PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pedro Rodrigues Filho (ranked 863 p4p, 144 weight class) and Michael Bennet (ranked 755 p4p, 125 weight class). Michael Bennet has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Rodrigues Filho
vs
Bennet

190 cm
25
210 lbs
13 - 7 - 0

190 cm
25
209 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pedro Rodrigues Filho!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Bennet!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Wesley Smith and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Filho misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Filho has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bennet looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bennet has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Filho is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Filho misses with an uppercut. Bennet saw that one coming.
Bennet misses with an attempted mid kick.
Nice defenses there by Filho.
Bennet misses with a body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bennet. Filho does a little dance to reset his feet.
Good standup being displayed there by Filho as he connects with a hook.
Filho misses with a shot to the body
and Bennet counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

It looks like Pedro Rodrigues Filho has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Bennet misses its intended target.
Filho fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Filho throws a jab but it's blocked by Bennet.
Filho misses with a wild body shot.
Filho fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bennet on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filho throws a shot to the body.
Bennet throws a body kick that misses.
A quick step to the side and Filho tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Filho is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bennet.
Bennet throws out a counter right but Filho avoids it with no problem.
Filho fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Filho slips under a jab from Bennet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Filho. Bennet does a little dance to reset his feet.
Filho avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Bennet looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bennet swings for the body but Filho moves out of range.
Filho uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bennet.
Filho lands with a shot to the body.
Filho works Bennet's body with a nice hook.
Filho scores with a jab. Bennet acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Bennet throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Filho misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bennet misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Filho.
Bennet swings for the body but Filho moves out of range.
Filho appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Filho scores with the left hand. Bennet knows he should have avoided that one.
Filho keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Filho ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Filho throws a right and a left that Bennet avoids nicely.
Filho's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Filho duly obliges.

It looks like Michael Bennet has been cut.
Bennet has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Filho finds it's way round the side to connect with Bennet's head.
Bennet takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Filho throws a combination that misses
and Bennet counters with a slapping leg kick.
Filho scores with the left hand. Bennet knows he should have avoided that one.
Filho throws a big shot that misses.
It seemed like Bennet was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Filho thuds a left hand into Bennet's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennet lunges at Filho with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Filho's hand.
Bennet steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Filho.
It seemed like Bennet was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
A left lands for Filho.
Filho lands a two punch combo.
Bennet uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Filho.
Filho connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Bennet's hands.
Filho scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Filho takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Filho is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Filho throws a lazy uppercut
and Bennet counters with a stiff right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Filho throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bennet swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Filho blocks a jab.
Filho is looking to counter the offense by Bennet and move into the clinch.
Filho misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filho throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Pedro Rodrigues Filho seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bennet throws a predictable looking body shot
and Filho counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Bennet staying out of range there.
Bennet throws out a loose jab but Filho uses good head movement to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from Filho misses the target.
Filho is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Filho scores with a jab.
Filho tries to clinch there but Bennet circles away.
Filho comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Bennet sizes up Filho with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bennet jabs Filho right on the nose. Filho blinks but takes it well.
Filho swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Bennet counters with a nice low kick that buckles Filho's knee momentarily.
Filho scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pedro Rodrigues Filho dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Bennet misses with a left hand
and Filho counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Filho misses with a body shot.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bennet! But no joy.
Filho keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bennet keeps Filho at a distance using the push kick.
Filho misses with a double jab.
Bennet flicks out a counter leg kick but Filho steps away.
Filho fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Bennet on the side of the head.
Bennet throws an off balance right hand
and Filho counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Filho's corner calls for a 1-2. Filho obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Filho throws a jab but it's blocked by Bennet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Filho looks to land a right hand but Bennet moved out of range.
Bennet on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
The crowd cheers as Bennet lands an impressive looking overhand right. Filho doesn't seem phased though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bennet takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Bennet lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennet throws a body kick that misses.
Filho swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Bennet keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Bennet works the jab nicely.

Pedro Rodrigues Filho's cut is getting worse.
Pedro Rodrigues Filho is winning the standup battle so far.
Filho misses with a double jab.
Bennet tries to clinch up.
Bennet scores with a hook to the body. Filho takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Filho misses with an uppercut. Bennet saw that one coming.
Filho misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bennet! But no joy.
Bennet scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Bennet misses with an uppercut.
Bennet slips a jab from Filho.
Some wild striking there from Filho.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filho getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

Bennet fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Filho, pushing him back against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Filho throws a punch but it's blocked by Bennet.
Bennet blocks a body shot from Filho.
Filho lands a nice uppercut.
Filho swings wildly with an uppercut but Bennet uses good head movement to avoid it.
Bennet working aggressively here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Bennet.
Bennet can't find room to land a body shot as Filho controls the action.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bennet.
Bennet takes a shot to the head.
Filho is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bennet can do to turn this around?
Bennet misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Bennet lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Filho backwards.
Bennet blocking some punches.
Bennet tries to work over Filho's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Filho working aggressively here.
Bennet lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bennet lands a shoulder strike.
Filho lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Bennet backwards.
Bennet tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Filho's elbow.
Filho prevents a body shot from Bennet.
Bennet blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Filho misses with a hook from the clinch.
Filho has a couple of punches blocked by Bennet.
Bennet throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Filhos head.
Filho lands a nice shot to the body.
Filho throws a punch but it's blocked by Bennet.
A nice right hand lands inside from Filho.
Nice body punch from Bennet.
Bennet lands a body shot.
Bennet blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Filho working aggressively here.
Bennet doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Bennet lands a body shot.
Bennet tries to throw a body punch but Filho avoids it by throwing Bennet back against the cage.
Bennet blocking some punches.

Bennet's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Filho crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Bennet - the referee stops the clock and Filho gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Bennet. Filho manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Filho misses with a lunging right hand
and Bennet counters with a nice low kick that buckles Filho's knee momentarily.
Filho tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bennet was well out of range. Poor timing from Filho.
Filho lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Filho.
Filho throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Bennet makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Bennet keeps Filho at a distance using the push kick.
A punch lands to the side of Filho 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Bennet punishes Filho's body with a nice straight punch.
Bennet dips to his left and cracks Filho with an uppercut!
Bennet thows a body kick. Filho tries to catch it but that hurt him.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Bennet. Filho shrugs it off though.
Bennet cracks a nice hook into Filho's ribs.
Bennet explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michael Bennet will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Bennet throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A decent looking cross lands there for Bennet.
Filho fails with an attempt to clinch.
Filho steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bennet.
Bennet cracks the inside of Filho's front leg.
Filho steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bennet.
Bennet throws a wild body kick that Filho sees coming a mile off.
Bennet with a hook.
Filho misses with a looping right.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Filho scores with a jab. Bennet acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Filho misses with a body shot.
Filho misses with a looping left.
Pedro Rodrigues Filho is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jab from Filho.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Bennet.
Bennet slips under a jab.
A nice side step and Bennet releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Bennet takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Bennet steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Filho.
Filho throws a lazy right hand but Bennet sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bennet takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Filho throws a hook to the side of Bennet's head but Bennet sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Bennet avoids the body shot from Filho.
Filho thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bennet throws out a counter right but Filho avoids it with no problem.
Bennet moves away from the strike by Filho.
Bennet connects with a nice looking jab.

Pedro Rodrigues Filho's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
A slow jab from Bennet misses its intended target.
Bennet takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Filho gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Bennet.
Bennet dodges the punch combination from Filho.
Filho will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Filho misses with a hook
letting Bennet counter with a right hand.
Bennet throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Bennet is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Filho.
The fighters circling - Filho throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

Filho moves into the clinch.
Filho goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Bennet works on Filho's body with a couple of short punches.
Bennet scores with a shoulder strike.

Jeez, Pedro Rodrigues Filho's cut is really nasty now. The referee must be thinking about getting that checked.
Filho swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Bennet blocking some punches.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Filho.
Bennet misses with the head strike.
Bennet has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Bennet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A short right from Bennet.
Bennet tries to work over Filho's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Filho misses with a punch to the body.
Bennet misses with a body punch.
Michael Bennet seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Filho prevents a body shot from Bennet.
A head punch on the inside from Filho fails to land.
Bennet fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Filho prevents a body shot from Bennet.
Filho misses with a body punch.
A short right from Bennet on the inside.
Bennet blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Filho lands a body punch.
Filho working aggressively here.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Bennet.
Filho throws a head punch that misses.
Bennet swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Filho misses with the head strike.
Filho misses with a hook to the ribs.
Filho lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Bennet or not.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bennet blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Filho misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bennet lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Bennet cracks Filho with a nice body shot.
Filho prevents a body shot from Bennet.
Bennet lands a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Filho scores with a hook to the body.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Bennet creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Pedro Rodrigues Filho's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:36 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Michael Bennet!
Michael Bennet decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.