PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Henning (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wojtek Svalbard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Henning kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is In For the Count ( Perfect Twist). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Henning
vs
Svalbard

191 cm
24
224 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

200 cm
24
220 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Joe Henning!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Wojtek Svalbard!
The judges for this bout are Steve Erwin, Bruno Hogan and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henning slaps away a takedown attempt from Svalbard, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Henning drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Svalbard taking punishment in the form of punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Svalbard is looking to regain half guard here but Henning keeps moving and retains side control.
Svalbard manages to work his way to half guard, despite Henning's best efforts.
Svalbard wants to improve his position but Henning is controlling well.
Henning thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Svalbard's head.
Henning prevents Svalbard from improving his position.
Henning wants to free his trapped foot but Svalbard is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svalbard wants to improve his position but Henning is controlling well.
Henning trying to control from half guard but Svalbard is working away.
Henning is thwarting Svalbard's attempts to control the position.
Henning wants to take a breather but Svalbard is having none of it.
Henning not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Svalbard is staying active underneath Henning, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

We're going to have a standup here because Joe Henning wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Svalbard tries to clinch

and Henning decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Svalbard's guard.
Henning being controlled here momentarily.

Svalbard looking for a guillotine here but Henning defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Svalbard looking for a sweep. Not yet Svalbard, not yet.
Henning is fighting to break Svalbard's control of his arms but Svalbard is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Svalbard controls Henning momentarily but Henning frees himself.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Wojtek Svalbard was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Henning shoots in but Svalbard avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Svalbard wants to clinch but Henning slips to the side

and Henning counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Henning.
Svalbard prevents a takedown attempt there.
Henning holding his opponent close, against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svalbard has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Henning blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
The referee calls for Henning to work.
Henning tries to pull guard but Svalbard won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Henning. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Svalbard as Henning tries to tie him up.
Svalbard jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Henning walks away with a smile on his face. Svalbard gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Svalbard gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Henning counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Svalbard's guard now.
Svalbard is pulling down on Henning's head to control his posture.
Henning looking to pass the guard.
Henning is breathing heavily.
Henning wants to control from the top but Svalbard keeps moving.

Svalbard looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svalbard is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Svalbard has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Henning trying to control but Svalbard is working from the bottom.

Henning got a little sloppy there for a moment and Svalbard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Henning has managed to get both his arms back between Svalbard's legs - danger averted.

Henning avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Svalbard controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Henning dominated that round.
That's time! Henning's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Henning throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Svalbard's waist but Svalbard gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Henning off to one side.
Svalbard defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Henning.
Joe Henning is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Henning circles away from the clinch attempt

and Henning counters by moving into the clinch.
Svalbard is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Henning prevents Svalbard from breaking the clinch.
Svalbard is working for takedown but Henning is calmly controlling the position for now.
Svalbard is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Henning gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Svalbard is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Joe Henning has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wojtek Svalbard.

Henning manages to break the clinch.
Wojtek Svalbard seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Svalbard fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Henning manages to avoid it.
Henning fails with a takedown attempt.
Svalbard shoots in for a takedown but Henning shows good takedown defense.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Henning bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henning wants to stand but Svalbard has his arm trapped.
Svalbard holds on to Henning's head and controls the position momentarily.
Svalbard manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Svalbard works his foot free and advances to mount.
Henning is squirming around, avoiding Svalbard's attempts to control the action.

Svalbard gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Svalbard drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Henning on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Henning tries to get out of the position.

Svalbard thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Henning can't do much from the bottom here.
Henning on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
The referee asks Svalbard politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Svalbard prefers to stall for the moment though.

Svalbard stands up.
Henning shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svalbard is pushing down on Henning's leg trying to pass to half guard. Henning is fighting to maintain full guard but Svalbard has managed to sneak the leg through.

Svalbard is looking for a kimura but Henning is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Svalbard to get the leverage.
Henning tries to roll over but Svalbard keeps him under control.

Svalbard decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
A thudding body kick lands there by Svalbard!

Svalbard shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Svalbard showed some decent athleticism there.
Svalbard passes to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svalbard takes advantage of some sloppy striking from Henning to pass into mount.
Svalbard moves to the back position.
Henning trying to get back to his feet but Svalbard is in full control for now.
Henning tries to escape but Svalbard has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henning is working hard here to advance position.

Henning preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Svalbard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Wojtek Svalbard showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Svalbard has a takedown stuffed.

Henning throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Svalbard was covering up waiting for the punch and Henning finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Henning has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Svalbard trying to control the position here.
Svalbard working a defensive guard here.
Wojtek Svalbard has got the better of the ground game so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Svalbard is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svalbard has Henning pulled in close to control his posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Wojtek Svalbard was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Svalbard fails with the takedown

so Henning counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Svalbard is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Svalbard is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Henning defends well.
Svalbard is trying to control the position but Henning postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henning tries to free his leg and advance position but Svalbard is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Svalbard looking for a guillotine here but Henning defends easily.
Svalbard keeping moving, preventing Henning from controlling successfully.
Henning sitting in guard here, content to control.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Joe Henning just wasn't active enough.
Svalbard with a poor takedown
and Henning counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Joe Henning has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Wojtek Svalbard.
Svalbard misses with a takedown attempt
and Henning counters with an inside leg kick.
Henning lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Svalbard darts in trying to clinch

and Henning counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svalbard lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Henning!
Henning wants to hold on but Svalbard pushes him away.

Svalbard stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Svalbard shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Henning counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Svalbard moves to clinch but Henning breaks away

and Henning counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Svalbard!
Svalbard tries to hold on but Henning postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Svalbard is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Henning is staying active.
Henning controlling the pace for now.
Svalbard gets back to half guard.
Svalbard is trying to control but can't.
Henning is keen to just control but Svalbard is a slippery customer.
Svalbard is concentrating on defense, preventing Henning from advancing position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Henning shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Svalbard pinned against the cage. Svalbard gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Henning with a lazy takedown attempt

and Svalbard counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Svalbard wants to control from the top but Henning keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Henning showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Henning 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 Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 29:28

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