PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Tyson Jackson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benson Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tyson Jackson could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Benson Henderson's chin.

Jackson
vs
Henderson

175 cm
23
165 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

176 cm
23
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Intelligent

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Tyson Jackson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Benson Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Mauricio Rocha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson shoots for a double leg takedown but Jackson sprawls well. He's pushed Henderson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Henderson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Jackson avoids the head kick by Henderson.
Henderson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Henderson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet.
Jackson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Jackson is trying to maintain the position but Henderson is very close to passing his half guard.

Jackson pushes Henderson off and gets back to his feet.
Henderson lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Henderson shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet.
Henderson 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.
Jackson is trying to escape back to his feet but Henderson uses the scramble to pass into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Henderson's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Jackson is trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson happy to just control the position for now.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Benson Henderson wasn't active enough on the ground.

Jackson gets caught flat footed, as Henderson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet but Henderson is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Jackson has a closed guard, preventing Henderson from standing up.
Henderson works over Jackson with some ground and pound from guard.
Henderson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson lands a couple of digs.
Henderson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Jackson striking off his back but it's not causing Henderson any problems.
Henderson wants to stand but Jackson is controlling his posture from full guard.

Benson Henderson has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Henderson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jackson is fending him off so far but Henderson persists. Nope, Jackson circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jackson is fending him off so far but Henderson persists. Nope, Jackson circles away and we're back to standing.
Tyson Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benson Henderson.

Henderson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Henderson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Jackson is just riding it out for now. Henderson eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jackson tries to get to full guard but Henderson has control of the leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jackson is looking to escape.
Henderson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benson Henderson dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Jackson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Jackson counters by clinching up.
Henderson is looking to take this one to the mat.

Henderson has Jackson pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Henderson pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Jackson tumbling to the mat - Henderson dives into Jackson's guard.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Jackson keeps moving.
Jackson wants to sweep but no luck.
Jackson can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Henderson controls the pace.
Jackson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Henderson manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jackson throwing strikes from guard but Henderson blocks nicely.
Jackson works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Henderson is defending against the submission attempts here by Jackson.
Henderson is staying active underneath Jackson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Henderson is trying to get back to full guard.
Jackson wants to take a breather but Henderson is having none of it.
Jackson blocks the strikes from Henderson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson keeping hold of Jackson's head, controlling as best he can.
Henderson missing with punches from the bottom.
Henderson keeping hold of Jackson's head, controlling as best he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Henderson can do anything to dispel that myth.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Henderson tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jackson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Henderson somewhat.
Henderson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Tyson Jackson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benson Henderson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Jackson avoids it really well and circles away.
Benson Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jackson blocks the body kick.
Henderson dives in and grabs Jackson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Jackson pushes down on Henderson's head and hops out.

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.

Henderson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Jackson tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Henderson is in Jackson's guard.
Jackson wants to stand up but Henderson is controlling him.
Jackson is trying to keep Henderson in close.
Henderson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Jackson's head.
Jackson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Jackson wants to get back to his feet but Henderson passes into half guard.
Henderson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jackson with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Henderson lands a nice short elbow.
Henderson prevents Jackson from standing back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Benson Henderson 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. This is the final round!

Jackson misses with a few strikes there.
Henderson explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Henderson has his takedown stuffed
and Jackson counters with a three punch combo that has Henderson backing up. Henderson nods at Jackson to acknowledge the strikes.
Henderson stuffs the takedown.

Henderson gets a takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henderson content to control rather than advance.
Henderson wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson prevents Jackson from standing back up.
Henderson wants to pass to mount but Jackson is defending the position.
Jackson is trying to escape back to his feet but Henderson uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Henderson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Jackson to his feet.
Jackson misses with a few strikes there.
Henderson throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Henderson dives in and scores a takedown into Jackson's guard.
Henderson stands and throws Jackson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Henderson controls the position.
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!
Jackson takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Jackson is not content to let Henderson control the position.
Jackson tries to buck Henderson off but Henderson is having none of it.
Henderson cracks Jackson with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jackson 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.

Henderson decides to stand up, so the ref orders Jackson to his feet.

Henderson fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Jackson sprawls well initially but Henderson persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Henderson slows the pace down in half guard.
Jackson is trying to stand up here but Henderson is controlling him well.
Henderson is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Henderson is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Benson Henderson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson prevents Jackson from standing back up.
Henderson stalling.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Henderson stands up and beckons Jackson to join him on the feet.

Henderson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Jackson to the mat! Jackson manages to get full guard.
Henderson is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tyson Jackson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Jackson pushes Henderson off and scrambles back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Benson Henderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Henderson 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 Luis Engracia scores the fight 27:30
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 27:30
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 27:30

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