PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between dave henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Cop (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mirko Cop has the eye of the tiger tonight.

henderson
vs
Cop

190 cm
22
239 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

186 cm
18
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, dave henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mirko Cop!
The judges for this bout are Edson Gomes, Emerson Jorge and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cop throws a one two combo.

It looks like dave henderson has been cut.
Cop misses with the combination.
henderson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cop throws a series of punches but henderson moves out of range.
Cop throws a right hand that henderson ducks under and follows up with a left that henderson also avoids with ease.

henderson rushes Cop and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cop working hard to break the clinch.

henderson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
henderson moves forwards but Cop connects with a nice, crisp jab.
henderson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
henderson connects with a nice looking jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
henderson lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!

It looks like Mirko Cop has been cut.
henderson is looking to clinch but Cop is avoiding it.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cop, right into the meat.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cop.
dave henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
henderson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cop avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.

henderson drives through and clinches with Cop against the cage.
henderson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Cop up against the cage.
henderson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cop has him pressed against the cage.
Cop working hard to break the clinch.
Cop wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
henderson wants to break the clinch but can't.

henderson decides to pull guard.
Cop stopping the sweep attempt from henderson.
Cop has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of henderson is proving hard to escape from.

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.
henderson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Cop is one step ahead there.

henderson is working an open guard so Cop takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Cop should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Cop is looking to land body kicks.
Mirko Cop is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
henderson throws a leg kick
and Cop counters with a thumping low kick.
Cop looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Cop misses with a double jab
and henderson counters with a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
henderson throws a lazy head kick
and Cop counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Cop lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
No luck with that takedown attempt from henderson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for dave henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cop throws a right and a left that both miss.
Cop looks gassed!
Cop lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but henderson circles away quickly and effectively.
henderson throws a head kick that misses
and Cop counters with a leg kick.
henderson throws a head kick that misses
and Cop counters with an inside leg kick.
Cop throws a half hearted mid kick.
Cop throws a combination but it was largely blocked by henderson.
Cop getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
henderson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cop tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Cop misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cop looks to land a left hand but henderson moved out of range nicely.
Nice jab there from henderson.
A solid leg kick lands there for Cop.
Cop throws a head kick but henderson moves out of range.
Cop delivers a nice body kick.
henderson throws a combination that misses
and Cop counters with a left and a right that stings henderson.
Cop keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A head kick misses from Cop.
henderson shoots in for a double leg but Cop sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cop throws a left and a right that both miss

and henderson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Cop won't be happy with that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Cop bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
henderson fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

dave henderson dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Cop with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
henderson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

henderson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cop, pushing him back against the cage.
henderson presses Cop against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
henderson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Cop has him pressed against the cage.
Cop has henderson pressed against the cage, preventing henderson from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
henderson slowing the pace effectively.
henderson scores with a nice hook to the head.
henderson stalling the fight.
Cop can't break the clinch.
Cop working hard to break the clinch.
henderson lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A left hand lands to the body for henderson.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
henderson lands a left hand that snaps the head of Cop backwards.
henderson lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Cop.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cop can't break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Cop's face as he tries to break the clinch.
henderson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
henderson jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cop walks away with a smile on his face. henderson gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

henderson moves into the clinch.
henderson working hard to break the clinch.
Cop can't break the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by henderson.
henderson tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for dave henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cop is trying to break the clinch but henderson has him pressed against the cage.
henderson slows down the pace here.
henderson lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Cop backwards.
henderson softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
henderson scores with a shoulder strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
henderson is leaning against Cop and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Good body shot from henderson.
henderson has had enough of the clinch but Cop keeps him there for the moment.
henderson lands on the inside with an uppercut.
henderson gets underhooks to prevent Cop's takedown attempt.
henderson misses with an elbow over the top.
henderson goes for a takedown in the clinch but Cop prevents it.
Cop is looking for a takedown up against the cage. henderson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A shot in the inside from henderson.
Cop wants to get back to striking at distance but henderson won't allow it.

henderson gets control of Cop's arms and successfully pulls guard. henderson will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

henderson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Cop preventing the sweep.
henderson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if henderson tries to get out of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cop tries to stand but henderson is controlling from the bottom.
henderson is trying to control the position but Cop postures up.

henderson is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
henderson has a closed guard, preventing Cop from standing up.
Cop must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
henderson throws a one two combo.
henderson moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
henderson throws a one two combo.
henderson throws a series of strikes that have Cop backpedaling.
dave henderson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
henderson misses with a wild combination.
henderson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cop fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt henderson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

dave henderson dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A slapping leg kick lands for Cop.
henderson tries to bum rush Cop with a series of wild strikes but Cop uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Cop pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
henderson misses with a two punch combination.
henderson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cop counters with a head kick.
henderson on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Cop. Cop obviously looking to wear him down.
Nice body punch from Cop.
Cop throws a combination but it was largely blocked by henderson.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Cop, right into the meat.
Cop scores with a head kick.
Cop throws a series of strikes that have henderson backpedaling.
Cop thows a body shot but no joy.
Cop scores with a push kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
henderson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Cop swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A combination from Cop does no damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Cop throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
dave henderson is winning the standup battle so far.
henderson scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
henderson checks a low kick from Cop.
henderson throws a right hand that Cop ducks under and follows up with a left that Cop also avoids with ease.
henderson swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Cop counters with a nice low kick that buckles henderson's knee momentarily.
Cop throws a combination that misses
and henderson counters with a stiff right hand.
henderson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cop circles away quickly and effectively.
Cop waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract henderson.
henderson fails with a takedown attempt.
Cop throws a head kick that misses.
henderson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Cop lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but henderson circles away quickly and effectively.

That's two 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.
Cop blocks the body kick.
Danga de danga de dang - henderson scores with a four punch combination!
A nice combination there by henderson.
Cop avoids the head kick by henderson.
Cop dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on henderson. That did some damage!
henderson takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
henderson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Cop avoids it really well and circles away.
Cop scores with a decent looking hook.
Cop throws a leg kick but henderson checks it.
A right-left combo lands from henderson.
henderson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cop as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for dave henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
henderson slips a jab and a cross from Cop.
Cop lands with a slapping head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
henderson works over Cop's head and body with a nice combination.
Cop with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
henderson defending well as Cop loads up on a big left hand.
Cop swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and henderson counters by clinching up.
henderson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Cop's efforts to push away.
henderson scores with a shot to the side of Cop's head.
henderson gets through Cop's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
henderson lands a damaging elbow.
Cop wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
henderson lands an elbow inside that Cop shrugs off.
henderson lands a body shot in the clinch.
henderson is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
A nice left hand lands by henderson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
henderson lands a body punch in the clinch.

henderson manages to break the clinch.
Cop misses with a double jab

and henderson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
henderson pushes Cop back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

henderson manages to break the clinch.
Cop falls off balance throwing a combination
and henderson counters with a nice uppercut.
Mirko Cop has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Cop looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
henderson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Danga de danga de dang - henderson scores with a four punch combination!
dave henderson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
henderson throws a head kick that misses.
Cop stuffs the takedown.

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 dave henderson.
Well henderson 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 Edson Gomes scores the fight 30:27
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 30:28
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... dave henderson!