PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Duran Duran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Duran comes into the arena with Hungry like the wolf blaring out of the sound system. Duran Duran has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Duran
vs
Henderson

225 cm
19
130 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

182 cm
24
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Duran Duran!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Dan Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Duran defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Henderson.

Duran instigates a clinch.
A bit of stalling here from Duran.
Duran tries to break free but Henderson pushes him back against the cage.
Henderson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Duran landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Henderson avoiding damage.
Henderson tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Duran avoids it.
Duran misses with a punch on the inside.
Henderson stalling against the cage.
Henderson misses with a punch to the body.
Henderson works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Henderson is pushing Duran up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Duran wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Henderson has him pressed against the cage.
Henderson misses with a hook to the ribs.
Henderson digs a right hand into Duran's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Duran's gas tank.
Duran is working Henderson over against the cage.
Henderson misses with a punch to the body.
Duran tries to work over Henderson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Henderson cracks Duran with a nice body shot.
Duran wants to break the clinch but can't.
Henderson is leaning against Duran and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Henderson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson tries a body shot but Duran blocks it.
Henderson managing to block the knees to the body from Duran.
Henderson leaning against his opponent.
Duran tries to stall but Henderson uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Henderson leaning against his opponent.
Duran blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Henderson misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Henderson tries to throw a body punch but Duran avoids it by throwing Henderson back against the cage.
Henderson keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Duran's efforts to push away.
Duran really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Henderson tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Duran's elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Duran breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Henderson fails with a takedown attempt.
Duran leaves Henderson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Duran Duran has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Henderson.
Duran misses with a combination

and Henderson counters with a nice double leg into side control. Duran won't be happy with that.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Duran is breathing heavily.

Henderson decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Duran misses with a wild combination.
Duran keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Henderson gets a double leg takedown into Duran's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Henderson stands up from Duran's guard - Henderson perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan 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.

Duran stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Duran wants it to stay on the feet.

Henderson gets tackled into the cage by Duran. Duran maintains the clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Duran.
Henderson gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Duran.
Duran is trying to force a seperation but Henderson has the dominant position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Henderson is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Duran is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Henderson keeps control of Duran as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Duran is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Henderson is defending well.
Duran blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Duran is trying to break free.
Henderson stalling the fight.

Duran manages to break the clinch.
Duran throws a sloppy head kick and Henderson moves out of range easily.
Henderson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Duran's waist but Duran gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Henderson off to one side.
Henderson shoots in looking for a takedown but Duran manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Henderson's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Duran Duran has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Henderson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Henderson.
Duran jabbing away but nothing is landing.

Henderson manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Duran on his heels. He'll look to pass Duran's guard now, I'm sure.

Henderson decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Duran stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Duran misses the shot to the body.
Henderson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Duran sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Henderson.
Duran throws a body punch but Henderson moves out of range.
Henderson ducks under a wild hook from Duran.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Henderson throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Duran was covering up waiting for the punch and Henderson finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Henderson gets to his feet - Duran follows without any prompting.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Duran as he avoids it easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters circling - Duran throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Duran pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Henderson back to the cage. Duran follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dan Henderson 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!

Duran rushes Henderson and presses him up against the cage.
Henderson is leaning against Duran and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Henderson is stalling here.
Duran tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Duran avoiding damage as Henderson throws knees to the body.
Duran tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Henderson smiles and moves away.
A punch combination from Duran misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Henderson.
Duran looks for a takedown but Henderson sprawls well.
Henderson avoids the head kick by Duran.
Sloppy strikes from Duran. Those never looked like landing.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown but Duran shows good takedown defense.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Duran lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Henderson circles away quickly and effectively.
Duran slaps away a takedown attempt from Henderson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Duran Duran has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dan Henderson.
Henderson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Henderson shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Duran as he avoids it easily.
Duran throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Henderson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Henderson is defended easily by Duran.
Nice takedown defense from Duran. No joy for Henderson on that attempt.
Duran Duran has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Henderson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Duran tries to avoid it but Henderson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Duran to the ground. Duran escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Duran lands a lovely overhand right.

Duran moves into range and clinches up with Henderson.
Dan Henderson seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson tries to throw a body punch but Duran avoids it by throwing Henderson back against the cage.
Henderson missing with knees to the body.
Duran lands a nice uppercut.
The referee is keeping an eye on Henderson - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Henderson can't find room to land a body shot as Duran controls the action.
Nice body punch from Henderson.
Henderson is leaning against Duran and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Duran slows down the pace here.
Henderson is struggling to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Duran Duran.
I think Henderson has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:30
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Downing scores the fight 28:29

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