Ali Akbar Rosady
David Benavidez delivered a dominant performance, stopping Anthony Yarde via technical knockout at 1:59 of the seventh round in their highly anticipated light heavyweight clash at the AMB Arena in Riyardy, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday evening, November 22. The victory marked Benavidez’s 31st professional win without a loss, further cementing his status as a formidable force in the boxing world.
The main event bout, broadcast live on pay-per-view via DAZN, featured a compelling stylistic matchup between Benavidez, a relentless pressure fighter known for his high volume and aggressive approach, and Yarde, a powerful British light heavyweight contender. Benavidez (30-0 prior to the fight, 31-0 after) entered the ring with an unblemished record, while Yarde (27-3 prior to the fight, 27-4 after) sought to overcome a significant challenge on an international stage. The event was a testament to Saudi Arabia’s growing prominence in hosting major combat sports spectacles.
From the opening bell, Benavidez, often referred to as "El Bandera Roja," asserted his presence, immediately applying forward pressure. Despite Yarde, known as "The Beast," appearing visibly larger and a natural light heavyweight, Benavidez wasted no time in dictating the pace. He systematically cut off the ring, cornering Yarde early and initiating exchanges of heavy blows. Benavidez landed a looping right hand over the top, demonstrating his reach and accuracy, though it lacked significant concussive force in the initial moments. His consistent body work, a hallmark of his aggressive style, forced Yarde to respond in kind. Yarde, for his part, managed to land a clean right hand up top as Benavidez targeted the body, showcasing glimpses of his counter-punching ability. Benavidez concluded the round with a sharp jab and a combination, visibly moving Yarde back throughout the three minutes. Independent ringside scoring from outlets like MMA Fighting consistently favored Benavidez, awarding him Round 1 with a 10-9 score.
Round 2 saw Yarde attempting to establish his jab early, exhibiting good movement and popping his punches. However, Benavidez maintained his methodical approach, initially appearing to operate in a lower gear. He continued to maneuver Yarde into the corners, unleashing combinations. Yarde demonstrated solid defensive skills, blocking many of Benavidez’s initial flurries and countering effectively to create space. Benavidez’s persistent body assaults were a recurring theme, designed to wear down his larger opponent. Despite Yarde’s defensive prowess, Benavidez’s relentless forward motion ensured he was consistently on the attack. As the round progressed, Benavidez once again pinned Yarde against the ropes, unloading a barrage of punches, which Yarde largely rolled with. While Yarde was not significantly hurt, his inability to consistently score back or deter Benavidez’s advances meant he was not winning the exchanges. MMA Fighting again scored the round 10-9 for Benavidez, extending his lead to 20-18 overall.
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The third round continued in a similar vein. Yarde initiated with a soft right to the body, attempting to vary his attack, but his punches lacked the power to deter Benavidez. Benavidez stepped in with a hard right hand, which Yarde skillfully rolled, highlighting his defensive acumen. Benavidez intensified his aggression, and while Yarde displayed commendable defensive work, he found himself repeatedly cornered. Benavidez dug to the body with renewed vigor, forcing Yarde to mix his levels defensively. Despite Yarde’s continued blocking, Benavidez’s volume increased, landing more combinations. Benavidez leaned into several power shots, which Yarde absorbed, demonstrating his toughness. Although Yarde was not getting severely punished, he was unable to shift the momentum, consistently losing rounds due to Benavidez’s higher output and effective pressure. MMA Fighting scored it 10-9 for Benavidez, bringing the cumulative score to 30-27 in his favor.
Benavidez resumed his march in Round 4, relentlessly pressing forward. Yarde continued to work his jab and displayed good head movement to slip incoming shots. A critical issue for Yarde, however, was his inability to inflict significant punishment on Benavidez, who seemed impervious to his counter-attacks. Benavidez found success with a nice combination after once again cornering Yarde. Ringside commentary, at times, highlighted Yarde’s defensive efforts, even as he was clearly losing rounds. Benavidez maintained his unyielding pressure, consistently forcing Yarde into the corners and unleashing combinations. Yarde’s lack of big counter-swings was evident, prompting Benavidez to openly wave him on, inviting a more aggressive exchange. Benavidez then began to elevate his intensity, engaging in close-quarters dirty boxing, notably delivering a rapid-fire chain of uppercuts in tight. MMA Fighting scored the round 10-9 for Benavidez, pushing his lead to 40-36.
Round 5 mirrored the preceding rounds, with Benavidez methodically backing Yarde up and working him over with combinations. Yarde continued to avoid being overwhelmed, but Benavidez consistently landed at a significantly higher clip. The pattern of the fight appeared established, with Benavidez dominating the exchanges through superior volume and pressure. The commentary again reflected a disconnect, praising Yarde’s resilience while he comprehensively lost another round. Benavidez’s relentless attack ensured Yarde remained on the defensive, unable to mount any sustained offense. MMA Fighting scored the round 10-9 for Benavidez, bringing the total to 50-45.
The sixth round initiated with Yarde landing his best punch of the fight thus far, a powerful right hand that momentarily seemed to hurt Benavidez. For the first time, Benavidez briefly backed up, finding himself against the ropes. However, Benavidez quickly recovered, unleashing a combination off the ropes that reversed the momentum, pushing Yarde back. Benavidez momentarily switched to a southpaw stance before returning to orthodox, landing a sharp right hand followed by a left hook. As Benavidez pressed forward, Yarde met him with increased frequency, firing back. Benavidez, ever the showman, waved Yarde on, encouraging a grittier exchange. He then landed a solid left, which Yarde answered. Benavidez pinned Yarde against the ropes again, unloading a furious assault. As the fighters broke, Yarde took a deep breath, now bleeding from the nose. Benavidez continued to press, but Yarde landed another clean right hand, indicating a shift towards a more intense, back-and-forth "fist fight." However, Benavidez quickly regained control, putting the hammer down. Yarde began to cover up, appearing fatigued, and showed swelling around his eye, in addition to the bleeding nose. Benavidez intensified his attack, and the referee moved in close as the round concluded, signaling the impending danger for Yarde. MMA Fighting scored the round 10-9 for Benavidez, increasing his overall lead to 60-54.
Round 7 commenced with Yarde visibly tired and beaten up, particularly around his left orbital bone, which showed significant swelling. The referee consulted with the ringside doctor, who ultimately cleared Yarde to continue, despite the visible damage and pouring blood from his nose. Benavidez, sensing the imminent end, immediately went on the attack. Yarde, displaying immense courage, attempted to swing back, a decision that proved detrimental. Benavidez landed a combination that sent Yarde to the canvas. In the heat of the moment, Benavidez landed an additional punch while Yarde was already down, prompting the referee to deduct a point. Despite the point deduction, Benavidez remained in complete control. Upon the restart, Benavidez continued his hunt, though briefly appearing to slow slightly. He landed a powerful jab and a particularly nasty body shot, followed by a series of relentless combinations. Yarde focused solely on defense, blocking many of the incoming blows, but Benavidez’s volume was overwhelming. A huge left hook landed cleanly, forcing Yarde to cover up completely. Seeing Yarde overwhelmed and unable to respond effectively, the referee stepped in decisively, waving off the contest and awarding David Benavidez a TKO victory at 1:59 of the seventh round.
In the post-fight interview, Benavidez acknowledged Anthony Yarde’s resilience, crediting him for delivering a tough fight. He assessed his own performance with a B+, stating his desire to deliver a knockout given the pre-fight discussions. The victory improved Benavidez’s perfect professional record to 31-0. Following his triumph, Benavidez made a significant announcement regarding his future plans: he declared his intention to move up to the cruiserweight division (200 lbs) to challenge Gilberto Ramirez for the WBA and WBO titles, targeting a May 2nd date. This potential move signifies a bold new chapter for Benavidez, further highlighting his ambition to conquer multiple weight classes. For Anthony Yarde, the loss marks a setback in his light heavyweight campaign, requiring a regrouping strategy before his next outing.
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