PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bucky Henderson (ranked 3819 p4p, 444 weight class) and Dex Arial (ranked 3699 p4p, 438 weight class). Arial is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Thunder. The key to victory for Bucky Henderson has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Henderson
vs
Arial

180 cm
26
175 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

178 cm
21
176 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Knockout power

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Bucky Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Dex Arial!
The judges for this bout are William Peck, Gregory Folan and Elvis Blanc.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson throws a body punch but Arial moves out of range.
Arial let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.

Arial feints and as Henderson raises his hands in defense, Arial changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Henderson is trying to keep Arial in close.
Henderson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Arial is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Arial trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Arial postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arial throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Arial is looking to work some ground and pound but Henderson has wrist control.
Arial has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Arial from controlling successfully.
Arial keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Henderson's head.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arial stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Henderson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Arial is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Henderson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Henderson has escaped and now he's on top!

Henderson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Henderson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Arial keeps moving.
Henderson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Arial keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Henderson won't allow Arial to get back to his feet.
Arial managing to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sloppy strikes from Henderson. Those never looked like landing.
Henderson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Arial counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Henderson wants to get back to full guard.
Arial throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Henderson wants to improve his position but Arial is controlling well.
Arial wants to control but Henderson is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arial stalling.

Arial is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Henderson is just riding it out for now. Arial eventually gives up the hold.
Arial seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Henderson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Henderson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Arial slips a nice elbow through Henderson's hands, connecting with Henderson's forehead.
Henderson is trying to maintain the position but Arial is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Arial is looking to take a break and control but Henderson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Henderson wants to control but Arial is keeping busy.
Arial not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Arial sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Henderson defending well though.
Arial missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Arial is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Arial tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Henderson swivels and escapes.
Henderson went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
A punch combination from Henderson misses.
Henderson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Arial throws out a counter right but Henderson avoids it with no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dex Arial dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Arial fails with the takedown.
Henderson misses with an uppercut. Arial saw that one coming.
Arial takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Arial fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Henderson avoids it really well and circles away.
Arial moves out of range as Henderson strikes.
Henderson throws a combination that misses

and Arial counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Arial is looking to take a break and control but Henderson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arial is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Henderson is defending against the submission attempts here by Arial.
Arial has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arial throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nice strikes from Arial there.
Henderson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Arial throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Arial postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Arial throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Arial working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Arial wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.
Henderson will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

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.
Arial landing with the ground and pound.
Henderson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Arial has an active guard here but Henderson has managed to pass into half guard.
Henderson trying to control from half guard but Arial is working away.
Arial tries to roll over but Henderson keeps him under control.
Arial is controlling Henderson's trapped leg to prevent Henderson from advancing to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Arial is pressing down on Henderson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Arial has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Henderson off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Henderson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Some wild striking there from Henderson.
Henderson missing with a left hand there. Arial was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Henderson misses the shot to the body.
Henderson misses with the combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arial shoots in but no luck this time.
Bucky Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dex Arial.
Arial avoids the body shot from Henderson.

Arial shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Henderson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Arial is working away from the top position though.
Henderson has hold of Arial's hands but Arial slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arial stalling away here and it's allowed Henderson to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Henderson looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Henderson wants to sweep here but Arial controlling him for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dex Arial will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Henderson lands with a shot to the body.
Henderson misses with a wild combination.
Arial throws a hook to the side of Henderson's head but Henderson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Henderson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Arial counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Arial 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.
Arial is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Arial lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Arial thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Henderson works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arial trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Henderson controls Arial momentarily but Arial frees himself.
Arial stopping the sweep attempt from Henderson.
Arial trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Arial working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Henderson's head.
Arial throwing strikes from guard but Henderson blocks nicely.
Arial trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Henderson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Arial throws a big elbow that misses.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Arial shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Henderson. Arial does a little dance to reset his feet.
Henderson fails to land with a series of punches.
Henderson throws a combination that misses

and Arial counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Henderson!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Arial is putting a hurting on Henderson here, landing some big shots from side control.
Henderson defending against the ground and pound.
Arial wants to control but Henderson is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arial in side control, throwing shots but Henderson defends.
Henderson being controlled for a moment.
Arial grinds an elbow into Henderson's temple.
Dex Arial is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Arial moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Arial's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

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 manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Bucky Henderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henderson keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Arial keeping hold of Henderson's head, controlling as best he can.
Henderson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dex Arial comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Arial 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 William Peck scores the fight 27:30
Judge Gregory Folan scores the fight 27:30
Judge Elvis Blanc scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dex Arial!
A relieved looking Dex Arial thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.