PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Karl Henriksen (ranked 2515 p4p, 318 weight class) and Jeraldo Bonbon (ranked 3569 p4p, 406 weight class). Henriksen comes to the cage accompanied by OST Vikings - If I Had a Heart. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Henriksen
vs
Bonbon

184 cm
20
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

182 cm
26
173 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Karl Henriksen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jeraldo Bonbon!
The judges for this bout are Tiny Johnson, Wesley Smith and Cecil Peabody.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henriksen throws a head kick that misses.
Bonbon connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Bonbon closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Bonbon pulls guard.
Bonbon manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Henriksen manages to get himself to full guard.

Bonbon preventing the sweep.
Henriksen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Henriksen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Henriksen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bonbon's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henriksen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bonbon has managed to free his arm - good work.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Henriksen in particular looking to stall.
Henriksen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

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.

Henriksen is looking for a kimura here.

Henriksen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henriksen trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henriksen is looking for a kimura here.
Bonbon wants to get back to his feet.
Bonbon trying to hold on to Henriksen's head to control him but Henriksen postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

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.

Bonbon scores with a takedown into Henriksen's guard.

Henriksen manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Bonbon ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Henriksen moves away.
Bonbon looks to throw the jab but Henriksen is out of range.
Bonbon looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Henriksen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Henriksen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Karl Henriksen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Bonbon drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Henriksen manages to get back to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Henriksen keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Karl Henriksen will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Bonbon gets the takedown into side control.

Henriksen throws Bonbon to one side and escapes!
A kick lands to the mid section there for Henriksen.
Henriksen throws a hook but Bonbon avoids it easily.
A right-left combo lands from Bonbon.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bonbon walks into a jab.
Bonbon throws a sloppy body shot
and Henriksen counters with a one-two to the body.
Henriksen slips under a jab.
Henriksen lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Bonbon takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Bonbon rushes Henriksen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Henriksen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Bonbon's efforts to push away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henriksen ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Henriksen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Henriksen is pulling down on Bonbon's head to control his posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Henriksen.
Henriksen's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Henriksen tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Henriksen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bonbon defends it easily.
Henriksen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bonbon can do to turn this around?
Henriksen controlling Bonbon's posture.
Bonbon tries to free his leg and advance position but Henriksen is retaining full guard.
Bonbon postures up and lands a big shot to Henriksen's brow.
Henriksen keeping moving, preventing Bonbon from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bonbon won't allow Henriksen to sweep him here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Bonbon ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Karl Henriksen is winning the standup battle so far.

Bonbon closes the distance and clinches.

Henriksen manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Henriksen is controlling Bonbon's posture.
Henriksen continues to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Bonbon accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Henriksen wants to sweep here but Bonbon controlling him for the moment.
Bonbon throws a strike but Henriksen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Henriksen looking to pass the guard.
Karl Henriksen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bonbon wants to stand and escape but Henriksen is having none of it.
Henriksen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Further stalling from Henriksen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl Henriksen 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.

Bonbon clinches.

Henriksen pulls guard successfully.
Henriksen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Bonbon throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Henriksen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Henriksen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Henriksen not doing much here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bonbon works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henriksen looking to pass the guard.
Henriksen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Bonbon controls Henriksen momentarily but Henriksen frees himself.
Henriksen stands and throws Bonbon's legs to the side, diving into side control.

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.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Bonbon can't do much from the bottom here.
Bonbon is trying to improve his position.
Henriksen controls the position.

Henriksen is trying to get an arm triangle but Bonbon is defending well.
Henriksen working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henriksen is trying to get an arm triangle but Bonbon is defending well.
Bonbon parries the strikes from Henriksen easily there. Henriksen is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Bonbon to escape.
Bonbon is trying to control Henriksen's posture but Henriksen avoids it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Bonbon fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Henriksen looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Bonbon fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henriksen takes one to the side of the head.

Bonbon has Henriksen up against the cage in a clinch.
Bonbon tries to circle away but Henriksen has him pinned against the cage.

Bonbon turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Henriksen tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Bonbon presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Henriksen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Jeraldo Bonbon has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henriksen wants to control but Bonbon is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jeraldo Bonbon.
I think Henriksen 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 Tiny Johnson scores the fight 29:28
Judge Wesley Smith scores the fight 29:28
Judge Cecil Peabody scores the fight 30:27

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