PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Walker Smith (ranked 2327 p4p, 236 weight class) and Lorenzo Benedetti (ranked 4153 p4p, 345 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smith
vs
Benedetti

180 cm
19
157 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

173 cm
17
150 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Conviction

Sportivité
Big Chief Nutrition & Laundry Services (80%)

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Walker Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Lorenzo Benedetti!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Gregory Folan and Ian Loll.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith swings for the body but Benedetti moves out of range.
Benedetti avoids the body shot from Smith.
Smith throws a lazy right hand but Benedetti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Benedetti delivers a nice body kick.
Smith waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Benedetti.
Benedetti moves forwards but Smith connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Smith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Benedetti blocks a jab.
Smith fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Benedetti manages to avoid it.
Smith looks to land a left hand but Benedetti moved out of range nicely.
Benedetti lands a jab to the nose.
Smith avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Smith tries to counter with a takedown but Benedetti is quick to defend against it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smith blocks a head kick by Benedetti.
Benedetti connects with a solid leg kick.
Benedetti misses with a low kick.
Benedetti scores with a leg kick.
Benedetti looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Smith lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smith misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith walks into a left hand.
Benedetti fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Smith is out of range.
Smith misses with a straight left.
Benedetti flicks out a counter leg kick but Smith steps away.
Smith throws a shot to the body.
Smith works the jab nicely.
Benedetti lands with a nice body kick.
Smith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Benedetti scores with a hook to the body. Smith takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Lorenzo Benedetti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Smith has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Smith there as he acknowledges the shot.
Smith misses the body punch
letting Benedetti counter with a right hand.
Benedetti takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Walker Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Benedetti lands with a good body shot.
Benedetti bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Benedetti jabs Smith right on the nose. Smith blinks but takes it well.
Benedetti swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Smith.
Benedetti takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Smith shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Benedetti napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Benedetti is looking for a sweep.
Smith working away.
Benedetti is looking for a sweep.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Benedetti is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Smith is really struggling to control Benedetti but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Benedetti tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smith tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Smith has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Smith taking a breather here.
Smith is looking to take a break and control but Benedetti is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Benedetti is trying to improve his position.
Benedetti is still trying to improve position.
Smith wants to lay and pray for a moment but Benedetti keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Smith just content to control the position.

Smith is trying to get an arm triangle but Benedetti is defending well.
Smith trying to control the action but Benedetti is working from the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Benedetti is looking for a sweep.
Smith just content to control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Benedetti moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Smith jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Walker Smith will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Benedetti moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Benedetti misses with an attempted mid kick.
Benedetti throws a push kick but Smith slaps the foot to one side.
Benedetti throws a hook to the side of Smith's head but Smith sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Benedetti was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Benedetti feints a counter leg kick.
Smith paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Smith fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Benedetti looks for the body kick but Smith saw that one coming.
Lorenzo Benedetti seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nice defenses there by Benedetti.
Benedetti stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Benedetti wants it to stay on the feet.
Smith scores with a jab to the jaw.
Benedetti scores with a jab. Smith acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Benedetti ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Benedetti lands a jab.
Benedetti ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
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!
Benedetti misses with a straight left.
Smith fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Benedetti lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Nice defenses there by Benedetti.
Benedetti avoids the body shot from Smith.
Benedetti lands a jab to the nose.
Smith misses with a wild body shot.
Smith looks to throw the jab but Benedetti is out of range.
Benedetti tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Benedetti connects with an inside leg kick.
Benedetti pushes Smith away with a front kick.
Benedetti fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Smith checks it well.
Smith throws a body punch but Benedetti moves out of range.
Smith is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Benedetti.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Benedetti.
Benedetti uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Smith.
Benedetti fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Smith has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Smith missing with a left hand there. Benedetti was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Smith misses with a shot to the body
and Benedetti counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benedetti moves out of range of the strikes.
Smith on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Benedetti slips a straight right by Smith.
Benedetti let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Benedetti throws a jab when Smith was well out of range.
Benedetti ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Benedetti waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Smith.
Smith takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
An inside leg kick lands from Benedetti.
Smith tries to bum rush Benedetti with a series of wild strikes but Benedetti uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Benedetti throws a lazy right hand but Smith sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Smith drops down looking for a counter takedown but Benedetti sprawls and moves away.
Benedetti lands a jab.
Benedetti feints and then cracks Smith's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Smith down.
Benedetti throws a big shot that misses.
Smith throws a body shot but no joy.
Smith works Benedetti's body with a nice hook.
Benedetti takes a body punch but keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti slips a straight right by Smith.
Benedetti lands a front kick.
Benedetti lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Benedetti moves away.
Benedetti looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Smith throws a looping overhand right but Benedetti ducks down to avoid it.
Smith throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smith ducks under a wild hook from Benedetti.
Benedetti slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Smith walks into a straight right hand from Benedetti.
Benedetti wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Smith is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A jab from Smith misses.
Benedetti stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Smith ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Benedetti moves away.
A good leg kick by Benedetti.
Benedetti misses with a hook. Smith ducked under it nicely.
Benedetti takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Benedetti takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti misses with a looping right.
Smith tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Benedetti was well out of range. Poor timing from Smith.
Benedetti takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Smith looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Benedetti lands with a hook. Smith tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Smith shoots in looking for a takedown. Benedetti tries to sprawl out of it but Smith keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Benedetti 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 Walker Smith. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smith moves out of range as Benedetti throws a body kick.
Smith loads up on a big right hand but Benedetti slips the punch.
Benedetti ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Benedetti throws a big counter head kick but Smith avoids it with no problem.
Smith uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Benedetti.
Smith throws a hook but Benedetti avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A slapping leg kick lands for Benedetti.
Smith throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smith uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Benedetti.
Benedetti throws a body shot but no joy.
Smith drops down looking for a counter takedown but Benedetti sprawls and moves away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lorenzo Benedetti showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Smith's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Benedetti lands a nice looking body kick.
Smith will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Benedetti swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Smith.
Benedetti attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Benedetti showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Smith.
Smith moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Smith slips a jab from Benedetti.
Benedetti scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Benedetti gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smith trying to control but Benedetti is working from the bottom.
Smith is pushing down on Benedetti's leg trying to pass to half guard. Benedetti is fighting to maintain full guard but Smith has managed to sneak the leg through.
Benedetti gets full guard.
Smith wants to control from the top but Benedetti keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Benedetti is keeping the position.
Walker Smith overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Benedetti is pulling down on Smith's head to control his posture.
Smith wants to control from the top but Benedetti keeps moving.
Benedetti is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Benedetti is controlling Smith's posture.

Smith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Benedetti pulls Smith in close to prevent any damage.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Smith takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

Smith closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Benedetti's guard.
Smith trying to control but Benedetti is working from the bottom.
Smith tries to free his leg and advance position but Benedetti is retaining full guard.
Benedetti bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smith's guard.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Benedetti's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Benedetti manages to get himself to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Benedetti looking to control but Smith passes into half guard.
Smith wants to control but Benedetti is keeping him busy.
Smith tries to pass the half guard into mount. Benedetti knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Benedetti manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Benedetti is keeping the position.
Smith wants to control from the top but Benedetti keeps moving.
Smith pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Benedetti is keeping the position for now.
Smith trying to control but Benedetti is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Benedetti looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Let's hope that Benedetti has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Benedetti is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Benedetti keeping full guard, as Smith tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Benedetti managing to control the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Benedetti wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Walker Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Smith 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!