PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benson Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Poker Stars (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Henderson
vs
Stars

175 cm
22
164 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

188 cm
22
181 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Benson Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Poker Stars!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stars shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Henderson as he avoids it easily.
Stars tries to clinch up.

Henderson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Henderson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Stars can't escape the position.
Henderson avoids the attempt from Stars to control.
Henderson is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Henderson with the ground and pound from mount.
Henderson with shots to the head and body - Stars looks very uncomfortable down there.
Henderson working the ground and pound effectively.
Henderson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Stars is looking to escape.
Stars is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Henderson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Stars looks a forlorn figure.
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!

Henderson goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Stars turns into him and now he's in Henderson's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson wants to get back to his feet but Stars is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Stars pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Henderson is keeping the position for now.
Henderson wants to stand and escape but Stars is having none of it.
Henderson throwing short punches from the bottom.
Henderson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Stars.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson wants to sweep but no luck.

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

Henderson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Stars stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Henderson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

Henderson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Henderson is breathing heavily.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Stars keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Stars is on top in guard.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Stars from controlling successfully.
Stars passes Henderson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson striking from the bottom.
Henderson wants to get back to full guard.
Stars is trying to control the action in half guard but Henderson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stars passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Henderson!
Henderson sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Stars prevents Henderson from improving his position.
Henderson trying to hold on to Stars's head to control him but Stars postures up.

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.
Stars is keen to just control but Henderson is a slippery customer.

Henderson looking for submissions off his back.
Stars is keen to just control but Henderson is a slippery customer.
Stars trying to pass the guard but Henderson defending well.
Stars prevents Henderson from improving his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benson Henderson dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Henderson scores with a takedown into Stars's guard.
Henderson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Henderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stars swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Henderson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Stars is trying to control the position but Henderson postures up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Henderson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Stars's head.
Stars keeping full guard, as Henderson tries to pass.
Stars wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stars keeping full guard, as Henderson tries to pass.
Henderson chips away with some ground and pound.
Henderson is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Stars keeping full guard, as Henderson tries to pass.
Stars wants to sweep here but Henderson controlling him for the moment.
Henderson slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Henderson tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Henderson wants to stand but Stars is controlling his arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stars is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Henderson off and has taken his back!
Stars controlling well, preventing Henderson from escaping the position.
A lull in the action here.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Henderson here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Henderson wants to get back to his feet.

Henderson is in a bad position with Stars working for a choke. Henderson manages to spin nicely into guard and the danger is over for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson works over Stars with some ground and pound from guard.
Henderson's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Henderson drops back looking for a leg! Stars is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stars manages to kick Henderson off! Henderson jumps back into Stars's guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Henderson misses with a low kick.
Stars misses with a takedown attempt

and Henderson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Henderson lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Henderson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson drops an elbow to the side of Stars's head.
Stars wants to improve his position but Henderson is controlling well.
Henderson slips a nice elbow through Stars's hands, connecting with Stars's forehead.
Henderson drops an elbow to the side of Stars's head.
Henderson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Stars on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Stars taking some punishment here, with Henderson in his half guard.
Henderson winds up and cracks Stars with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benson Henderson dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Stars shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Henderson counters with a single leg into guard. Stars didn't expect that.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Henderson's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Stars working a defensive guard here.
Henderson is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Henderson stays in close to Stars's body and controls the position.
Stars is trying to keep Henderson in close.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henderson makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Henderson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stars is working an open guard so Henderson takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Poker Stars seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stars fails with the takedown

and Henderson decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Stars's guard.
Stars is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Stars is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Henderson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stars is keeping the position for now.
Henderson lands a couple of elbows.
Stars not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Benson Henderson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is stalling in the full guard.

Henderson stands up from Stars's guard - Henderson perhaps looking for a knockout.

Stars looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Henderson is positioning himself well to prevent Stars advancing to mount.
Henderson trying to hold on to Stars's head to control him but Stars postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is refusing to be controlled, as Stars sits in half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Henderson manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Stars looking to pass the guard.
Henderson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Stars from controlling successfully.

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.
Stars wants to pass the guard but Henderson is keeping the position.
Stars looking to sit in guard and control but Henderson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Henderson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Stars gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Henderson counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Stars!
Poker Stars has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Benson Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Poker Stars.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henderson tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benson Henderson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Henderson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 William Peck scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 30:27

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