PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Buzzard Leonard (ranked 5053 p4p, 2833 weight class) and Dustin Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buzzard Leonard could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Dustin Henderson's chin.

Leonard
vs
Henderson

182 cm
27
150
1 - 4 - 0

195 cm
18
155
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of New York, Buzzard Leonard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Dustin Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, Anthony Taglia and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leonard throws a right and a left that both miss.
Henderson with the counter takedown but Leonard avoids it easily.
Henderson shoots in but no luck this time.
Henderson tries to clinch up
and Leonard cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Henderson tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Leonard counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Leonard shoots in and gets a takedown into Henderson's guard.
Leonard stopping the sweep attempt from Henderson.
Leonard content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonard trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Leonard might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Henderson is pulling down on Leonard's head to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leonard content to stall in guard here.

Henderson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Leonard with a flurry of punches that miss.
Henderson trying to keep a closed guard but Leonard is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Leonard works over Henderson with some ground and pound from guard.
Leonard sitting in guard here, content to control.
Leonard has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Henderson controls Leonard momentarily but Leonard frees himself.
Leonard being controlled here momentarily.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

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

Leonard breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Henderson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Leonard's waist but Leonard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Henderson off to one side.
Henderson shoots in but no luck this time.
Buzzard Leonard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dustin Henderson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Leonard moves into range and clinches up with Henderson.

Leonard jumps guard.
Henderson is fighting to break Leonard's control of his arms but Leonard is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Leonard 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 trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Leonard keeping full guard, as Henderson tries to pass.

Leonard looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Henderson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Leonard is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Leonard is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Leonard keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Leonard gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Leonard turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Leonard manages to end up in side control.
Henderson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Buzzard Leonard dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Leonard has Henderson up against the cage in a clinch.
Leonard slowing the pace effectively.
Leonard has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Henderson after a bit of a struggle.

Leonard breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Henderson doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Leonard counters by moving into the clinch.

Leonard has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Henderson clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonard is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Henderson tries to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Leonard keeps control of the position as Henderson tries to break free.
Leonard is landing with strikes from the back.
Buzzard Leonard overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
I really don't envy Henderson right now.
Henderson covering up well under a barage of strikes.

Leonard is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Henderson is defending well though. Leonard let's go of the attempt for now.
Henderson trying to control the position but Leonard manages to sink in the hooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson tries to roll but Leonard sticks to his back.

Leonard is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Henderson is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Leonard is looking to control Henderson but Henderson is wriggling around and keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Leonard misses with punches from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonard is trying to stick to Henderson's back but Henderson is turning into Leonard. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Leonard's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Henderson.
Henderson trying to control but Leonard is working from the bottom.
Henderson is fighting to break Leonard's control of his arms but Leonard is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Henderson wants to pass the guard but Leonard is keeping the position.
Leonard throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Leonard has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Henderson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Leonard keeps moving.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

Henderson gets tackled into the cage by Leonard. Leonard maintains the clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Henderson is trying to break free.
A frustrated look appears on Henderson's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Henderson wants to break free but Leonard has control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Buzzard Leonard dominated that second round.
That's time! 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.

Henderson has a takedown stuffed.

Leonard throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Henderson was covering up waiting for the punch and Leonard finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Leonard content to stall in guard here.

Leonard is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Henderson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Henderson has escaped and now he's on top!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Henderson decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Leonard, up you get!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Henderson tries to keep at a distance but Leonard has taken the fight into the clinch.
Henderson tries to circle away but Leonard has him pinned against the cage.
Henderson is struggling to control the position.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Leonard.
Henderson fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Leonard fails to pull guard.

Leonard has picked Henderson up - he's going for a ride! Leonard dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Henderson tries to kick Leonard off in order to stand up. Leonard Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Leonard tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Leonard has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Henderson regains half guard.
Leonard prevents Henderson from improving his position.
Henderson is trying to maintain the position but Leonard is very close to passing his half guard.
Henderson is in trouble now - Leonard has advanced to mount!
Henderson working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Henderson trying to control but Leonard postures up.
Leonard is looking to take a break and control but Henderson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Henderson keeping control of the position.
Leonard looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Leonard stands up and beckons Henderson to join him on the feet.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Leonard but Leonard pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Buzzard Leonard has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dustin Henderson.
Henderson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Leonard counters with a left and a right that stings Henderson.

Henderson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Leonard to score an easy takedown into full guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Henderson manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dustin Henderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Leonard has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Russell Pearce scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 29:28
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buzzard Leonard!