PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ben Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henderson comes to the cage accompanied by glee. Smith comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Smoke the Fire kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Henderson
vs
Smith

220 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
156 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Ben Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Johnny Smith!
The judges for this bout are Winston Howard, Damien Edna and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smith fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Henderson, pushing him back against the cage.

Henderson jumps into guard, dragging Smith to the mat.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smith postures up.

Smith gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Henderson misses with a takedown attempt

and Smith counters with a shoot takedown. Henderson fights it but they end up in guard.
Henderson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Smith distracts Henderson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Smith postures up in Henderson's guard and throws a big left but Henderson blocks it.

Smith gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Smith shoots in for a takedown but Henderson shows good takedown defense.
Smith throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Henderson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Henderson tries to pull guard but Smith won't allow it.

Henderson breaks the clinch.

Henderson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Henderson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Henderson is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Smith has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Smith!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson wants to sweep here but Smith controlling him for the moment.
Henderson is breathing heavily.
Smith throws a strike but Henderson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Smith holds on and takes a little breather.
Smith looking to hit a scissor sweep but Henderson is one step ahead there.
Smith working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Smith isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Henderson stacks Smith on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Henderson!
Smith parries the strikes from Henderson easily there. Henderson is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Smith to escape.
Smith struggling a bit here.
Smith tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Smith manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Henderson is not content to let Smith control the position.
Smith misses with a head shot. Henderson uses the momentum to regain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is trying to control the position but Smith postures up.
Smith is in close to Henderson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Henderson will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Smith throwing strikes but missing.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smith's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Henderson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Smith stopping the sweep attempt from Henderson.

Smith drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Smith jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

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.
Smith works over Henderson with some ground and pound from guard.
Smith is stalling in the full guard.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Henderson will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Smith gets to his feet. Henderson looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Henderson avoids the head kick by Smith.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henderson tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Smith counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Henderson's guard now.
Smith lands a couple of elbows.

Smith is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Henderson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Smith counters by clinching up.
Smith lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

Smith breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smith fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Smith connects with a nice looking jab.
Henderson takes a kick to the side of the head.
Smith throws a nice head kick!

Smith shoots in and gets a takedown into Henderson's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Smith gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith avoids a punch combination nicely.

Smith closes the distance and pushes Henderson back into the cage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Smith escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Henderson is looking to clinch but Smith is avoiding it.
Smith throws a series of punches but Henderson avoids them all with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith throws a head kick but Henderson moves out of range.
Henderson keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Smith.

Smith closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smith lands in his opponent's guard.
Smith cracks Henderson with a solid left hand.
Henderson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smith trying to control the position from guard on top but Henderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Smith decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Henderson, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smith pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Henderson gets caught flat footed, as Smith shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Smith throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Henderson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Henderson is working an open guard so Smith takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Smith shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Henderson manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Henderson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smith doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smith manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Johnny Smith has got the better of the ground game so far.
Smith postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Smith postures up in Henderson's guard and throws a big left but Henderson blocks it.
Henderson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith cracks Henderson with a solid left hand.
Smith lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Henderson trying to control the position.
Henderson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smith is one step ahead there.
Smith wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.
Smith landing some decent shots from guard.
Smith postures up and lands a big shot to Henderson's brow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Smith.
Henderson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Smith wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Smith working the head and body with strikes.
Smith wants to control but Henderson is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Smith tries for a kimura but Henderson is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johnny Smith showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Henderson closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Henderson wants to clinch but Smith slips to the side

and Smith decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Henderson's guard.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Smith from controlling successfully.
Henderson trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.

Smith stands up from Henderson's guard - Smith perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ben Henderson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smith throws a lazy head kick

and Henderson counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Smith kicks off Henderson and gets to his feet.
Henderson ducks under a wild hook from Smith.
Smith throws a head kick but Henderson moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Smith drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Check out the look on Smith's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Henderson regains half guard.

Smith wants to work for an arm triangle but Henderson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Smith working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Henderson's thigh. Henderson counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Henderson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smith.
Henderson trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.
Smith wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Smith is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Smith gets to his feet - Henderson follows without any prompting.
Smith throws a head kick that misses.

Smith is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Henderson's half guard.
Henderson manages to get to full guard.
Henderson trying to keep a closed guard but Smith is proving a slippery customer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smith accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smith scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Smith scoring with some ground and pound.
Smith wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.
Johnny Smith is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smith looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Let's hope that Smith has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Smith's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Johnny Smith has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Smith misses with a head kick.
Smith has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Henderson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henderson avoids the head kick by Smith.

Smith shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Henderson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Ben Henderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smith works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johnny Smith comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Smith has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Winston Howard scores the fight 26:30
Judge Damien Edna scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johnny Smith!