PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henderson comes to the cage accompanied by aint no rest for the wicked. Gracie is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: I will survive. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Henderson
vs
Gracie

180 cm
22
205 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

200 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Kyle Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Michael Gracie!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Steve Montenegro and Eddie Farnsworth.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gracie gets caught flat footed, as Henderson shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gracie can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Henderson controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kyle Henderson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Henderson looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Gracie!
Henderson controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kyle Henderson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Gracie gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Gracie has his foot on Henderson's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Henderson works his way back into a safe position though.
Gracie looks gassed!
Henderson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Henderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gracie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Henderson looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Henderson is proving a slippery customer.
Henderson is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kyle Henderson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Henderson dives in and grabs Gracie's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes down on Henderson's head and hops out.
Henderson fails with the takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Henderson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kyle Henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henderson dives in and grabs Gracie's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gracie pushes down on Henderson's head and hops out.
Henderson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Henderson wants it to stay on the feet.
Henderson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Gracie counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Henderson wants to control but Gracie is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Gracie is looking for a kimura here.
Gracie wants to control but Henderson is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson is looking to control Gracie's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Henderson avoid being mounted?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gracie looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Henderson trying to control from the bottom.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kyle Henderson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Henderson with a poor takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Henderson with a poor takedown

and Gracie counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Henderson is trying to control the position but Gracie postures up.
Henderson keeping full guard, as Gracie tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson controls Gracie momentarily but Gracie frees himself.
Gracie trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Gracie stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Henderson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Henderson trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Henderson is controlling Gracie's posture.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Henderson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Gracie counters with a one-two to the body.
A head kick misses from Gracie.
Henderson shoots and misses

and Gracie decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Henderson's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gracie preventing the sweep.
Henderson is trying to keep Gracie in close.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Henderson has his hands on Gracie's head, controlling the position.
Gracie stopping the sweep attempt from Henderson.
Henderson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gracie shoots in looking for a takedown. Henderson tries to sprawl out of it but Gracie keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Henderson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Henderson doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Gracie counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Henderson controlling the position.

Gracie thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Henderson is trying to keep Gracie in close.

Gracie 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.

Gracie 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.
Henderson looking for a sweep. Not yet Henderson, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Gracie showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Henderson scores a takedown into full mount!
Henderson sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Henderson seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gracie for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kyle Henderson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kyle Henderson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Henderson misses with a takedown attempt
and Gracie counters with an outside leg kick.
Gracie scores with a nice right hand.

That's two 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.
Gracie shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Henderson counters with a single leg into guard. Gracie didn't expect that.
Henderson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gracie on the ground.

Gracie looking for a guillotine here but Henderson defends easily.
Henderson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Gracie is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Henderson sitting in guard here, content to control.
Henderson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson passes into half guard.
Henderson content to control rather than advance.

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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kyle Henderson just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Henderson gets a takedown into half guard.
Henderson is taking a breather. Gracie says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Henderson has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kyle Henderson showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Henderson has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eddie Farnsworth scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kyle Henderson!