PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joabe Oliveira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Benson Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Oliveira
vs
Henderson

187 cm
30
177 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

185 cm
19
170 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joabe Oliveira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Benson Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Paulo Santos and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

Oliveira gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Henderson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Henderson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Oliveira throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Henderson cracks Oliveira with a solid left hand.
Henderson postures up in Oliveira's guard and throws a big left but Oliveira blocks it.
Oliveira keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.
Henderson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Oliveira haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Oliveira lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Henderson!
Henderson taking shots to the head.
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.
Henderson tries to strike from the bottom but he's left himself exposed and Oliveira has taken his back.
Henderson is keeping busy.

Henderson is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Oliveira controlling well, preventing Henderson from escaping the position.
Henderson has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Oliveira is looking for the choke from the back position but Henderson is controlling his hands well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Henderson controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.

Oliveira is looking for the choke from the back position but Henderson is controlling his hands well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira is looking to control Henderson but Henderson is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Oliveira looking for the choke but no joy.
Henderson wants to escape the position.
Henderson is trying to stand back up.
Henderson grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Oliveira trying to control momentarily.
Oliveira is hanging on to Henderson's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Oliveira working for a choke but Henderson is defending well.
Henderson breaks Oliveira's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Henderson cracks Oliveira with a solid left hand.
Oliveira is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Oliveira controls Henderson momentarily but Henderson frees himself.
Oliveira preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Henderson wants to pass the guard but Oliveira is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Oliveira wants to control the pace but Henderson is squirming around nicely.
Henderson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Oliveira. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The referee warns Henderson that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Oliveira tries to control but Henderson wriggling away.
Henderson is trying to escape the mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Henderson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Oliveira wants to control the pace but Henderson is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Oliveira tries to close the distance and clinch up but Henderson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
No joy there for Henderson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Henderson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Oliveira stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Oliveira wants it to stay on the feet.
Henderson scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Joabe Oliveira is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Henderson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Joabe Oliveira has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Benson Henderson.

Oliveira throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Henderson was covering up waiting for the punch and Oliveira finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Henderson has an active guard here but Oliveira has managed to pass into half guard.
Oliveira is keen to just control but Henderson is a slippery customer.
Henderson is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Oliveira 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.
Oliveira scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Oliveira uses his free foot to push down on Henderson's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Henderson.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Henderson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Oliveira punishing his opponent with strikes.
Oliveira takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Oliveira dominating with strikes here.
Oliveira trying to control but Henderson is having none of it.
Henderson takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira with a couple of short strikes.

Oliveira stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Henderson misses the shot to the body.

Oliveira closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Henderson is looking to improve his position.
Oliveira trying to control from half guard but Henderson is working away.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Oliveira in particular looking to stall.
Oliveira is trying to control. Henderson wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Oliveira 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Joabe Oliveira wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Henderson shoots in but Oliveira avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Oliveira misses with the combination.
Oliveira slips a jab and a cross from Henderson.
Henderson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Oliveira avoids it really well and circles away.

Oliveira instigates a clinch.
Oliveira fails to pull guard.
Henderson keeps control of Oliveira as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Oliveira dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira stops a takedown attempt from Henderson.
Henderson scores with a shot to the side of Oliveira's head.
Henderson avoiding damage as Oliveira throws knees to the body.
Oliveira tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Oliveira is looking for a takedown.
Oliveira is struggling to control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson has Oliveira pressed against the cage, preventing Oliveira from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Henderson wants to take the fight to the mat but Oliveira manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joabe Oliveira dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Henderson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Benson Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Oliveira looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Henderson wants to clinch up but Oliveira keeps it at a distance.
Henderson leaves Oliveira with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Oliveira tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Henderson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Henderson wants to clinch up but Oliveira keeps it at a distance.
Henderson lands a right hook to the body.
Henderson throws a right and a left that Oliveira avoids nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Oliveira.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joabe Oliveira. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Oliveira gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Henderson to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Oliveira tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson wants to pass the guard but Oliveira is keeping the position.
Henderson with a nice head shot there.
Henderson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Oliveira looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Henderson is defending well. Oliveira quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Henderson has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Oliveira celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:49 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Joabe Oliveira!