PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Henning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marquinhos Cunha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henning comes into the arena with In For the Count ( Perfect Twist) blaring out of the sound system. Marquinhos Cunha is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Henning
vs
Cunha

191 cm
23
224 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

211 cm
23
260 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Henning!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Marquinhos Cunha!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, John Mangel and Hugh Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Henning shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Henning was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Cunha really wants to buck Henning off and get back to his feet.
Henning lands a nice shot to the head.

It looks like Marquinhos Cunha has been cut.
Henning content just to control the position here.
Henning lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
You get the feeling that Cunha really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Cunha really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Henning. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Henning takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Henning's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henning has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Henning is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Henning tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Cunha paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cunha throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Cunha leaves Henning with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Cunha wants to clinch

and Henning decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Cunha's guard.
Cunha looks gassed!
Henning trying to control but Cunha is working from the bottom.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Cunha can do anything to dispel that myth.
Cunha wants to get back to his feet but Henning is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henning stays in close to Cunha's body and controls the position.
Cunha keeping full guard, as Henning tries to pass.
Cunha wants to get back to his feet but Henning is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Henning is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Cunha wants to get back to his feet but Henning is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Henning closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Cunha misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Henning.
Henning tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cunha smiles and moves away.
Henning closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cunha circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Henning. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henning shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Cunha really wants to buck Henning off and get back to his feet.
Cunha has given up his back, trying to stand up. Not clever.
Henning has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Cunha's body.
Henning scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Cunha trying to get back to his feet but Henning is in full control for now.
Cunha is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Henning controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henning patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Cunha has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Cunha preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Henning.
Cunha is trying to stand back up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cunha is trapped and Henning is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Cunha is trying to get back to his feet but Henning has full control of the position and if anything, Cunha has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Cunha is covering up but some of the strikes from Henning are getting through and doing damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Henning dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Marquinhos Cunha's cut.
That's time! Henning's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Henning closes the distance and clinches up with Cunha, looking for a takedown. Henning pushes Cunha against the cage but Cunha circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A chopping leg kick lands by Cunha.
Joe Henning is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Cunha wants to clinch

and Henning counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Cunha wants to get back to his feet.
Henning trying to pass the guard but Cunha defending well.
Henning not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cunha is trying to stand back up but Henning is controlling him
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henning sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Cunha defending well though.
Well, if Henning is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Henning trying to control the action but Cunha is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Henning perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Henning misses with a double jab.

Henning fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Cunha, pushing him back against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Cunha obliges.

Henning decides to pull guard.
Cunha being controlled here momentarily.
Cunha must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Henning is looking to stand up but Cunha isn't so interested in that idea.
Cunha would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henning has his hands on Cunha's head, controlling the position.
Henning trying to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Henning wants to clinch.
Some wild striking there from Henning.
Henning misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henning closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Cunha did well to prevent Henning getting side control.
Joe Henning overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cunha is trying to escape back to his feet but Henning uses the scramble to pass into side control.

Henning wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Cunha, who protects the arm well.
Henning trying to control the action but Cunha is working from the bottom.
Cunha is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Cunha managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Henning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cunha wants to get back to his feet but Henning drags him back down.

Henning thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Cunha is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Henning has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Henning connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Cunha some visible discomfort.
You can see the frustration on Cunha's face as Henning controls the position.
Cunha is pushing Henning's head away, looking to escape. Henning manages to hold on to the position though.
Henning misses with the ground and pound.
Henning trying to control the action but Cunha is working from the bottom.
Cunha tries to escape but Henning is in control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Henning dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Marquinhos Cunha's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Henning blocks a leg kick.
Cunha is looking to clinch.
Cunha looks to clinch

and Henning counters with a takedown into side control.
Cunha wants to get back to his feet but Henning drags him back down.
Henning slows the pace down.
Cunha is trying to get back to his feet.
Cunha tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Henning 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.
Henning has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Cunha's body.
Cunha controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Henning scores with punches to the body.
Henning 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.
Henning lands a shot to the body.

Henning working for a choke but Cunha is defending well.
Cunha holding both Henning 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Cunha holding both Henning 's hands and preventing any damage.
Henning has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Cunha's body.
Henning wants to control but Cunha is keeping busy.
Cunha is trying to get back to his feet but Henning has full control of the position and if anything, Cunha has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henning biding his time, looking for the opening.
Henning is working the ground and pound. Can Cunha escape?
Marquinhos Cunha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henning is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Cunha. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.

Henning working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Henning scores with strikes from the back.
Cunha looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henning is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Cunha controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Henning gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

Henning is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Cunha knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Cunha for a finish.
Henning slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Cunha trying to get back to his feet but Henning is in full control for now.
Henning just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Henning showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Henning, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 30:26
Judge John Mangel scores the fight 30:26
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Henning!