PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cliff Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mati Mefju (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mati Mefju is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Henderson
vs
Mefju

175 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
170 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Cliff Henderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, Mati Mefju!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Steven Brown and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mefju stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mefju wants it to stay on the feet.

Henderson rushes Mefju and presses him up against the cage.

Henderson gets a trip takedown into half guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Mefju is staying active underneath Henderson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mefju keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mefju trying to control but Henderson postures up.
It looks like Henderson is going to stand back up.
Mefju holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.

Henderson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Henderson is looking to advance position but Mefju won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Henderson with the ground and pound but Mefju uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Henderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mefju swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Henderson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Henderson drops back, looking for a kneebar! Mefju looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Mefju looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Mefju!
Henderson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is trying to control Mefju's posture but Mefju avoids it.
Henderson gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Henderson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Henderson tries to get out of the position.
Henderson keeping hold of Mefju's head, controlling as best he can.
Henderson is trying to escape back to his feet but Mefju uses the scramble to pass into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mefju wants to control but Henderson is keeping him busy.
Henderson knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mefju on the ground.
Henderson is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is working hard here to advance position.
Henderson strikes from the bottom but Mefju takes advantage and advances to full mount!
Henderson slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Henderson trying to get back to full guard but Mefju takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henderson wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Mefju.
Henderson tries to reverse the position but Mefju maintains control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cliff Henderson dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mati Mefju's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Henderson fails with the takedown.
Henderson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mefju is fending him off so far but Henderson persists. Nope, Mefju circles away and we're back to standing.
Henderson shoots in for a double leg but Mefju sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cliff Henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henderson shoots in but no luck this time.
Mefju dives in and grabs Henderson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Henderson pushes down on Mefju's head and hops out.
Mefju fails with a takedown attempt.
Mefju fails with the takedown

and Henderson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson trying to control but Mefju is working from the bottom.
Henderson has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Mefju throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mefju looking for a sweep. Not yet Mefju, not yet.
Henderson is pushing down on Mefju's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mefju is fighting to maintain full guard but Henderson has managed to sneak the leg through.
Henderson is trying to control the action in half guard but Mefju is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Henderson working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Henderson is working for a submission of some sort.
Henderson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Henderson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Henderson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mefju knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Henderson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Mefju defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mefju blocking the ground and pound attempt from Henderson.

Henderson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Mefju trying to control but Henderson postures up.
Henderson not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Henderson is working for a kimura but Mefju is defending it quite comfortably.
Henderson looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson wants to control but Mefju is keeping him busy.
Henderson is pressing down on Mefju's thigh, looking to free his foot. Mefju is holding on for now.

Henderson is working for a kimura but Mefju is defending it quite comfortably.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Henderson looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cliff Henderson dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mati Mefju's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Henderson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Henderson shoots in for a double leg but Mefju sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mefju defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Henderson.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Cliff Henderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mefju tries to close the distance and clinch up but Henderson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice takedown defense from Henderson. No joy for Mefju on that attempt.
Henderson closes the distance and clinches up with Mefju, looking for a takedown. Henderson pushes Mefju against the cage but Mefju circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mefju tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Henderson counters with a single leg into guard. Mefju didn't expect that.
Henderson lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henderson trying to control but Mefju is working from the bottom.
Mefju utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mefju wants to sweep but no luck.
Henderson trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Henderson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Henderson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Henderson is looking to work some ground and pound but Mefju has wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson wants to get up but he can't break Mefju's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Mefju keeping moving, preventing Henderson from controlling successfully.
Henderson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mefju swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mefju trying to control the position.
Henderson wants to control from the top but Mefju keeps moving.

Cliff Henderson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mefju has hold of Henderson's hands but Henderson slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Henderson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Henderson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Henderson drops an elbow to the side of Mefju's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson trying to control the action but Mefju is working from the bottom.
Henderson passes the guard and advances to mount!
Henderson has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Mefju's face.
Henderson postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mefju looks a forlorn figure.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Henderson controlling from the full mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Cliff Henderson showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Henderson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 30:27
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 30:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

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