PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jeremy Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and William Middleton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). William Middleton struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 156.2lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Henderson
vs
Middleton

175 cm
22
162 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

190 cm
19
165 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Jeremy Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, William Middleton!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Daniel Bishop and William Gold.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson misses with a takedown attempt - Middleton sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Middleton moves away from the strike by Henderson.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Henderson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Henderson is trying to ground and pound but Middleton uses the momentary lack of control by Henderson to regain half guard.
Henderson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Henderson trying to pass the guard but Middleton defending well.
Middleton is holding on to half guard well.
Henderson uses his free foot to push down on Middleton's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Middleton.
Middleton really wants to buck Henderson off and get back to his feet.

Henderson is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Middleton has managed to escape the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Henderson landing strikes from the mount and Middleton is in trouble!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson working Middleton over with strikes here.
Henderson looking to take Middleton's back but Middleton rolls and after a scramble, Middleton ends up on top in guard. Nice escape there from Middleton to escape a tricky position.
Henderson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Middleton wants to stand but Henderson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Henderson is on top in guard.
Henderson 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.
Henderson pushing down on Middleton's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Henderson seems to be working for a kimura but Middleton defends the submission attempt.
Henderson is breathing heavily.
Middleton tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Henderson is looking for a kimura here.
Middleton tries to roll over but Henderson keeps him under control.
Middleton is looking to escape.

Henderson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Middleton wants to get back to full guard.
Middleton is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Henderson is thwarting Middleton's attempts to control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Middleton looks for a takedown but Henderson sprawls well.

Henderson darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Middleton makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Middleton.
Henderson pushing down on Middleton's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Henderson 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 lands with a punch from half guard.
Henderson tries to pass to full mount but Middleton defends it.
Middleton on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Middleton is looking to control Henderson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Middleton avoid being mounted?
Henderson works his way into side control.
Henderson lands an elbow.

Henderson goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Middleton has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Henderson but great work by Middleton.
Henderson tries to buck Middleton off but Middleton is having none of it.

Middleton stands up and beckons Henderson to his feet.
Henderson doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Henderson shoots for a double leg takedown but Middleton sprawls well. He's pushed Henderson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Henderson misses with a takedown attempt - Middleton sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeremy Henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Middleton tries to clinch up but Henderson circles away and keeps his distance.
Middleton scores with a leg kick.
Middleton tries to clinch there but Henderson circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jeremy Henderson dominated that round.
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.

Henderson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Middleton shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Henderson's guard.

Henderson throws his legs up looking for a submission but Middleton uses it to pass to side control.
Middleton is looking to take a break and control but Henderson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Henderson tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Middleton wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Henderson is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Henderson connecting with a few gentle strikes.
Henderson has a hand on Middleton's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Middleton takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Henderson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Henderson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Middleton is breathing heavily.
Henderson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Middleton's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Henderson tries to free his leg and advance position but Middleton is retaining full guard.
Middleton wants to stand but Henderson is controlling the position.
Henderson throwing strikes from guard but Middleton blocks nicely.
Henderson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Henderson tries to free his leg and advance position but Middleton is retaining full guard.
Middleton is trying to keep Henderson in close.

Henderson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Middleton looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Middleton looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Middleton!
Henderson tries to bench press Middleton off him but Middleton keeps the position.
Jeremy Henderson overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two 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.
Middleton controlling the position from side mount.

Middleton stands up and beckons Henderson to his feet.
Henderson fails with the takedown

and Middleton counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Middleton.
Middleton landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Middleton tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Henderson blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Middleton pushes off an throws an elbow but Henderson leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Henderson jumps into guard, dragging Middleton to the mat.

Henderson is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Henderson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Middleton avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Henderson doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Henderson looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Middleton from controlling successfully.
Henderson looking for a sweep. Not yet Henderson, not yet.

Henderson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Middleton controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Middleton stands up and waves to Henderson to follow him.
Middleton misses with a head kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Middleton drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Henderson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Middleton manages to get himself to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Henderson is fighting to break Middleton's control of his arms but Middleton is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Henderson throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Middleton works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Henderson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Middleton is keeping the position for now.
Henderson prevents Middleton from getting back to his feet.

Henderson drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Middleton dives on top into guard.
Middleton wants to control from the top but Henderson keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henderson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Middleton puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but William Middleton will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Henderson just misses with a punch to the body.
Henderson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Middleton cracks the inside of Henderson's front leg.
William Middleton seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Middleton moves in looking to clinch but Henderson pushes him off.
Middleton is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Henderson shoots in and drives through. Middleton sprawls well.

Henderson changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Middleton looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Henderson throws an elbow but Middleton slips to the side and avoids it well.
Middleton regains half guard.

Henderson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Middleton is just riding it out for now. Henderson eventually gives up the hold.

Middleton makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Henderson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jeremy Henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henderson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Middleton pinned against the cage. Middleton gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Middleton takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Middleton bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Henderson feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Middleton has momentary wrist control but Henderson slips an elbow through the middle.
Henderson postures up in Middleton's guard and throws a big left but Middleton blocks it.
Middleton trying to keep a closed guard but Henderson is proving a slippery customer.
Henderson looking to pass the guard.
Henderson thows a big elbow that misses.

Middleton escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Henderson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Middleton avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Henderson shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Henderson was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Middleton sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

Henderson seems to be working for a kimura but Middleton defends the submission attempt.
Henderson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Henderson is looking for a kimura but Middleton is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Henderson to get the leverage.
Henderson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Henderson throwing shots but Middleton is blocking nicely.
Middleton blocking the ground and pound attempt from Henderson.
Middleton tries to get to full guard but Henderson has control of the leg.

Henderson 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson prevents Middleton from improving his position.
Henderson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Middleton trying to control from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Henderson shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Middleton pinned against the cage. Middleton gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Middleton punishes Henderson's body with a nice straight punch.

Henderson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Middleton keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Henderson passes to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Henderson working the head and body with strikes.

Henderson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Henderson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Middleton avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Henderson.
Henderson creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Middleton sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Henderson wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Middleton, who protects the arm well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henderson advances to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jeremy 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight for Jeremy Henderson!
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight for Jeremy Henderson!
Judge William Gold scores the fight for Jeremy Henderson!

Jeremy Henderson wins by unanimous decision!