PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Glen Hoddle (ranked 1444 p4p, 2030 weight class) and Ryan Henderson (ranked 191 p4p, 244 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hoddle
vs
Henderson

175 cm
27
155
4 - 1 - 0

170 cm
27
165
11 - 9 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Glen Hoddle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ryan Henderson !
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Robert Twigg and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson tests Hoddle's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Henderson looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Hoddle lands with a good body shot.

Henderson has managed to clinch.
Henderson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A short right from Hoddle.
Henderson wants to get back to striking at distance but Hoddle won't allow it.
Hoddle presses Henderson against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hoddle.
Henderson working hard to break the clinch.
Hoddle has Henderson pressed against the cage, preventing Henderson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Hoddle lands a nice uppercut.

Henderson breaks from the clinch.
Henderson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice uppercut lands for Hoddle. That snapped Henderson 's head back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hoddle shoots in for a double leg but Henderson sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Henderson misses with a body shot.
Hoddle has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Mentor Gym in the buildup to the fight.
Ryan Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice straight punches there by Hoddle. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Hoddle.
Henderson walks into a straight right hand from Hoddle.
A slow jab from Henderson misses its intended target.
Hoddle throws a looping overhand right but Henderson ducks down to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoddle misses with an uppercut. Henderson saw that one coming.
Hoddle ducks right into an uppercut from Henderson .
Henderson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hoddle sprawls well. Hoddle wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Henderson gets slowly back to his feet.

Henderson clinches.
Henderson takes a shot to the head.
Henderson is trying to break the clinch but Hoddle has him pressed against the cage.

Henderson breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henderson fails with a takedown attempt.
Hoddle keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Henderson looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Henderson gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Hoddle stalling.
Hoddle gets through Henderson 's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Henderson is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoddle lands with a left to the head.
Henderson is still on wobbly legs! Can Hoddle finish him?
Henderson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch on the inside from Henderson fails to land.
Henderson seems to have recovered his senses.

Henderson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Hoddle lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Henderson circles away quickly and effectively.
Henderson doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Henderson dives in for a single leg takedown but Hoddle sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Glen Hoddle has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ryan Henderson .
Jab, jab by Henderson - just one landing.
A looping hook to the body misses from Henderson . Hoddle does a little dance to reset his feet.
Henderson works Hoddle's body with a nice hook.
Hoddle throws a hook to the side of Henderson 's head but Henderson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A little jabbing left from Henderson on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Henderson fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hoddle manages to avoid it.

Hoddle closes the distance and clinches.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hoddle.
Hoddle is trying to maintain a safe position but Henderson gets an underhook and turns Hoddle into the cage.
Henderson stops a takedown attempt from Hoddle.
Henderson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Hoddle lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Henderson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hoddle has him pressed against the cage.

Henderson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoddle fails with a takedown attempt.
Henderson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hoddle throws out the jab.
Henderson scores with a jab.
Henderson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hoddle is looking to counter punch.
Henderson bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Despite the aggression on Henderson 's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Henderson works Hoddle's body with a nice hook.
Henderson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Hoddle.
Henderson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hoddle. Hoddle obviously looking to wear him down.
Henderson throws a poor cross that misses

and Hoddle counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Henderson !

Henderson throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Henderson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A cross from Henderson lands.
Hoddle with a jab.
Henderson shoots for a double leg takedown but Hoddle sprawls well. He's pushed Henderson 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hoddle changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Henderson slips under a jab from Hoddle.
Henderson doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Henderson misses with a hook
and Hoddle counters with an outside leg kick.

Hoddle forces Henderson back against the cage and clinches.

Henderson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hoddle misses with a hook. Henderson ducked under it nicely.
The crowd cheers as Hoddle lands an impressive looking overhand right. Henderson doesn't seem phased though.
Nice uppercut there from Henderson .
Hoddle with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Henderson misses with a looping right.
Hoddle throws a looping overhand right but Henderson ducks down to avoid it.
Henderson getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Hoddle looks to throw the jab but Henderson is out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henderson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Hoddle throws a chopping leg kick but Henderson manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Henderson lands a jab to Hoddle's midsection.
Henderson waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Hoddle.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Glen Hoddle will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Henderson misses with a right hand
and Hoddle counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hoddle drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Henderson scores with a nice head shot.
A telegraphed right hand from Hoddle misses the target.
Hoddle scores with the left hand. Henderson knows he should have avoided that one.
Henderson looks for a takedown but Hoddle sprawls well.
Hoddle half committed to a counter leg kick.
Henderson avoids the body shot from Hoddle.
Hoddle connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Henderson just misses with a punch to the body.
Henderson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A big right from Hoddle misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henderson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Hoddle cracks Henderson with a big right hand and Henderson goes down!
Hoddle throwing strikes from guard but Henderson blocks nicely.
Hoddle won't allow Henderson to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hoddle avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Hoddle landing with the ground and pound.
Hoddle working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Henderson 's head.
Hoddle with a nice head shot there.
Hoddle trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Henderson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Hoddle is aware though and is defending well.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Henderson is on top in guard.

Hoddle 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoddle 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.

Henderson got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hoddle has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Henderson has managed to get both his arms back between Hoddle's legs - danger averted.
Henderson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Hoddle is looking for a triangle but Henderson pushes his legs off easily.
Henderson engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoddle trying to keep a closed guard but Henderson is proving a slippery customer.

Hoddle 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.

Hoddle looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Henderson has picked Hoddle up and slammed him! Hoddle can't keep hold of the triangle and Henderson manages to pass to side control!
Hoddle throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Henderson moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Hoddle is looking to reverse the position.
Ryan Henderson has got the better of the ground game so far.
Henderson working away.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hoddle throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A shot to the liver by Henderson . Beautiful body shot.
Hoddle misses with a hook.

Henderson has Hoddle up against the cage in a clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Henderson .
Henderson is trying to break the clinch but Hoddle is controlling him.

Henderson breaks the clinch.
Henderson shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
The crowd cheers as Henderson lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hoddle doesn't seem phased though.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Glen Hoddle will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. 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.

Henderson with a lazy takedown attempt
letting Hoddle counter with a right hand.
Hoddle lands a nice shot to the body.
Hoddle misses with a wild body shot.
Henderson lands a lovely overhand right.
Hoddle throws a hook to the side of Henderson 's head but Henderson sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Henderson steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Hoddle.
Henderson checks a leg kick.
Hoddle misses with a straight right.
Hoddle digs a good hook to Henderson 's body.
Henderson moves away from the strike by Hoddle.
Henderson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Hoddle cracks Henderson with an open hand slap.
Glen Hoddle is winning the standup battle so far.
Hoddle misses with a wild combination.
Hoddle misses with a jab, cross combination.
A chopping leg kick lands by Hoddle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hoddle forces Henderson back against the cage and clinches.
Henderson tries to break free but Hoddle pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hoddle.
Hoddle content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Hoddle goes for a takedown in the clinch but Henderson prevents it.

Henderson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hoddle keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Hoddle throws a body punch but Henderson moves out of range.
It seemed like Henderson was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Henderson fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Hoddle looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Henderson on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Henderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Hoddle fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Hoddle connects with a looping right hand.
Henderson throws a lazy right hand but Hoddle sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A big right from Henderson misses.

Henderson fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Hoddle to the ground. Henderson is now in Hoddle's guard.
Glen Hoddle is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Hoddle is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hoddle not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Henderson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hoddle trying to control the position here.
Hoddle being controlled here, momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoddle is pulling down on Henderson 's head to control his posture.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Hoddle looking for a sweep. Not yet Hoddle, not yet.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Henderson . Hoddle does a little dance to reset his feet.
Henderson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hoddle sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Henderson misses with an uppercut.
Hoddle thuds a left hand into Henderson 's body.
Henderson slips under a jab from Hoddle.
Henderson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Hoddle misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Henderson .

Hoddle shoots in and bounces Henderson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Henderson scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Henderson rushes Hoddle and presses him up against the cage.
Henderson wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Henderson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hoddle has him pressed against the cage.
Henderson tries to break the clinch but Hoddle is controlling the position.

Henderson 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Henderson rushes Hoddle and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Henderson 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Henderson working hard to break the clinch.
Ryan Henderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henderson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Hoddle's elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Glen Hoddle.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hoddle, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Frank Dennis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Glen Hoddle!
A very excited looking Glen Hoddle rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.