PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dan Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Collins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dan Henderson has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Henderson
vs
Collins

180 cm
23
185 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Dan Henderson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Steve Collins!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Fujiwara, Taro Takaoka and Ren Mimura.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Henderson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Henderson throws a hook but Collins blocks it.
Some wild striking there from Henderson.
Henderson throws a series of punches but Collins avoids them all with ease.
Henderson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Dan Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henderson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Collins.
Collins dodges the punch combination from Henderson.
Henderson misses with an uppercut.
Henderson dodges the punch combination from Collins.
Collins moves out of range as Henderson strikes.

Collins gets a clinch.
Henderson is trying to break the clinch but Collins has him pressed against the cage.
Knees in the clinch landing for Collins.

Collins drags the fight down to the ground.
Henderson wanted to stand there but Collins had control of the position.
Henderson trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Collins looking to control.

Collins is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Henderson defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Collins has a closed guard, preventing Henderson from standing up.
Henderson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Henderson looking to sit in guard and control but Collins gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Henderson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Henderson keeping full guard, as Collins tries to pass.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Henderson looks to land a left hand but Collins moved out of range nicely.

Collins closes the distance and pushes Henderson back into the cage.
Collins lands a damaging elbow.

Collins manages to pull guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Collins had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Henderson is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Collins Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Henderson's back instead.
Henderson covering up well and avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Collins keeps control of the position as Henderson tries to break free.
Henderson holding both Collins 's hands and preventing any damage.
Henderson avoids the strikes from Collins.
Collins looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
Henderson is trying to stand back up.
Collins lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Collins gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Collins missing with strikes from the back.
Henderson avoids the strikes from Collins.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is trying to get back to his feet but Collins has full control of the position and if anything, Henderson has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Collins misses with a punch to the head.
Henderson is trying to get back to his feet but Collins has full control of the position and if anything, Henderson has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Collins scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Henderson is looking for a way out.
Collins throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Collins throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Henderson covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Collins punches the canvas rather than the man.
Collins connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Henderson to escape the position.
Collins lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Henderson tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is wriggling around trying to escape.
Collins thowing shots but they're missing.
Collins unloads with some shots from mount but Henderson bucks and avoids them well.

Collins has hold of Henderson's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Henderson manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Collins looks gassed!
You get the feeling that Henderson really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Collins is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Collins looking to isolate an arm here. Henderson doesn't see it coming and as Collins extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Collins!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Steve Collins!
Steve Collins is the new middleweight champion!