PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Emerson Rovaldo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benson Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benson Henderson has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rovaldo
vs
Henderson

180 cm
22
163 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
164 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Doom Fightwear

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Emerson Rovaldo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Benson Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Ian Loll and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Rovaldo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Henderson somewhat.
Henderson connects with a high kick.

It looks like Emerson Rovaldo has been cut.
Henderson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Henderson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Rovaldo's waist but Rovaldo gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Henderson off to one side.
Emerson Rovaldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benson Henderson.

Rovaldo pushes Henderson up against the cage in a clinch.
Henderson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rovaldo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rovaldo obliges.
Henderson looks gassed!
Rovaldo tries to land knees in the clinch but Henderson avoids the damage to the body.
Rovaldo gets underhooks to prevent Henderson's takedown attempt.
Rovaldo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rovaldo.
Rovaldo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rovaldo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Rovaldo pulls Henderson into guard.
Rovaldo pulls Henderson in close to prevent any damage.
Henderson trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rovaldo 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.
Rovaldo is pulling down on Henderson's head to control his posture.

That's two 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.
Rovaldo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Emerson Rovaldo.
Henderson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Rovaldo has managed to clinch.
Rovaldo with a knee to the head.
Rovaldo dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Knees to the body from Rovaldo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rovaldo pulls guard.
Rovaldo is controlling Henderson's posture.
Rovaldo's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Henderson is looking to stand up but Rovaldo won't let him.
Rovaldo on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Rovaldo tries to get out of the position.
Rovaldo is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rovaldo wriggles free and stands up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Henderson is defended easily by Rovaldo.

Rovaldo drives through and clinches with Henderson against the cage.
Rovaldo putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Henderson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Rovaldo has Henderson pressed against the cage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Rovaldo for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
Rovaldo crunches a lovely knee into Henderson's ribcage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emerson Rovaldo dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Emerson Rovaldo's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rovaldo closes the distance and pushes Henderson back into the cage.
Henderson misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rovaldo.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Rovaldo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rovaldo looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Henderson.

Rovaldo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Come on Rovaldo - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Rovaldo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Henderson is breathing heavily.
Come on Rovaldo - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Emerson Rovaldo.
Henderson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rovaldo avoids it really well and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rovaldo wants to clinch up but Henderson keeps it at a distance.

Rovaldo has managed to clinch.

Rovaldo pulls guard successfully.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Rovaldo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rovaldo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Henderson trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Rovaldo manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Henderson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rovaldo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rovaldo won't allow Henderson to get back to his feet.
Rovaldo sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Henderson wants to get back to his feet but Rovaldo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Emerson Rovaldo dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Emerson Rovaldo's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Rovaldo closes the distance and clinches.
Rovaldo effectively controlling the action here.
Henderson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Henderson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Henderson drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Henderson wants a takedown but no success here.
A bit of stalling here from Rovaldo.
Knees to the body from Rovaldo.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Rovaldo takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Emerson Rovaldo.
Rovaldo lands with a kick to the temple. Henderson shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Rovaldo moves into the clinch.
Henderson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rovaldo lands a body shot in the clinch.
Rovaldo stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Rovaldo scores with a knee to the head.
Rovaldo dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Rovaldo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Henderson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rovaldo obliges.
Rovaldo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Rovaldo pushes Henderson back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rovaldo lands a knee to the body.
Rovaldo stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Rovaldo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Henderson lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Rovaldo landing knees to the body.
Rovaldo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
A knee to the head by Rovaldo.

Rovaldo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Rovaldo closes the distance and pushes Henderson back into the cage.
Benson Henderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rovaldo working Henderson over with knees to the body.
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!
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Rovaldo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Henderson takes a knee to the side of the body.
Rovaldo lands a left hand.

Rovaldo breaks from the clinch.
Henderson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rovaldo tries to avoid it but Henderson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rovaldo to the ground. Rovaldo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Emerson Rovaldo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benson Henderson.
Rovaldo throws a nice head kick!
Rovaldo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Henderson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Rovaldo moves into the clinch.
Henderson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Henderson letting Rovaldo take a breather here.
Emerson Rovaldo has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rovaldo obliges.

Rovaldo breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rovaldo moves out of range of the leg kick from Henderson.

Rovaldo gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Rovaldo lands a nice knee to the body.
Rovaldo controlling the action here for a moment.
Henderson is working for takedown but Rovaldo is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rovaldo landing knees to the head.
Rovaldo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Rovaldo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Henderson tries a knee to the head but Rovaldo blocks it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Rovaldo obliges.
Rovaldo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Henderson's face.
Henderson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Henderson changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rovaldo fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Rovaldo has managed to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rovaldo scores a nice knee to the body.
Emerson Rovaldo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Rovaldo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Rovaldo has closed the distance and engaged Henderson in a clinch.
Henderson drops down looking for an ankle pick but Rovaldo pulls his leg out and moves away.

Rovaldo moves into range and clinches up with Henderson.
Rovaldo stops a takedown attempt from Henderson.
Rovaldo leaning his opponent against the cage.
Rovaldo is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Henderson can do to turn this around?
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henderson trying to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Emerson Rovaldo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Rovaldo 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight 30:26
Judge William Peck scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Emerson Rovaldo!