PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Benson Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Malcolm Master (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Master's choice of entrance music: Master of Puppets. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Henderson
vs
Master

175 cm
30
133 lbs
8 - 9 - 0

225 cm
31
133 lbs
9 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Benson Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Malcolm Master!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fray, Jeff Smith and Roger Salmon.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Master moves away.
Master misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Master tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Henderson swivels and escapes.
Master tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Henderson swivels and escapes.
Benson Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malcolm Master.
Master shoots in for a takedown but Henderson shows good takedown defense.
Henderson misses with a few strikes there.
Master is looking to clinch.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Henderson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Master circles away quickly and effectively.
Henderson throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Master.
Master blocks the body kick.

Henderson drives through and clinches with Master against the ropes.

Master gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Master tries to free his leg and advance position but Henderson is retaining full guard.
Master works over Henderson with some ground and pound from guard.
Henderson has a closed guard, preventing Master from standing up.
Master has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Master won't allow Henderson to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Master wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.
Master with a flurry of punches that miss.
Master looking to pass the guard.
Master controls from within his opponent's guard.

Master thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Master trying to stand up but can't free himself from Henderson's guard.
Master won't allow Henderson to get back to his feet.
Master wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.
Master controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Malcolm Master was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Master closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Master lands in his opponent's guard.
Master missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Master looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Master accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Master trying to control the position from guard on top but Henderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Master might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Henderson haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Master loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Master from controlling successfully.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Malcolm Master hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Henderson throws a head kick but Master moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Master shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Master is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Henderson really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Henderson is looking to improve his position.

Master is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Henderson regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Master.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Henderson being controlled here, momentarily.
Master prevents Henderson from getting back to his feet.

Master drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Henderson dives on top into guard.
Master throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Master trying to control the position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Malcolm Master wasn't active enough on the ground.

Master looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Master wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.

Henderson is working an open guard so Master takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Master tries to clinch but Henderson moves out of range.
Master checks a leg kick.
Master shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Nice takedown defense from Henderson. No joy for Master on that attempt.
Master fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Henderson throws a solid leg kick but Master takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Henderson.
Master tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Henderson manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Master blocks a head kick by Henderson.
Master fails with the takedown.
Henderson throws a head kick that misses.
Henderson tries a head kick but it misses.

Master shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Henderson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Master sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Henderson defending well though.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.

Master seems to be working for a kimura but Henderson defends the submission attempt.
Master tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Henderson.
Henderson is trying to stand.
Master throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Master seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
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!
Master wants to lay and pray for a moment but Henderson keeps working.

Master postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Henderson to stand up.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Henderson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Henderson stuffs the takedown attempt from Master. Master gets slowly back to his feet.
Henderson throws a head kick that misses.
A head kick misses from Henderson.
Master tries to score a power double leg takedown but Henderson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Master somewhat.
Henderson throws a head kick but Master moves out of range.
Henderson is breathing heavily.
Master shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Henderson defends it nicely.
Henderson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Master slips a jab and a cross from Henderson.
Henderson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Master is trying hard to land a takedown here. Henderson sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Malcolm Master dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Master closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Henderson is staying active underneath Master, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Master thows a huge punch but Henderson dodges it nicely.
Master wants to lay and pray for a moment but Henderson keeps working.

Master is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Henderson defends it well.
Master is keen to just control but Henderson is a slippery customer.
Master is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malcolm Master has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
A clash of legs there as Master blocks the low kick.
Henderson slaps away a takedown attempt from Master, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Master blocks a head kick by Henderson.
Henderson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Henderson misses with a low kick.
Master has a takedown stuffed.
Master slips a jab and a cross from Henderson.
Master gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Henderson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Benson Henderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Malcolm Master.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Master is trying to hold Henderson in close to prevent damage but Henderson has managed to pass into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Master punching from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Master throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Master is looking to improve his position.
Master is trying to control but can't.
Master keeping control of the position.
Master wants to control but Henderson is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Malcolm Master has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Master.

Master closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Master creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Henderson sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Master trying to control the action but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Malcolm Master has got the better of the ground game so far.

Master tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Master laying and praying for a moment but Henderson takes advantage and regains half guard.
Henderson wants to get back to his feet.

Henderson is defending against the submission attempts here by Master.
Master 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.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Henderson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Master is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Henderson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Master is working away from the top position though.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Master looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Master is keen to just control but Henderson is a slippery customer.

Master is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Master wants to work for an arm triangle but Henderson is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Master throws a strike but Henderson avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Master trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Master stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Henderson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Master stands and throws Henderson's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Master wants to control but Henderson is keeping him busy.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Master tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Master wants to lay and pray for a moment but Henderson keeps working.
Henderson tries to buck Master off but Master is having none of it.
Henderson can't do much from the bottom here.

Master thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Benson Henderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Master are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Master lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Henderson down.
Master advances nicely into full mount.
Henderson is trying desperately to improve position.

Master jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Henderson is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Henderson and Master has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Master swings around for an armbar but Henderson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Master's guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Malcolm Master comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Master has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Colin Fray scores the fight for Malcolm Master!
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight for Malcolm Master!
Judge Roger Salmon scores the fight for Malcolm Master!

Malcolm Master wins by unanimous decision!
Malcolm Master decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.