PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Pettis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benson Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Pettis
vs
Henderson

177 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
18
153 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Anthony Pettis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Benson Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Donatello Bradman and John Mangel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pettis shoots in for a takedown but Henderson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Henderson throws a chopping leg kick but Pettis manages to avoid taking any serious damage.

Henderson gets tackled into the cage by Pettis. Pettis maintains the clinch.
Henderson goes for a takedown attempt but Pettis pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Pettis tries to close the distance and clinch but Henderson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Henderson has Pettis up against the cage in a clinch.

Henderson has clasped his hands together around Pettis's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Pettis can't do much from the bottom here.
Henderson in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Pettis wants to control but Henderson postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pettis gets back to half guard.
Henderson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Pettis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Pettis has his hands clasped together around Henderson's back. He's all about the action.
Henderson is looking to take a break and control but Pettis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Pettis is pressing down on Henderson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Pettis is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Pettis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pettis doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Henderson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Henderson throwing strikes but missing.
Pettis keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.
Pettis controls Henderson momentarily but Henderson frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Henderson gets a takedown into half guard.
Pettis is pressing down on Henderson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Henderson being controlled here momentarily.
Henderson stands up over Pettis, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Pettis working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Henderson doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Pettis is tightening it up a little... Henderson has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Henderson reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Henderson taps out! Nice BJJ there by Pettis!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Anthony Pettis!
Anthony Pettis decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.