PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Benson Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Monroe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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
Monroe

175 cm
22
158 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

170 cm
22
155 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Fighters First Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Benson Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Dan Monroe!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Daniel Franklin and George Francis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson misses with a wild combination.
Monroe darts in trying to clinch
and Henderson connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Henderson moves into range and clinches up with Monroe.
Monroe throws a knee to the head but misses.
Henderson looking to throw knees to the head but Monroe is blocking nicely.
Monroe misses with a knee to the head.
Henderson lands with a short shot to the head.
Henderson misses with a knee strike.
Monroe stalling in the clinch but Henderson improves position.
Henderson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Dan Monroe has been cut.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Henderson.
Henderson throws a knee to the head but misses.

Henderson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Henderson throws a right and a left that both miss.

Henderson moves into the clinch.
Monroe with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Henderson tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Monroe throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monroe tries to land a knee to the head but Henderson blocks with his arms.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Henderson creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Henderson working Monroe over with knees to the body.
Henderson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Henderson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Henderson moves into the clinch.
Henderson avoids the elbow strike from Monroe, against the cage.
Monroe with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Henderson scores with a knee to the head.

Henderson manages to break the clinch.

Henderson has taken the fight to the clinch.
Henderson scores with a knee to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Henderson avoids a wild elbow strike from Monroe.

Henderson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Monroe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Henderson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Henderson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Monroe looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Henderson misses with a combination
and Monroe counters with a low kick, right behind Henderson 's knee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe avoids a punch combination nicely.

Henderson closes the distance and pushes Monroe back into the cage.

Henderson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Henderson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Monroe tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Monroe has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Henderson finds it's way round the side to connect with Monroe's head.
Henderson throws a nice looking combination but Monroe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Henderson moves into the clinch.
Monroe tries to land a knee to the head but Henderson blocks with his arms.
Monroe tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Henderson breaks from the clinch.
Henderson misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henderson clinches.

Henderson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A swing and a miss from Henderson.
Monroe takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Monroe tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Henderson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Henderson connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Monroe avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice straight punches there by Henderson. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Henderson.
Monroe tries to clinch up.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Henderson with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Monroe scores with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henderson manages to break the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Henderson is trying to break free.

Henderson manages to break the clinch.

Henderson instigates a clinch.
A shot in the inside from Henderson.
Henderson tries to land a knee to the head but Monroe blocks with his arms.
Henderson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Monroe avoids it.

Henderson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Monroe avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Henderson throws out a loose jab but Monroe uses good head movement to avoid it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Henderson clinches up against the cage.
Monroe tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Henderson breaks the clinch.
Henderson misses with a low kick.

Henderson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benson Henderson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dan Monroe's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Henderson gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Monroe looking to throw knees to the head but Henderson is blocking nicely.
Monroe tries a knee to the head but Henderson blocks it.
Henderson with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Henderson breaks from the clinch.

Henderson closes the distance and pushes Monroe back into the cage.

Henderson breaks from the clinch.
Henderson fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Henderson throws a right hand that Monroe ducks under and follows up with a left that Monroe also avoids with ease.
Henderson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Monroe counters with a nice kick to the body.
Henderson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Monroe.
Henderson throws a combination that misses

and Monroe counters by clinching up.
Henderson is trying to break the clinch but Monroe has him pressed against the cage.
Henderson takes a knee right on the jaw!

It looks like Benson Henderson has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Monroe misses with a knee to the head.

Henderson manages to break the clinch.
Henderson connects with a body shot.
Benson Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson throws a predictable looking body shot
and Monroe makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Monroe blocks a head kick by Henderson.

Henderson has closed the distance and engaged Monroe in a clinch.
Henderson makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.

Henderson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Henderson moves into range and clinches up with Monroe.
Monroe takes a knee to the side of the body.
Monroe blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Monroe connects with a nasty looking knee right to Henderson's face.
Henderson wants to get back to striking at distance but Monroe won't allow it.
Henderson scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Henderson connects with a knee to the head.
Henderson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Monroe's face.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Henderson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Monroe has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Henderson breaks the clinch.
Henderson swings for the body but Monroe moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monroe slips a jab and a cross from Henderson.
Henderson throws a nice looking combination but Monroe bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

Monroe gets a clinch.
Monroe tries to stall but Henderson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Monroe misses with a knee to the head.
Benson Henderson has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Henderson landing knees to the head.
Monroe using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Henderson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Monroe taking a breather.
Henderson throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Monroe blocks it with crossed arms.
Monroe lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Henderson looking to throw knees to the head but Monroe is blocking nicely.
Henderson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Monroe lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Monroe with a knee to the head.
Henderson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Monroe has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Henderson manages to break the clinch.
Benson Henderson is winning the standup battle so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson looks to throw the jab but Monroe is out of range.

Henderson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Monroe misses with an elbow strike.
Henderson tries a knee to the head but Monroe blocks it.
Henderson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Monroe throws a knee to the head but misses.
Henderson has a couple of punches blocked by Monroe.
Henderson lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Henderson obliges.

Henderson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henderson looks to land a combination. Monroe sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Monroe tries to keep at a distance but Henderson has taken the fight into the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Henderson tries to land a knee to the head but Monroe blocks with his arms.
Henderson scores with a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monroe throws a knee to the head but misses.
Monroe misses with a knee to the head.
Monroe with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Monroe pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Monroe pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Monroe with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Henderson manages to break the clinch.
Monroe moves in looking to clinch but Henderson pushes him off.
Henderson tests Monroe's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Henderson lands a body shot.

Henderson darts in and clinches Monroe up against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Henderson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Henderson moves into the clinch successfully.
Henderson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Monroe has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Monroe using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Henderson has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benson Henderson dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Henderson lands an overhand right.
Henderson misses with a body shot
and Monroe counters with a nice leg kick.
Henderson misses with a combination
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A punch combination from Henderson misses.

Henderson moves into the clinch.
Henderson fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Monroe tries to land a knee to the head but Henderson blocks with his arms.

Henderson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Henderson looks to score with a jab to the body but Monroe is just out of range.
Monroe tries to clinch up.
Monroe fails with an attempt to clinch.
Henderson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Left hook, right uppercut from Henderson.
Henderson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Monroe moves into the clinch.

Henderson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Monroe moves in looking to clinch but Henderson pushes him off.
Henderson swats away the attempt to clinch by Monroe.

Henderson closes the distance and pushes Monroe back into the cage.
Monroe tries a knee to the head but Henderson blocks it.
Monroe tries to land a knee to the head but Henderson blocks with his arms.
Henderson wants to get back to striking at distance but Monroe won't allow it.
Henderson using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Monroe has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Henderson looking to throw knees to the head but Monroe is blocking nicely.
Henderson landing knees to the head.
A short right from Henderson on the inside.
Monroe misses with a knee to the head.
Monroe misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Henderson misses with a knee to the head.
Henderson stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Henderson manages to break the clinch.
Monroe scores with a punch to the head.
Henderson throws a right and a left that Monroe avoids nicely.
Monroe tries to clinch there but Henderson circles away.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A good leg kick by Monroe.
Monroe pivots, looking for a leg kick but Henderson is out of range and Monroe settles back down.

Henderson instigates a clinch.

Henderson breaks from the clinch.
Henderson with a nice cross.

Henderson clinches.
Monroe looking to throw knees to the head but Henderson is blocking nicely.
Henderson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Monroe avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henderson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A head kick misses from Henderson.
Monroe fails with an attempt to clinch.

Henderson rushes Monroe and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Henderson utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Monroe tries a knee to the head but Henderson blocks it.
Henderson with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Henderson lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Monroe looking to throw knees to the head but Henderson is blocking nicely.
A nice left hand lands by Henderson.

Henderson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Henderson has taken the fight to the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Knees in the clinch landing for Henderson.

Henderson breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henderson closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Monroe tries a knee to the head but Henderson blocks it.
Henderson lands an uppercut.
Benson Henderson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Henderson breaks from the clinch.

Henderson closes the distance and clinches.

Henderson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henderson thuds a left hand into Monroe's body.
Henderson jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

Henderson has closed the distance and engaged Monroe in a clinch.
Henderson tries a knee to the head but Monroe blocks it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Henderson tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Monroe looking to throw knees to the head but Henderson is blocking nicely.
Dan Monroe has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Monroe tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benson 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27
Judge George Francis scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Benson Henderson!
Benson Henderson tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.