A high tempo performance from Tim Elliott tonight at UFC On ESPN 13 helped him to secure a unanimous decision victory over Ryan Benoit.
Round One:
Benoit comes up short with a powerful punch as Elliott was looking for a kick to the body.
Elliott feeling out with punches and kicks but not connecting. He lands a leg kick. Nice inside leg kick now.
Benoit with a straight punch that just grazes the target. Side kick for Elliott. Leg kick from Benoit.
Head kick attempt from Benoit appeared to land. Elliott tries for a takedown, but Benoit gets away.
Inside leg kick from Elliott. Straight right for Benoit. High body kick from Benoit. Elliott in on a takedown, but Benoit stuffs it.
Elbow strike from Elliott as the break apart. Right hand for Benoit. Inside leg kick from Elliott. Another lands. Now a side kick to the body.
Jabs from Elliott. Heavy body punch from Benoit. Single leg attempt from Elliott and he manages to get Benoit to the mat briefly, but Benoit scrambles back up nicely.
Back to striking, but then Elliott lands another takedown and a few punches to go with it as the round ends.
Round Two:
Benoit goes for a head kick but it misses. Elliott lands a couple of kicks. light oblique kicks from him. Big leg kick lands for Benoit as Elliott tries but fails to get a takedown going.
Jab for Benoit. Elliott still feeling out with kicks and punches a lot to help try to control the range. Benoit steps in with a hook, but Elliott counters with one of his own.
Benoit with an uppercut. Straight punch from Elliott and Benoit does one of his own. Elliott trying to pressure hard now and then manages to get a takedown. Elliott quickly working for a guillotine choke. Benoit attempting to scramble out, but Elliott rolls on top with the choke still in place.
Benoit gets out of the choke, but Elliott remains in full mount. Benoit improves his position. Benoit catches Elliott off-guard with a leg kick and Elliott is grimacing in pain here, but manages to escape.
Back to the feet they go now and they are still keeping a high pace at striking range too. Both exchanging eagerly here, then a late takedown from Elliott and he ends up in a somewhat awkward position, but is able to drop some elbows down on Benoit.
Round Three:
Leg kick from Elliott. Now a front kick to the body. A jumping kick misses though. Now good knees from Elliott. He’s getting confident now. Clinch engaged and Elliott still working hard with strikes in close.
Elliott working against the cage and lands a knee upstairs as Benoit reverses the clinch.
Back to striking range and Elliott seems to have a problem with his hand and is holding onto it a lot here. Benoit tries to take advantage by throwing hard punches and Elliott starts working the jab with frequency now to keep him at bay. He’s still feeling at his other hand though. It’s unclear what’s causing him trouble though.
Leg kicks from Elliott. Front kick to the body now. Straight punch for Elliott and Benoit flurries. Lots of movement still from Elliott. Both men just short with punches. Hard leg kick from Benoit.
Elliott slips on a frontn kick, but gets straight back up. Jabs from Elliott. Hard right hand from Benoit and Elliott looked a bit wobbled there. Hard to tell if he was just playacting there though, but Benoit seems to have gained some confidence from that and is fighting with more urgency now.
However, they end up in the clinch and that slows the action down a bit. Elliott walking Benoit over to the cage, but then Benoit starts teeing off and lands a few good punches before the final bell sounds.
Decision:
This was a good battle from start to finish, but Elliott was keeping a higher pace, pressing the action and landing more frequently to help ensure he emerges with a unanimous decision victory (29-28 x3).
