PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Colt Billings (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benson Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Billings
vs
Henderson

163 cm
19
159 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

178 cm
25
163 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Big heart

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Colt Billings!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Benson Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Timothy Bukovac and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Henderson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Billings scores with a crisp jab that stopped Henderson in his tracks.
Henderson doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Billings counter with a right hand.
Henderson misses with a takedown attempt
and Billings connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Billings misses with a lunging right hand

and Henderson counters with a head kick that drops Billings to the mat! Billings scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!

Billings is rocked!
Billings could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Henderson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Oh Billings is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Colt Billings has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benson Henderson.
Henderson tries to clinch
and Billings counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Henderson misses with a takedown
and Billings counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Billings looks to land a left hand but Henderson moved out of range nicely.
Henderson looks to clinch
enabling Billings to counter with a crisp jab.
Billings defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Henderson.

Henderson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Billings wants to improve his position but Henderson is controlling well.
Billings knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Henderson on the ground.

Henderson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Henderson looks winded!

Henderson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Henderson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Billings is just riding it out for now. Henderson eventually gives up the hold.
Billings seems to have got his legs back now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Billings is defending against the submission attempts here by Henderson.
Billings makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Billings.
Billings tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Billings pulls Henderson in close to his closed guard and prevents Henderson from doing any damage or advancing position.
Henderson stopping the sweep attempt from Billings.

Henderson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Billings looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Billings looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Billings!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Henderson is looking to reverse the position.
Billings scores with punches from side control.
Henderson is trying to control Billings's posture but Billings avoids it.
Billings landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Henderson is trying to get back to full guard.
Billings looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Henderson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Billings 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Billings lands with a punch from half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Billings lands a nice short elbow.
Billings is pressing down on Henderson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Henderson is holding on for now.

Henderson looking for submissions off his back.
Billings is nestled in close to Henderson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Billings is taking a breather. Henderson says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Billings lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henderson looking for submissions off his back.
Billings working over Henderson with some ground and pound. Henderson looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Billings controlling the action here.
Henderson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Billings keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Colt Billings has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Henderson tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Billings counters with a straight right hand.

Billings darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
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.
That's time! Back to the action!

Henderson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Billings.
Billings throws a good cross that connects.
Henderson misses with a takedown
and Henderson takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Henderson shoots and misses
and Billings counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Billings throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Henderson was covering up waiting for the punch and Billings finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Billings looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Billings from controlling successfully.
Billings might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Colt Billings just wasn't active enough.

Henderson tries to sprawl but Billings drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Billings winds up and cracks Henderson with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Henderson actively working from the bottom here.
Billings throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Billings is trying to control. Henderson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Billings slows the pace down in half guard.
Henderson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Billings is working away from the top position though.
Henderson is pressing down on Billings's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Billings postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Billings from controlling successfully.
Billings works over Henderson with some ground and pound from guard.
Billings is in close to Henderson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Billings is looking to work some ground and pound but Henderson has wrist control.
Billings in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Billings lands a couple of digs.
Billings content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Henderson working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Billings doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Billings manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Billings scoring with some ground and pound.
Billings is in close to Henderson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Henderson has momentary wrist control but Billings slips an elbow through the middle.
Billings is in close to Henderson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Colt Billings overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Billings working some strikes from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henderson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Billings gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Henderson is breathing heavily.
Billings postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Billings controls from within his opponent's guard.
Billings connects with a couple of short punches.
Billings landing with the ground and pound.
Henderson 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.
Billings's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henderson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Billings defends it easily.
Billings is working Henderson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Billings is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Billings seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Henderson for as long as he can get away with.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Henderson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Billings is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Billings passes into half guard.
Henderson is trying to control but Billings manages to pass to mount!
Billings punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Colt Billings dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Henderson misses with a takedown
and Billings counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Billings misses with a left hand

and Henderson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Billings won't be happy with that.

Henderson is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Billings is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Billings keeping his opponent close.
Billings is trying to control Henderson's posture but Henderson avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Billings is looking to reverse the position.
Henderson is trying to ground and pound but Billings uses the momentary lack of control by Henderson to regain half guard.
Billings keeping control of the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Henderson is trying to control. Billings wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Billings is holding on to half guard well.
Henderson is thwarting Billings's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Colt Billings has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Henderson wants to clinch
and Billings counters with a stiff right hand.
Henderson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Billings counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Henderson throws a series of punches but Billings avoids them all with ease.
Billings scores with a decent looking hook.
Henderson misses with a takedown attempt
letting Billings counter with a right hand.
Colt Billings has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benson Henderson.
Henderson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Billings closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Billings lands in his opponent's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Henderson has a closed guard, preventing Billings from standing up.
Billings works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Billings is nestled in close to Henderson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Billings tries to pass the half guard into mount. Henderson knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Henderson looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Billings content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Henderson is trying to control but can't.
Billings lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ground and pound from Billings.
Billings is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Billings lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Billings lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Billings slips a nice elbow through Henderson's hands, connecting with Henderson's forehead.
Henderson is trying to get back to full guard.
Billings perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
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!
Billings seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Nice strikes from Billings there.
Billings is looking to advance position but Henderson won't allow it.
Billings is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Henderson reverses the position - he's now on top in Billings's guard.
Billings seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson trying to control but Billings is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Colt Billings showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Billings has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Don Winkell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Colt Billings!
Colt Billings thanked the fans post fight for their support.