PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Joe Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arthur The King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Henderson
vs
The King

169 cm
21
137 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

176 cm
22
131 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

FNF Energy - (Sale!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Joe Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Arthur The King!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The King fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Henderson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming The King to the mat! The King manages to get full guard.
The King is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Henderson won't allow The King to get back to his feet.
The King keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.

The King has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Henderson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Henderson trying to control but The King is working from the bottom.
The King working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Henderson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The King keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.
The King controls Henderson momentarily but Henderson frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Henderson drives through with a takedown into guard.
Henderson stops The King from standing up.
Henderson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Henderson postures up.
Henderson trying to control but The King is working from the bottom.
Henderson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The King throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

The King has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Henderson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Henderson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but The King is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson working some strikes from top position.
Henderson slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The King looking for a guillotine here but Henderson defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but The King is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henderson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
The King is trying to keep Henderson in close.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Henderson looking to pass the guard.
The King wants to sweep here but Henderson controlling him for the moment.

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 content to stall in guard here.
Henderson wants to control from the top but The King keeps moving.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
The King fails with an attempt to clinch.
The King tries for a takedown but Henderson circles away easily

and Henderson counters with a single leg into guard. The King didn't expect that.
The King keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Henderson dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The King with a poor takedown

and Henderson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in The King's guard now.
The King looking to hit a scissor sweep but Henderson is one step ahead there.
Henderson sitting in guard here, content to control.
The King looking for a sweep. Not yet The King, not yet.
Henderson trying to control but The King is working from the bottom.
Henderson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but The King is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson stays in close to The King's body and controls the position.

The King working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Henderson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Henderson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Henderson distracts The King with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but The King is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The King is looking to stand up but Henderson isn't so interested in that idea.
The King looking for a sweep. Not yet The King, not yet.

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.

Henderson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Henderson shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches The King napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Henderson wants to control for a moment but The King uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Henderson wants to improve his position but The King is controlling well.
Henderson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Henderson tries to get out of the position.
The King wants to control but Henderson is keeping him busy.
Henderson is trying to stand.
The King is keen to just control but Henderson is a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Henderson is staying active underneath The King, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
The King doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Henderson counters with a shoot takedown. The King fights it but they end up in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Henderson sitting in guard here, content to control.
The King wants to stand and escape but Henderson is having none of it.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but The King is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Henderson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Henderson cracks The King with a solid left hand.

Henderson gets to his feet - The King follows without any prompting.
The King doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Henderson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in The King's guard now.
Joe Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur The King.
The King keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Henderson dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Henderson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for The King!
Henderson controlling the position easily from mount.
Henderson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as The King is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Joe Henderson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
The King misses with a takedown

and Henderson counters with a nice double leg into side control. The King won't be happy with that.
Henderson trying to control the action but The King is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The King is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Henderson has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The King tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Henderson wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Henderson trying to control the action but The King is working from the bottom.
Henderson tries to advance to mount but The King denies him.
The King wants to control but Henderson postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
The King has his takedown stuffed

and Henderson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson stops The King from standing up.
Henderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. The King swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Henderson prevents The King from getting back to his feet.
The King 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The King is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Henderson controls from within his opponent's guard.
Joe Henderson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Henderson wants to control from the top but The King keeps moving.

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

and Henderson counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in The King's guard now.
Arthur The King has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Joe Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Arthur The King.
Henderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. The King swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The King wants to stand up but Henderson is controlling him.

Henderson gets to his feet. The King looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe 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 Suge Night scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:26
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:26

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