PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Edgar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benson Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Edgar
vs
Henderson

168 cm
22
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
22
164 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Frankie Edgar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Benson Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Steve Smith and Dillan Fox.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Edgar throws a body punch but Henderson moves out of range.

Henderson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Henderson showed some decent athleticism there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Edgar trying to control but Henderson postures up.

Henderson is trying to work for a kimura but Edgar is defending well.
Edgar looks like he's trying to stand up.
Edgar lands one or two decent shots to the body here. Although from his own half guard, he's not going to be causing too much damage.
Edgar is trying to stand back up but Henderson is controlling him
Edgar is not content to let Henderson control the position.
Edgar is pressing down on Henderson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Edgar working a defensive guard here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Edgar moves into the clinch.
Edgar is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Henderson tries to pull guard but Edgar won't allow it.
Henderson fails to pull guard.
Henderson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Edgar.

Edgar lands a takedown into guard.

Henderson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Edgar defends well.

Henderson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Henderson looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Edgar content to stall in guard here.

Henderson pushes Edgar off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Henderson tries to clinch there but Edgar circles away.
Edgar clinches but Henderson breaks the clinch

and Henderson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Edgar throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edgar looking for a sweep. Not yet Edgar, not yet.
Henderson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Edgar is keeping the position for now.
Edgar trying to keep a closed guard but Henderson is proving a slippery customer.
Edgar is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Henderson postures up.
Edgar preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Henderson fails with the takedown.
Frankie Edgar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benson Henderson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Edgar closes the distance and clinches.
Edgar tries to score a body lock takedown but Henderson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Edgar pulls guard.
Edgar tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Henderson advances to half guard.
Edgar is trying to maintain the position but Henderson is very close to passing his half guard.
Henderson is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Edgar misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Henderson is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Edgar looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benson Henderson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

No luck for Edgar with that takedown attempt.

Henderson scores with a takedown into Edgar's guard.
Henderson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Edgar is keeping the position for now.

Henderson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Edgar has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Henderson has managed to get both his arms back between Edgar's legs - danger averted.
Edgar trying to control the position.
Edgar is really struggling to control Henderson but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Edgar is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Henderson defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson passes Edgar's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Henderson is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Henderson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Edgar does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Edgar is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Edgar controlling the position well.
Henderson passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Edgar is looking to reverse the position.
Henderson trying to control the action but Edgar is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Edgar's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Henderson moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edgar tries to improve position but can't.
Henderson tries to advance to mount but Edgar denies him.
Edgar is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Henderson is controlling him well.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Henderson fails with the takedown

and Edgar counters with a shoot takedown. Henderson fights it but they end up in guard.
Edgar is stalling in the full guard.
Henderson trying to strike off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Edgar postures up.

Edgar stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Edgar looks for the body kick but Henderson saw that one coming.
Henderson leaves Edgar with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Henderson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Edgar counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Henderson misses with a takedown

and Edgar counters with a single leg into guard. Henderson didn't expect that.
Frankie Edgar has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benson Henderson.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Henderson is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Edgar dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Henderson with a poor takedown

and Edgar decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Henderson's guard.
Frankie Edgar overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Edgar is stalling in the full guard.
Edgar trying to control the position from guard on top but Henderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Edgar controlling from the top position.
Edgar won't allow Henderson to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Edgar drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Edgar jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Edgar tries to free his leg and advance position but Henderson is retaining full guard.

Henderson looking for a guillotine here but Edgar defends easily.

Henderson pushes Edgar off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Edgar gets the takedown into side control.
Henderson is not content to let Edgar control the position.

Edgar wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Henderson, who protects the arm well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Edgar trying to control the action but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Henderson can't do much from the bottom here.
Edgar in side control, throwing shots but Henderson defends.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Henderson taking punishment in the form of punches.
Henderson throws a couple of strikes even though he's not really in a good position to do so.

Edgar decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Edgar drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Henderson is pushing Edgar's head away, looking to escape. Edgar manages to hold on to the position though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frankie Edgar showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Edgar 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 Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frankie Edgar!