PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Pepeng Pinakamalupet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benson Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Benson Henderson told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Pinakamalupet
vs
Henderson

155 cm
22
169 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

178 cm
19
179 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Pepeng Pinakamalupet!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Benson Henderson !
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pinakamalupet tries to clinch but Henderson moves out of range.
A little jabbing left from Henderson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Henderson keeps the fight on the outside.
Henderson has done a lot of speed work in the buildup to this fight.
Pinakamalupet tries to clinch up
and Pinakamalupet takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pinakamalupet tries to clinch there but Henderson circles away.
Henderson moves out of range as Pinakamalupet strikes.
Henderson misses the body punch
and Pinakamalupet counters with a series of strikes. Henderson will be more careful next time no doubt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice shot lands for Henderson .
Pinakamalupet is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pinakamalupet has Henderson up against the cage in a clinch.
Pinakamalupet blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Henderson keeps control of Pinakamalupet as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Pinakamalupet pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Henderson circles away from the clinch attempt.
A little jabbing left from Henderson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Henderson swats away the attempt to clinch by Pinakamalupet.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Henderson ! But no joy.
Pinakamalupet wants to clinch up but Henderson keeps it at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Pinakamalupet looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson throws an off balance right hand
and Pinakamalupet counters with a left and a right that stings Henderson .
Henderson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Henderson wants to clinch.
Pinakamalupet takes a swing at Henderson 's ribcage but misses.

Pinakamalupet fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Henderson , pushing him back against the cage.
Pinakamalupet can't break the clinch.
Pinakamalupet wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Henderson lands a hook to the side of the head.
Pinakamalupet is trying to break the clinch but Henderson is controlling him.
Pinakamalupet has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pinakamalupet breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pinakamalupet moves to clinch but Henderson breaks away
and Henderson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

Pinakamalupet tries to keep at a distance but Henderson has taken the fight into the clinch.
Pinakamalupet has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
A head punch on the inside from Henderson fails to land.
Henderson pushes Pinakamalupet back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Henderson tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Henderson misses with a hook from the clinch.
Pinakamalupet wants to break free but Henderson has control.

Pinakamalupet breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Pinakamalupet's jab looks to have found its range, popping Henderson under the eye.
Henderson tries to clinch but Pinakamalupet moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pinakamalupet was well out of range. Poor timing from Henderson .
Henderson swats away the attempt to clinch by Pinakamalupet.
A nice side step and Henderson releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Henderson cracks a nice hook into Pinakamalupet's ribs.

Henderson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Pinakamalupet blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Pinakamalupet blocks an uppercut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pinakamalupet wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pinakamalupet is looking to break free of the clinch but Henderson has double underhooks.
Pinakamalupet is trying to break the clinch but Henderson is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Benson Henderson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Henderson paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Pinakamalupet keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Pinakamalupet has taken the fight to the clinch.
Henderson pushes Pinakamalupet back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Henderson fails to land.
Henderson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Henderson misses with a punch to the body.

Pinakamalupet breaks the clinch.
Pinakamalupet tries to clinch up but Henderson circles away and keeps his distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pinakamalupet swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Henderson moves to clinch but Pinakamalupet breaks away
and Pinakamalupet counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pinakamalupet wants to clinch up but Henderson keeps it at a distance.
It seemed like Henderson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Henderson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Pinakamalupet's head backwards.
Pinakamalupet moves out of range of the strikes.
Pinakamalupet tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Henderson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Pinakamalupet clinches with his opponent.
Henderson throws a head punch that misses.
Pinakamalupet is looking to break free of the clinch but Henderson has double underhooks.
Henderson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Henderson misses with a punch on the inside.
Pinakamalupet tries to break the clinch but Henderson is controlling the position.
Henderson misses with a punch on the inside.

Pinakamalupet breaks the clinch.
Henderson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pinakamalupet tries to clinch but Henderson is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pinakamalupet moves in looking to clinch but Henderson pushes him off.
Henderson wants to clinch up but Pinakamalupet keeps it at a distance.
Pinakamalupet was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Henderson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Henderson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pinakamalupet tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Henderson comes in over the top with a devastating right hand! Pinakamalupet stumbles back against the cage, looking to regain his senses but Henderson is on him like rabid pit bull! Pinakamalupet slumps to the ground under a storm of punches and this fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Benson Henderson !
After the fight, Benson Henderson was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.