PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bucky Henderson (ranked 4261 p4p, 525 weight class) and Cicero Dos Santos (ranked 9361 p4p, 779 weight class). Cicero Dos Santos has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Bucky Henderson's chin.

Henderson
vs
Dos Santos

180 cm
25
175 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
175 lbs
8 - 6 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bucky Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Cicero Dos Santos!
The judges for this bout are Robert Douchet, Alec Ball and Gregory Folan.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Henderson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Henderson looking to control.
Henderson controlling Dos Santos's posture.
Henderson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dos Santos's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Dos Santos is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dos Santos can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Henderson controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Henderson postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Dos Santos looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Dos Santos keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.
Henderson throws a big elbow that misses.
Henderson postures up in Dos Santos's guard and throws a big left but Dos Santos blocks it.
Dos Santos working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Henderson.
Henderson showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Dos Santos keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Dos Santos dives in and scores a takedown into Henderson's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dos Santos sitting in guard here, content to control.
Henderson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Henderson tries to get out of the position.
Henderson pulls Dos Santos in close to prevent any damage.
Henderson working a defensive guard here.
Henderson looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Dos Santos stays in close to Henderson's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson has control of Dos Santos's left arm, preventing Dos Santos from doing any damage.
Dos Santos throwing strikes from guard but Henderson blocks nicely.
Dos Santos engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Dos Santos showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Henderson.
Henderson scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Henderson scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Henderson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
And Dos Santos tries to counter it with a takedown but Henderson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Decent striking displayed by Henderson there.
Henderson leaves Dos Santos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Henderson swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Henderson misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Dos Santos.

Dos Santos manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Henderson on his heels. He'll look to pass Henderson's guard now, I'm sure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dos Santos seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
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 Bucky Henderson will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A bone on bone clash there as Dos Santos blocks the leg kick.
Dos Santos with a lazy takedown attempt
and Henderson counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Henderson misses the shot to the body.
Henderson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dos Santos was well out of range. Poor timing from Henderson.
Henderson connects with a body shot that sends Dos Santos's belly button to the back.
Good standup being displayed there by Henderson as he connects with a hook.
Henderson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Dos Santos can do to turn this around?
Henderson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

Dos Santos fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Henderson to the ground. Dos Santos is now in Henderson's guard.
Henderson throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Dos Santos is fighting to break Henderson's control of his arms but Henderson is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Henderson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Henderson has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Dos Santos can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Dos Santos stands up over Henderson, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Dos Santos's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Henderson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Bucky Henderson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Dos Santos fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Henderson sprawls well initially but Dos Santos persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Henderson is looking to control Dos Santos's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Henderson avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Henderson tries to get to full guard but Dos Santos has control of the leg.
Dos Santos slows the pace down in half guard.
Henderson tries to roll over but Dos Santos keeps him under control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos wants to pass the guard but Henderson is defending well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice sprawl there from Henderson as Dos Santos shoots in.
It looked like Henderson was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Dos Santos.

Dos Santos looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Henderson is holding on to half guard well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Henderson trying to hold on to Dos Santos's head to control him but Dos Santos postures up.
Cicero Dos Santos has got the better of the ground game so far.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dos Santos seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Cicero Dos Santos will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Henderson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dos Santos moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dos Santos moves out of range of the strikes.
Dos Santos moves out of range of the strikes.
Dos Santos slips a jab and a cross from Henderson.
Henderson throws a nice looking combination but Dos Santos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Dos Santos blocks a jab.
Dos Santos darts in looking for a takedown but Henderson gets double underhooks and turns Dos Santos into the cage.
Henderson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Henderson lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Henderson throws a series of punches but Dos Santos avoids them all with ease.
Dos Santos darts in looking for a takedown but Henderson gets double underhooks and turns Dos Santos into the cage.
Henderson throwing a counter right hand but Dos Santos manages to avoid it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dos Santos misses with a takedown
and Henderson counters with a right hand to the body.
Bucky Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cicero Dos Santos.
Henderson defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Dos Santos.
It looked like Henderson was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Dos Santos.
Henderson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Henderson stuns Dos Santos with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Bucky Henderson is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson scores with a shot to the body.
Henderson lands with a nice body punch.
Dos Santos misses with a takedown attempt - Henderson sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Henderson throws a body shot but no joy.
Henderson throws a body punch but Dos Santos moves out of range.
Dos Santos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Henderson lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Dos Santos doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Dos Santos moves out of range of the body kick.
Dos Santos feints the counter takedown.
Dos Santos moves out of range of the body kick from Henderson.
Dos Santos takes one to the chin there.
Dos Santos will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Dos Santos goes for a double leg but Henderson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Henderson continues to drive forward.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Henderson stuffs the takedown attempt from Dos Santos. Dos Santos gets slowly back to his feet.
Dos Santos doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
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!
Dos Santos has a takedown stuffed.
Henderson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Dos Santos misses with a takedown attempt

and Henderson moves into the clinch.
Henderson taking a breather.
Henderson slows down the pace here.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson avoiding damage.
Henderson effectively controlling the action here.
Henderson seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Bucky Henderson.
Henderson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Dos Santos takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
A left and a right from Henderson both land. Nice combination.
Dos Santos shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Henderson as he avoids it easily.
Henderson connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Dos Santos walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Henderson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dos Santos.
Henderson throws a nice looking combination but Dos Santos bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dos Santos shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Henderson defends it nicely.
Henderson scores with a three punch combo!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dos Santos changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Henderson tries to avoid it but Dos Santos manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Henderson to the ground. Henderson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dos Santos keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Henderson looks to score with a jab to the body but Dos Santos is just out of range.
Dos Santos shoots in for a double leg but Henderson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dos Santos gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Jab from Henderson.
A looping hook to the body misses from Henderson. Dos Santos does a little dance to reset his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bucky Henderson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Henderson 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 Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:26
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 29:27
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 29:27

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