PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Benson Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matt Stone (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benson Henderson could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Matt Stone's chin.

Henderson
vs
Stone

175 cm
22
164 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Benson Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Matt Stone!
The judges for this bout are Gregory Folan, Trevor Gratis and Robert Douchet.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stone is looking to clinch but Henderson is avoiding it.
Stone looks to land a combination but Henderson avoids it well.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Henderson.
Stone looks to land a combination but Henderson avoids it well.
Stone is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Stone closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Stone is trying to force a seperation but Henderson has the dominant position.
Henderson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Stone walks away with a smile on his face. Henderson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Stone misses with the combination.
Stone lands a jab to Henderson's midsection.
Henderson shoots in but no luck this time.
Stone lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Henderson tries to clinch up.

Henderson drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Stone can do anything to dispel that myth.
Henderson tries to advance to mount but Stone denies him.
Stone gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

It looks like Matt Stone has been cut.
Stone is looking to get to half guard.
Henderson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Stone is looking to get to half guard.
Henderson controlling the pace for now.
Henderson lands a big elbow.

Stone is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Henderson has hold of Stone's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Stone manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Henderson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Henderson looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Henderson is breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Stone tries to lock up and control but Henderson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson manages to capitalize on a mistake by Stone to take his back!
Henderson struggling to keep hold of the position.

Stone is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Stone wants to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Stone trying to control the hands but Henderson breaks the grip.
Stone is really stuck here.
Henderson punches the canvas rather than the man.
Stone tries to roll but Henderson sticks to his back.
Henderson lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Henderson.
Stone covering up well and avoiding damage.

Henderson is persistently looking for the submission but Stone is defending it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stone is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benson Henderson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matt Stone's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stone's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Stone duly obliges.

Henderson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Stone napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Henderson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown but Stone shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Henderson blocks a jab.
Stone throws a wild body kick that Henderson sees coming a mile off.
Henderson fails with the takedown.
Stone scores with a three punch combo!
Stone misses with a double jab.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Some wild striking there from Stone.
Stone misses with a series of wild punches.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stone but Stone pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benson Henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Henderson or perhaps it was just good defense by Stone which made him look bad.
Stone looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Matt Stone seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henderson fails with a takedown attempt.
Stone misses with a two punch combination.
Stone tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Stone misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Stone scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Henderson doesn't seem bothered though.
Henderson lands a high kick!
Stone throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Stone throws a sloppy head kick

and Henderson counters with a shoot takedown. Stone fights it but they end up in guard.
Stone wants to sweep here but Henderson controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Stone is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stone looking for a sweep. Not yet Stone, not yet.
Stone controls Henderson momentarily but Henderson frees himself.
Henderson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Henderson forces his way into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Stone tries to get to full guard but Henderson has control of the leg.
Henderson wants to pass to mount but Stone is defending the position.
Stone tries to roll over but Henderson keeps him under control.
Henderson passes to side control.
Stone struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Henderson gets to mount! Stone was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Henderson wants to control the pace but Stone is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson landing strikes from the mount.
Stone tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Henderson working Stone over with strikes here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benson Henderson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matt Stone's cut.
That's time! Henderson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nice straight punches there by Stone. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Stone.
Henderson tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Stone swivels and escapes.
Henderson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stone pinned against the cage. Stone gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Stone lands a jab-cross combination.
Nice shot lands for Stone.
Henderson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stone's waist but Stone gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Henderson off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Benson Henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stone defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Henderson.
Stone paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Stone misses with the combination.
Henderson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stone with a hook.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Stone misses with a double jab

and Henderson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Stone won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stone is looking to reverse the position.
Henderson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Henderson controls the position from side control.
Henderson wants to control but Stone is keeping him busy.
You can see the frustration on Stone's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Benson Henderson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.

Henderson stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Stone swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Stone throws a body kick that misses.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Stone but Stone pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Stone displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Stone is looking to clinch.
Henderson moves out of range as Stone strikes.
Stone throws a low kick but Henderson avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stone.
Henderson shoots in looking for a takedown. Stone tries to sprawl out of it but Henderson keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stone manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Stone is looking to clinch but Henderson is avoiding it.
Stone displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Henderson.
Henderson moves out of range as Stone throws a body kick.
Henderson gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Stone scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Stone throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Henderson lands a head kick!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
No joy there for Stone, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Henderson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stone sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Stone's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Stone duly obliges.
Stone tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Henderson was well out of range. Poor timing from Stone.
Stone will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stone throws a head kick that misses

and Henderson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Stone's guard now.
Stone looking to hit a scissor sweep but Henderson is one step ahead there.
Henderson passes Stone's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Matt Stone has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henderson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benson Henderson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Henderson, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benson Henderson!