PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dante Anthony (ranked 25211 p4p, 0 weight class) and Beats Henderson (ranked 7864 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Anthony
vs
Henderson

223 cm
25
151 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

170 cm
24
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Wild Rio Nutrition - 90% Laundry

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dante Anthony!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Beats Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Wesley Smith and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anthony tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Henderson defends well and Anthony ends up having to push Henderson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Beats Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Henderson feints and as Anthony raises his hands in defense, Henderson changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Anthony looking for a guillotine here but Henderson defends easily.

Anthony is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Henderson is aware though and is defending well.
Anthony really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Anthony looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Henderson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Anthony. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Henderson controlling from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson wanted to stand there but Anthony had control of the position.

Anthony is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Henderson defends well.
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.
Anthony is trying to keep Henderson in close.

Anthony looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Anthony trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Anthony 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. Henderson manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Anthony looking for a guillotine here but Henderson defends easily.
Anthony is breathing heavily.

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 wants to stand but Anthony is controlling his posture from full guard.
Henderson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Anthony not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

Henderson closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Anthony quickly recovers to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthony is looking to control Henderson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Anthony avoid being mounted?
Henderson performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Anthony moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Anthony will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Henderson stays in close to Anthony's body and controls the position.

Anthony looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Anthony throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Anthony will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Henderson stopping the sweep attempt from Anthony.
Henderson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Anthony is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Henderson defends well.
Anthony can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Henderson controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Beats Henderson dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Henderson forces Anthony back against the cage and clinches.

Henderson jumps guard.
Anthony postures up in Henderson's guard and throws a big left but Henderson blocks it.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Anthony from controlling successfully.
Henderson wants to improve his position but instead Anthony has moved into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in half guard, Anthony seems content to control.
Anthony thows a huge punch but Henderson dodges it nicely.
Henderson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Henderson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson trying to get back to full guard but Anthony takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Anthony sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Henderson is squirming around, avoiding Anthony's attempts to control the action.
Henderson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Anthony.
Henderson is in a horrible position here. Anthony smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Henderson defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Anthony.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Anthony lands a nice shot to the head.
Henderson felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Anthony looking to control and managing it successfully.
Henderson wants to hold on but Anthony pushes him away.
Anthony looking to control but Henderson is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Anthony lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anthony tries to control but Henderson wriggling away.
Anthony working the ground and pound effectively.
Henderson is bucking up trying to escape but Anthony cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Anthony controlling his opponent.
Henderson is in a horrible position here. Anthony smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson tries to lock up and control but Anthony gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Anthony 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.
Anthony trying to control but Henderson is having none of it.
Anthony landing punches.
Anthony landing strikes from the mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Henderson is looking to get to half guard.

Anthony is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Henderson is surviving well by controlling Anthony's body position as best he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dante Anthony dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Horrible takedown attempt by Anthony or perhaps it was just good defense by Henderson, which made it look bad.
Anthony shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Henderson pinned against the cage. Henderson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Henderson throws a sloppy head kick
and Anthony counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Henderson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Anthony tries to keep at a distance but Henderson has taken the fight into the clinch.

Anthony has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Henderson uses from the top position.
Henderson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Anthony looking for a guillotine here but Henderson defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson wants to stand but Anthony has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Henderson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Henderson not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Henderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Anthony swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Anthony trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Anthony has a closed guard, preventing Henderson from standing up.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Anthony is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Anthony utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Anthony is on top in guard.

Henderson is looking to stand back up but Anthony counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Henderson.
Anthony trying to control the action but Henderson is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson wants to get back to full guard but Anthony has mounted him!
Anthony lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Henderson hang on?
Henderson working to try and regain half guard.
Henderson avoids a series of strikes thrown by Anthony.
Henderson swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Anthony is landing with some decent strikes but Henderson is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
The referee warns Henderson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson tries to hold on but Anthony postures up.
Anthony wants to control the pace but Henderson is squirming around nicely.
Anthony controlling the position easily from mount.
Anthony is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Anthony tries to control but Henderson wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dante Anthony showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Anthony 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 Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dante Anthony!