Benton is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kuznetsov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Benton.
Benton is keeping his hands low and just asking to be knocked out. Kuznetsov Raises his leg and lands a stunning axe kick! Benton is out cold, face down on the mat!
Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Alexandr Kuznetsov!
Alexandr Kuznetsov is the new welterweight champion!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
55% |
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