PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between uki nam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Henry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

nam
vs
Henry

170 cm
20
130 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

176 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, uki nam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, James Henry!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henry is looking to clinch.
No luck for Henry with that takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Henry is defended easily by nam.
Henry tries to clinch but nam is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henry fakes high and swings low for a body shot but nam manages to avoid it.
nam stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and nam wants it to stay on the feet.
uki nam has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Henry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has nam pinned against the cage. nam gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Henry fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
nam keeps the fight on the outside.
nam circles away from the clinch attempt.

Henry shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Henry was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
nam is looking to improve his position but Henry isn't that keen on the idea.
Henry postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. nam looks a forlorn figure.
nam holds on to Henry around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
nam sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
nam controlling the position for now.
nam trying to control but Henry postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henry not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Henry has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry is looking to take a break and control but nam is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
nam pushes Henry off looking to stand but Henry dives back in and keeps control.
nam has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Henry is working away from the top position though.

Henry is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, nam has managed to free his arm - good work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Henry is defended easily by nam.
Henry tries to clinch but nam moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
nam stuffs the takedown.
nam stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and nam wants it to stay on the feet.
Henry looks gassed!
Henry tries to score a power double leg takedown but nam sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Henry somewhat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Henry thumps nam with a low kick.
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 uki nam will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

nam darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Henry wants to improve his position but nam is controlling well.

nam seems to be looking for submissions.
Henry regains full guard. Nicely done.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells nam's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Henry manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Henry with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
nam is in all sorts of trouble here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. nam can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
nam regains half guard.
nam on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if nam tries to get out of the position.
Henry slips a nice elbow through nam's hands, connecting with nam's forehead.
Henry works his way into full mount!
nam taking shots to the head.
Henry lands a nice shot to the head.
Henry raining down shots from the mount!
Henry raining down shots from the mount!

Henry looking for a guillotine from mount but nam is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry with the ground and pound from mount.
nam is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Henry raining down shots from the mount!
Henry controlling from mount.

Henry is going oldschool here, as he tries to force nam to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so nam shrugs it off.
nam's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Henry cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
nam is wriggling around trying to escape.

Henry wants to finish this one by submission but nam is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Henry.
nam is squirming around, avoiding Henry's attempts to control the action.
nam is trying to escape the mount.
nam wants to control but Henry is having none of it.
Henry fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Henry breaks from nam's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Henry with shots to the head and body - nam looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
nam is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
nam wants to hold on but Henry pushes him away.
Henry is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. nam can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Henry is landing with some decent strikes but nam is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Henry working the ground and pound effectively.
Henry in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Henry looking to control but nam is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
nam really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Henry scoring with strikes but nam is staying in there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

James Henry showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Henry tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but nam paws at him with a jab and circles away.
nam dodges the punch combination from Henry.

Henry shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
nam taking shots to the head.
Henry putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Henry lands a big shot there that rocks nam but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Henry lands a nice shot to the head.
Henry looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
nam wants to control but Henry is having none of it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Henry with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
nam is looking to get to half guard.
nam is bucking up trying to escape but Henry cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
nam really wants to buck Henry off and get back to his feet.
nam wants to hold on but Henry pushes him away.
Henry punishing his opponent with strikes.
nam is trying desperately to improve position.
nam in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's two 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.
Henry takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Henry tries to control but nam wriggling away.
Henry with shots to the head and body - nam looks very uncomfortable down there.
nam is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
nam is squirming around, avoiding Henry's attempts to control the action.
Henry avoids the attempt from nam to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
nam is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
nam is working hard here to advance position.
nam in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Henry tries to control but nam wriggling away.

Henry has control of nam's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and nam regains control of the situation pretty easily.
nam is squirming around, avoiding Henry's attempts to control the action.
Henry looking to finish nam with some ground and pound. This is bad for nam!
Henry landing shots from mount.
nam wants to control but Henry is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
nam is trying desperately to improve position.
nam wants to control but Henry is having none of it.
Henry cracks nam with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Henry trying to control but nam is having none of it.
Henry landing shots from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Henry lands a heavy elbow.
Henry prevents nam from getting the reversal.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Henry comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Henry has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Suge Night scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... James Henry!