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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Ben Bitag (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evan Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
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| 182 cm
19
150 lbs
3 - 1 - 0 |
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179 cm
21
155 lbs
3 - 9 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin |
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BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful |
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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
3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Ben Bitag!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
3 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Evan Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Josh West, Chris Saunders and Micheangelo Fripello.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Bitag tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Henderson is in Bitag's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Bitag is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bitag working for a triangle but Henderson defends it easily.
Henderson is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bitag controls Henderson momentarily but Henderson frees himself.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Bitag keeps moving.
The ref stands the fighters back up. Evan Henderson was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Henderson closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bitag's guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Bitag is pulling down on Henderson's head. It's preventing any offense from Henderson, at least for the moment.
Bitag escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Henderson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Henderson wants to stand but Bitag has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Bitag is looking for a triangle but Henderson pushes his legs off easily.
Henderson tries to free his leg and advance position but Bitag is retaining full guard.
Bitag is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Bitag is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bitag is adopting a defensive guard.
Ben Bitag has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Excellent takedown into side control there by Henderson.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Henderson is looking to take a break and control but Bitag is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Henderson connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Bitag some visible discomfort.
Bitag is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Henderson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson working over Bitag with some ground and pound. Bitag looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Henderson wants to pass to mount but Bitag is defending the position.
Bitag actively working from the bottom here.
Henderson stalling.
Henderson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bitag is looking for a sweep. Henderson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bitag trying to control from the bottom.
Bitag is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Henderson pulls his head out easily.
Bitag is looking to get back to full guard here but Henderson has managed to pass to side control instead.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bitag struggling a bit here.
Henderson trying to control the action but Bitag is working from the bottom.
Bitag trying to control but Henderson flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Bitag really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Bitag is covering up but some of the strikes from Henderson are getting through and doing damage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bitag just trying to survive but Henderson is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bitag turns into Henderson and is now in his guard.
Bitag trying to control the position from guard on top but Henderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henderson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Evan Henderson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!
Henderson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Bitag!
Bitag tries to hold on but Henderson postures up.
Henderson can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bitag is looking to escape.
Bitag slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Henderson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bitag keeps working.
Bitag trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Henderson manages to pass to mount!
Henderson lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Bitag wants to control but Henderson is having none of it.
Bitag keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Bitag tries to improve his position but instead Henderson has taken his back!
Henderson patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Bitag trying to control the position but Henderson manages to sink in the hooks.
Henderson lands punches and elbows.
Bitag manages to reverse the position and now he's in Henderson's guard. Nice work there by Bitag.
Bitag trying to control the position from guard on top but Henderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henderson scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Ben Bitag is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bitag misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bitag avoids the head kick by Henderson.
Henderson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bitag to the mat! Bitag manages to get full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Henderson trying to control but Bitag is working from the bottom.
Bitag is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Evan Henderson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Henderson won't allow Bitag to sweep him here.
Henderson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Henderson passes Bitag's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Henderson winds up and cracks Bitag with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Bitag trying to control from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bitag pushes Henderson off and gets back to his feet.
Henderson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Bitag decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Henderson's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Bitag throws a strike but Henderson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bitag looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Henderson passes into half guard.
Henderson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bitag does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bitag looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Henderson wants to stand up but Bitag is controlling the position.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bitag does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Bitag wants to get back to full guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Bitag is trying to maintain the position but Henderson is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Evan Henderson wasn't active enough on the ground.
Henderson tries to clinch up but Bitag circles away and keeps his distance.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Henderson has Bitag up against the cage in a clinch.
Bitag manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Evan Henderson 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!
Bitag shoots and misses
and Henderson counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Henderson trying to advance position but Bitag counters by regaining guard.
Bitag keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.
Bitag is looking for a triangle here but Henderson uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Henderson happy to just control the position for now.
Henderson wants to control but Bitag is keeping him busy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson in side control lands a decent elbow.
Bitag sneaks back into half guard.
Bitag is not content to let Henderson control the position.
Bitag looking for submissions off his back.
Henderson is trying to control. Bitag wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Bitag wants to improve his position but Henderson is controlling well.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bitag is working hard here to advance position.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Henderson working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Henderson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Bitag knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Henderson is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Henderson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bitag does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Henderson prevents Bitag from improving his position.
Henderson wants to take a breather but Bitag is having none of it.
The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Evan Henderson.
Bitag clinches up with Henderson and pushes him back against the cage.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bitag tries for a takedown but Henderson manages to get underhooks.
Henderson pulls guard successfully.
Henderson is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bitag defends well.
Henderson trying to control the position.
Bitag trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Bitag is really struggling to control Henderson but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Bitag is looking to work some ground and pound but Henderson has wrist control.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bitag trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Henderson manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Henderson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Henderson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Bitag lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Henderson!
Bitag is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Henderson has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Henderson!
Ben Bitag has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Evan Henderson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bitag has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Henderson is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Bitag.
And that's the end of the fight!
Evan Henderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Henderson 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 Josh West scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Saunders scores the fight 27:30
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evan Henderson!
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
73% |
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