PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joesph Ely (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benson Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Ely
vs
Henderson

176 cm
21
145 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

175 cm
29
133 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Joesph Ely!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Benson Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Chris Saunders, Ryoma Takatsuka and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ely tries to clinch up but Henderson circles away and keeps his distance.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ely sprawls well. Ely wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Henderson gets slowly back to his feet.
Henderson wants to clinch but Ely slips to the side
and Ely counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Ely closes the distance and clinches.

Henderson drags the fight down to the ground.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Henderson trying to keep a closed guard but Ely is proving a slippery customer.
Ely passes Henderson's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Henderson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Henderson is staying active underneath Ely, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Henderson trying to control here.

Henderson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ely landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Henderson trying to get back to full guard but Ely takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

Ely goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Henderson is on top in guard.
Henderson postures up in Ely's guard and throws a big left but Ely blocks it.

Henderson has gone for a leg lock! Ely slips out almost immediately though and dives into Henderson's guard.
Ely wanted to stand there but Henderson had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ely is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ely wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.

Henderson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ely doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ely manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Henderson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Henderson trying to keep a closed guard but Ely is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ely is in close to Henderson's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Henderson looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ely passes into side control.
Henderson looks winded!
Ely lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Ely swings around for an armbar but Henderson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Ely's guard.
Ely is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Henderson is controlling him.

Ely has his foot on Henderson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Henderson works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Henderson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ely striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Ely keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ely bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Henderson's guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ely's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ely content to stall in guard here.
Ely tries to stand but Henderson is controlling from the bottom.

Henderson throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Ely escapes and throws Henderson's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Ely wants to stand but Henderson is controlling his arm.
Henderson is trying to improve his position.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Ely wants to stand but Henderson has his arm trapped.

Ely wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Henderson, who protects the arm well.
Ely is looking to take a break and control but Henderson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Henderson is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Ely off and has taken his back!
Ely turns into Henderson and is now in his guard.
Ely wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.

Henderson has an active guard here but Ely has managed to pass into half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Ely thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Henderson's head.
Henderson tries to get to full guard but Ely has control of the leg.

Henderson actively working from the bottom here.

Ely is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Henderson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Henderson punching from the bottom.

Ely is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Henderson trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Henderson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Henderson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ely lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Ely is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Ely swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joesph Ely!
Joesph Ely retains his bantamweight title!