PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Omar Abidi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jeremy Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Abidi
vs
Henderson

180 cm
23
155 lbs
6 - 5 - 1

175 cm
26
164 lbs
11 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 5 - 1, fighting out of London, Omar Abidi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 8 - 0, fighting out of London, Jeremy Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Daniel Bishop and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson misses with a takedown attempt - Abidi sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Jeremy Henderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Henderson misses with a straight left.
Abidi throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Henderson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Abidi's waist but Abidi gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Henderson off to one side.
Henderson tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Henderson throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Henderson shoots in and drives through. Abidi sprawls well.
Omar Abidi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeremy Henderson.
Henderson just misses with a punch to the body.
Abidi defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Henderson.
Henderson throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Abidi counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Abidi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Henderson.
Henderson walks into a jab.
Henderson tries a low kick but Abidi avoids it.
Henderson tries to clinch
and Abidi counters with a left and a right that stings Henderson.
Abidi lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Abidi.
Henderson shoots for a takedown but Abidi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Henderson looks gassed!
Henderson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Abidi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Abidi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Omar Abidi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Henderson checks a leg kick nicely.
Abidi scores with a crisp jab that stopped Henderson in his tracks.
Abidi stalks Henderson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Henderson's face. Henderson staggers backwards, shaken.
Abidi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Abidi throws a sloppy head kick and Henderson moves out of range easily.
Abidi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Henderson misses with a shot to the body
and Abidi counters with an inside leg kick.
Henderson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Abidi counters with a one-two to the body.
Abidi with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Abidi scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Abidi throws a one two combo.
Abidi swinging wildly here.
Henderson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson throws a predictable looking body shot
and Abidi counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Abidi displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Henderson throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Abidi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Abidi's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Abidi duly obliges.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abidi misses with a series of wild punches.
Abidi lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Henderson backs up against the cage.
Abidi scores with a one two! Henderson had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Henderson checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Henderson closes the distance looking to clinch
and Abidi counters with a three punch combo that has Henderson backing up. Henderson nods at Abidi to acknowledge the strikes.
Henderson is looking to clinch but Abidi is avoiding it.
Henderson throws a head kick that misses
and Abidi counters with a left and a right that stings Henderson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Abidi counters with a straight right hand.
Abidi misses with a head kick.
Henderson misses with a hook.
Henderson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Abidi.
Abidi fails to land with a series of punches.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Abidi!
Abidi is working the combinations to good effect here.
Henderson darts in trying to clinch
and Abidi counters with a series of strikes. Henderson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Some wild striking there from Abidi.
Abidi swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Henderson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Abidi counters with a stiff right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Henderson with a poor takedown
and Abidi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Abidi throws a right hand that Henderson ducks under and follows up with a left that Henderson also avoids with ease.
Abidi tries to work over Henderson's front leg with a kick but Henderson checks it.
Henderson loads up on a big right hand but Abidi slips the punch.
Henderson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
A clash of legs there as Abidi blocks the low kick.
A head kick misses from Abidi.
A punch combination from Abidi misses.
Henderson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Abidi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henderson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Abidi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Henderson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Abidi counters with a three punch combo that has Henderson backing up. Henderson nods at Abidi to acknowledge the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Omar Abidi 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.

Henderson blocks a head kick by Abidi.
Abidi throws a right hand that Henderson ducks under and follows up with a left that Henderson also avoids with ease.
Abidi looks to land a combination but Henderson avoids it well.
Abidi swats away the attempt to clinch by Henderson.
Henderson moves out of range of the leg kick from Abidi.
Henderson misses the body punch
and Abidi counters with a nice leg kick.
A shot to the body from Henderson misses
and Abidi counters with a straight right hand.
Henderson shoots and misses
letting Abidi counter with a right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Henderson doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Abidi counters with a one-two to the body.
Abidi goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Abidi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Henderson throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Henderson has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson looks for a takedown but Abidi sprawls well.
Omar Abidi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeremy Henderson.
Abidi throws a right and a left that Henderson avoids nicely.
Henderson is looking to clinch but Abidi is avoiding it.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Abidi as he jumps to the side.
Henderson takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Henderson with a poor takedown
and Abidi counters with a three punch combo that has Henderson backing up. Henderson nods at Abidi to acknowledge the strikes.
Abidi throws a head kick but Henderson moves out of range.
Henderson misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Abidi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Henderson thinking.
Henderson is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Abidi rather than just go for the knockout.
Abidi misses with a low kick as Henderson jumps back.
Henderson has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Abidi throws a series of strikes that have Henderson backpedaling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson throws a left and a right that both miss
and Abidi counters with a series of strikes. Henderson will be more careful next time no doubt.
Henderson with a poor takedown
and Abidi makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Abidi changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Henderson misses with a body shot
and Abidi counters with a leg kick.
Abidi connects with a high kick.
Henderson misses with a takedown attempt
and Abidi counters with a nice low kick that buckles Henderson's knee momentarily.
Henderson fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Abidi checks it well.
Abidi misses with a head kick.
Henderson avoids the head kick by Abidi.
Omar Abidi is winning the standup battle so far.
Henderson shoots in but no luck this time.
A punch lands to the side of Abidi 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Abidi misses with the combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson throws a sloppy body shot
and Abidi counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Henderson closes the distance and clinches up with Abidi, looking for a takedown. Henderson pushes Abidi against the cage but Abidi circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Henderson misses with an uppercut. Abidi saw that one coming.
Henderson misses with a hook. Abidi ducked under it nicely.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Abidi as he avoids it easily.
Abidi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Henderson throws a low kick, looking for Abidi's leg but Abidi calmly moves out of range.
Omar Abidi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Henderson tries to clinch there but Abidi circles away.
Henderson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Abidi pinned against the cage. Abidi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A left and a right from Abidi both land. Nice combination.

That's four 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.
Abidi swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Abidi slaps away a takedown attempt from Henderson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Abidi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Abidi cracks Henderson with a good jab.
Henderson swings for the body but Abidi moves out of range.
Abidi looks to land a combination but Henderson avoids it well.
Henderson is trying desperately to land a takedown but Abidi is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Henderson.
The fight stays on the outside here - Henderson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Henderson fails with the takedown
and Abidi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Abidi stuffs the takedown attempt from Henderson. Henderson gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Omar Abidi dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Henderson takes a swing at Abidi's ribcage but misses.
Abidi tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Henderson tries to clinch but Abidi is having none of it.
Nice takedown defense from Abidi. No joy for Henderson on that attempt.
Henderson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Abidi checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Abidi tries a head kick but it misses.
Henderson looks to land a left hand but Abidi moved out of range nicely.
Henderson throws a head kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Abidi fakes the leg kick and cracks Henderson in the body.
Abidi misses with a few strikes there.
Henderson has a takedown stuffed.
Abidi throws a sloppy head kick
and Henderson counters with a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abidi misses with a leg kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Abidi misses with a head kick.
Henderson throws a lazy head kick
and Abidi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Abidi throws a head kick but Henderson moves out of range.
Abidi throws a sloppy head kick and Henderson moves out of range easily.
Henderson misses with a low kick.
Henderson works over Abidi's head and body with a nice combination.
Abidi throws a shot to the body.
Henderson closes this distance looking for a takedown but Abidi circles away.
Omar Abidi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jeremy Henderson.
Henderson shoots and misses
and Abidi counters with an outside leg kick.
Henderson tries for a takedown but Abidi sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Henderson with a poor takedown
and Abidi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Henderson thinking.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Henderson throws a head kick that misses
and Abidi connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Abidi throws a sloppy head kick and Henderson moves out of range easily.

Abidi gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Henderson lands a couple of digs.
Abidi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Abidi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Abidi tries to get out of the position.
Henderson landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson with a nice head shot there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Henderson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Henderson stands up over Abidi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Henderson working some strikes from top position.
Henderson working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Abidi's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson distracts Abidi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Abidi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Abidi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Henderson connects with a couple of short punches.
Abidi is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Henderson has his takedown stuffed
and Abidi counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Henderson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Abidi counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Jeremy Henderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henderson swings away with a body shot that misses
and Abidi counters with a two punch combo.

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.
Henderson swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Abidi.
Abidi walks into a jab.

Henderson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Abidi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Henderson moves into full mount! Abidi won't be happy about that!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Abidi is bucking up trying to escape but Henderson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Abidi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Henderson on the ground.
Henderson lands a heavy elbow.
Henderson working the ground and pound effectively.
Abidi wants to get back to his feet.
Omar Abidi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A nice elbow there by Henderson.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeremy Henderson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Abidi 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 Paul Tew scores the fight 29:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 29:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Omar Abidi!