PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Benson Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hugh Matthews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Benson Henderson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Henderson
vs
Matthews

175 cm
22
164 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

172 cm
21
180 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Benson Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Hugh Matthews!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Alec Ball and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Matthews rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Henderson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Matthews is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Henderson's half guard.
Matthews seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Henderson is looking to improve his position.

Henderson actively working from the bottom here.
Matthews throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Henderson wants to improve his position but Matthews is controlling well.
Matthews throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Matthews wants to control but Henderson is keeping him busy.

Matthews is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson wants to control but Matthews is keeping busy and won't allow it.

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

and Matthews counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Matthews wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.
Matthews has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Matthews is working Henderson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Henderson striking off his back but it's not causing Matthews any problems.
Matthews cracks Henderson with a solid left hand.
Matthews pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Henderson is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Matthews trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson wants to get back to his feet but Matthews is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Henderson utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Henderson swats away the attempt to clinch by Matthews.
Matthews avoids a punch combination nicely.
Matthews shoots in but no luck this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson misses with a takedown

and Matthews counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Henderson's guard now.
Henderson is breathing heavily.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.
Matthews loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Matthews trying to control the position from guard on top but Henderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matthews stands and throws Henderson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Matthews lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Henderson down.

Matthews is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Henderson is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Henderson is looking to reverse the position.

Matthews is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Henderson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Henderson regains half guard, as Matthews was trying to land strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugh Matthews dominated that round.
That's time! Henderson's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Henderson closes the distance and clinches.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Henderson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Matthews blocks it with crossed arms.
Matthews has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Henderson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Matthews has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Henderson is trying to keep an underhook but Matthews manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Matthews with the ground and pound but Henderson uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Matthews pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Henderson is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Henderson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Matthews doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Matthews manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Henderson is looking to stand up but Matthews isn't so interested in that idea.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson is trying to keep Matthews in close.
Matthews passes into half guard.
Matthews throws a strike but Henderson avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Matthews is standing up over Henderson. Henderson looks to escape but Matthews dives into side control.
Matthews in side control lands a decent elbow.

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 is trying to buck Matthews off.
Henderson is being controlled here.
Henderson is not content to let Matthews control the position.
Matthews is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Matthews tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Matthews wants to take a breather but Henderson manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Matthews.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matthews pushing down on Henderson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Matthews is looking to advance position but Henderson won't allow it.
Matthews working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four 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.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Henderson makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

Matthews has managed to clinch.
Matthews goes for a takedown attempt but Henderson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Henderson darts in trying to clinch

and Matthews counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Henderson is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Matthews changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Henderson fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Benson Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hugh Matthews.
Henderson misses with a takedown

and Matthews decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Henderson's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Matthews throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hugh Matthews showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Matthews circles away from the clinch attempt

and Matthews holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Matthews can't get the takedown.
Matthews changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Henderson fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Henderson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Henderson lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Matthews should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Henderson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Matthews avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Henderson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Henderson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Matthews slips a jab and a cross from Henderson.

Matthews scores a takedown into full mount!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henderson tries to lock up and control but Matthews gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matthews scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Matthews controlling the position easily from mount.
Hugh Matthews has got the better of the ground game so far.
Matthews punishing his opponent with strikes.
Henderson tries to buck Matthews off but he can't manage it.

Matthews is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Henderson to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Henderson shrugs it off.
Matthews fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Benson Henderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Matthews controlling the pace for now.
Matthews wants to control but Henderson has made it back to half guard. Nice work.

Matthews seems to be trying to get a kimura but instead Henderson has recovered full guard.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Matthews from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Matthews is controlling him.
Matthews slips nicely into half guard.
Henderson wants to control but Matthews passes into side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Matthews wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Henderson, who protects the arm well.
Henderson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Hugh Matthews is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Matthews is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Henderson has managed to free his arm - good work.
Matthews is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hugh Matthews comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Matthews winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Dillan Fox scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 27:30
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hugh Matthews!