PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jeff Bennington (ranked 2867 p4p, 329 weight class) and Mark Henderson (ranked 2593 p4p, 302 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Bennington
vs
Henderson

178 cm
26
162 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

170 cm
26
158 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jeff Bennington !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Mark Henderson !
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Santiago Holmes and Michael Johnstone.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bennington scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Bennington working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Henderson is trying to get back to half guard.

Bennington working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Henderson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Bennington swings around for an armbar but Henderson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Bennington 's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Bennington looking for a guillotine here but Henderson defends easily.

Bennington working for submissions but it's allowed Henderson to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennington tries to get to full guard but Henderson has control of the leg.
Henderson trying to control the action but Bennington is working from the bottom.
Henderson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Bennington is not content to let Henderson control the position.
Henderson wants to pass to mount but Bennington is defending the position.
Henderson lands with a punch from half guard.

Bennington looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bennington looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Bennington looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Henderson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bennington has managed to free his arm - good work.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Henderson lands a nice short elbow.
Henderson working Bennington over with strikes.

Henderson seems to be working for a kimura but Bennington defends the submission attempt.
Bennington is looking for a sweep. Henderson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bennington looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bennington does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Henderson is working for a submission of some sort.
Henderson working Bennington over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henderson wants to work for an arm triangle but Bennington is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bennington is trying to maintain the position but Henderson is very close to passing his half guard.
Bennington is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Henderson 's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Henderson 's back!
You can see the frustration on Henderson 's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Henderson wants to control his opponent's hands but Bennington gets his hands free.

Henderson fending off the submission attempt from Bennington .

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henderson preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Bennington .
Bennington is trying to stick to Henderson 's back but Henderson is turning into Bennington . He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Bennington 's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Henderson .

Bennington is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Henderson defends well.
Henderson landing with the ground and pound.
Bennington has momentary wrist control but Henderson slips an elbow through the middle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bennington keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.

Bennington throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mark Henderson will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Bennington looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Bennington is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Henderson sees it coming and defends easily.

Henderson actively working from the bottom here.

Bennington is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Henderson to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.

Henderson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bennington gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Henderson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bennington can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Henderson wants to control the position but Bennington says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bennington prevents Henderson from improving his position.

Bennington is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Henderson trying to control here.
Henderson is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bennington 's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bennington 's back!
Bennington rolls, trying to escape but Henderson keeps control of the position.

Henderson is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Bennington knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Bennington for a finish.
Jeff Bennington overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bennington just trying to survive but Henderson is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson has the hooks in. Bennington is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Henderson doesn't have the hooks in and Bennington manages to turn into his guard.
Henderson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Bennington controls the pace.

Henderson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bennington with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bennington wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.

Henderson pushes a forearm under Bennington 's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Bennington is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mark Henderson !
Mark Henderson decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.