PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ben Henley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luigi Vercotti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vercotti has chosen Poverty - Ennio Morricone as his entrance music. 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.

Henley
vs
Vercotti

176 cm
26
169 lbs
15 - 9 - 0

176 cm
26
162 lbs
14 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

MMA Hype Apparel
Spartan Nutrition

Spartan Nutrition

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 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Ben Henley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Luigi Vercotti!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henley fails with the takedown.
Henley scores with the left hand. Vercotti knows he should have avoided that one.
Henley misses with a straight right.
Henley swings for the body but Vercotti moves out of range.
Vercotti motions for Henley to come forward. Vercotti throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A lazy left from Henley finds it's target.
Henley pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Henley lands with an uppercut that bounces Vercotti off the cage and back into range.
Henley takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Henley walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Vercotti takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Vercotti pivots, looking for a leg kick but Henley is out of range and Vercotti settles back down.
Henley checks a leg kick.
A shot to the liver by Vercotti. Beautiful body shot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Henley fails with the takedown
and Vercotti counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vercotti works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Vercotti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Henley was well out of range. Poor timing from Vercotti.
Henley misses with a hook. Vercotti ducked under it nicely.
Henley avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Henley tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Vercotti defends well and Henley ends up having to push Vercotti into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Henley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Vercotti.
Henley with a lazy takedown attempt
and Vercotti counters with a left to the body.
Henley throws a lazy right hand but Vercotti sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vercotti connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A jab from Henley misses.
Vercotti throws out a counter right but Henley avoids it with no problem.
Henley goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
A slow jab from Henley misses its intended target.
Vercotti throws a big shot that misses.
Vercotti has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vercotti lands with a shot to the body.
Henley misses with an uppercut
enabling Vercotti to counter with a crisp jab.
Henley throws a body punch but Vercotti moves out of range.
Henley walks into a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vercotti swings widly with a right hand

and Henley counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Vercotti looking to hit a scissor sweep but Henley is one step ahead there.
Vercotti utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Henley throwing strikes but missing.
Henley preventing the sweep.
Henley is working Vercotti over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Henley showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Henley wants to pass the guard but Vercotti is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Henley's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Henley working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Henley throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vercotti works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vercotti has control of Henley's left arm, preventing Henley from doing any damage.
Henley in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Henley loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vercotti bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Henley's guard.

We've been hearing good reports from Henley's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

Henley throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Henley controls Vercotti momentarily but Vercotti frees himself.

Henley has his foot on Vercotti's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vercotti works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henley working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vercotti doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vercotti manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Henley has his foot on Vercotti's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vercotti works his way back into a safe position though.
Vercotti is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Henley has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Henley escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vercotti gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Henley is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vercotti defends well.

Henley is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ben Henley will probably get the nod.
That's time! Henley's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Henley uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vercotti.
Henley with a nice cross.
A cross from Henley lands.
Henley is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Vercotti.
Henley with a poor takedown
enabling Vercotti to counter with a crisp jab.
Ben Henley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henley throws out a loose jab but Vercotti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vercotti scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
A slapping leg kick lands for Vercotti.
Henley misses with a hook.
Henley thows a left - swing and a miss!
Vercotti flicks out a counter leg kick but Henley steps away.
Vercotti throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Henley counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henley with the ground and pound but Vercotti uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Henley throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vercotti works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Henley preventing the sweep.
Vercotti keeping moving, preventing Henley from controlling successfully.
Henley postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henley throws a big elbow that misses.
Vercotti pulls Henley in close to prevent any damage.
Henley content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Henley with a nice head shot there.
Henley is looking to work some ground and pound but Vercotti has wrist control.
Henley slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Henley looking to sit in guard and control but Vercotti gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Vercotti missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Henley doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Henley working for a triangle but Vercotti defends it easily.
Henley keeping moving, preventing Vercotti from controlling successfully.
Ben Henley overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Henley working for submissions but it's allowed Vercotti to get to half guard.
Henley wants to get back to full guard.
Henley gets back to full guard.

Henley working for a triangle but Vercotti defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Luigi Vercotti seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Henley.
Vercotti takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Vercotti throws a lazy right hand but Henley sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vercotti scores with a nice head shot.
Vercotti tests Henley's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vercotti on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Henley throws a hook to the side of Vercotti's head but Vercotti sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Vercotti feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Henleys jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Vercotti blocks a jab.
Vercotti misses with a body kick.
Henley connects with a nice looking jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Henley connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Vercotti momentarily.
Henley swings widly with a right hand
and Vercotti counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Henley misses with a left hand
and Vercotti counters with a left to the body.
Vercotti moves out of range as Henley strikes.
Vercotti misses with a kick to the body.
Vercotti lands a slapping body shot.
Henley uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vercotti.
Vercotti slips under a jab from Henley.
Vercotti thuds a left hand into Henley's body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ben Henley dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Vercotti takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Henley throws a shot from downtown. Vercotti moves away and avoids it.
Henley closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Vercotti dodges the punch combination from Henley.
A slow jab from Vercotti misses its intended target.
Vercotti slips a straight right by Henley.
Henley throws out a powerful jab.
Henley shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Vercotti sprawls well. Vercotti wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Henley gets slowly back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henley throws a body punch but Vercotti moves out of range.
Vercotti scores with a spinning back kick!
Vercotti stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Vercotti wants it to stay on the feet.
Henley takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Henley has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Henley there as he acknowledges the shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vercotti scores with a leg kick.
Vercotti feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Henley's calf.
Vercotti tries to work over Henley's front leg with a kick but Henley checks it.
Vercotti looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Henley shoots and misses
and Vercotti counters with a lovely straight right hand!
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ben Henley. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henley misses with a hook.
Henley gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Henley takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Henley takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Henley shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Vercotti sprawls well. Vercotti wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Henley gets slowly back to his feet.
Henley stalks Vercotti and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Vercotti's face. Vercotti staggers backwards, shaken.
Luigi Vercotti has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henley moves away from the strike by Vercotti.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Vercotti, right into the meat.
Vercotti ducks under a wild hook from Henley.
Henley throws a hook but Vercotti avoids it easily.
Vercotti now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Vercotti stalks Henley and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Henley's face. Henley staggers backwards, shaken.
Henley throws out a loose jab but Vercotti uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vercotti looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Good shot there by Vercotti.
Vercotti uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Henley.
Henley looks to land a left hand but Vercotti moved out of range nicely.
A nice side step and Vercotti releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Vercotti displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Henley throws out the jab.
Vercotti is looking for the big counter here.
A big left from Vercotti misses.
Vercotti stuffs the takedown attempt from Henley. Henley gets slowly back to his feet.
Vercotti dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henley feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Vercottis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Henley closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Vercotti's guard.
Henley postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Henley throws an elbow that misses. Vercotti uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Henley's guard. Nice move by Vercotti!
Vercotti stands up over Henley, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Vercotti keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Henley's head.

Henley working for submissions but it's allowed Vercotti to get to half guard.

Henley looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Vercotti 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.
Vercotti stalling.
Henley tries to get to full guard but Vercotti has control of the leg.
Vercotti lands with a punch from half guard.
Vercotti takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Vercotti landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Henley is pressing down on Vercotti's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Henley throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Vercotti escapes and throws Henley's legs to the side, diving into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henley is trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Luigi Vercotti comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Henley 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 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ben Henley!
During a confident post fight interview, Ben Henley thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
Luigi Vercotti spoke after the fight, saying 'I gotta get back on the grind.'.