PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Hart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dan Henderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gabriel Hart has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Hart
vs
Henderson

186 cm
22
224 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

185 cm
29
215 lbs
18 - 17 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Zipp Zapp

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gabriel Hart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 17 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dan Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Alan Glass and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Henderson throws out a loose jab but Hart uses good head movement to avoid it.

Hart closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Henderson is being controlled here.
Hart has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Hart has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Henderson is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Henderson is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Henderson really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Henderson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hart controlling the position easily from mount.
Hart with the ground and pound from mount.
Hart sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart 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 is looking to improve his position but Hart isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Gabriel Hart just wasn't active enough.
Henderson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hart sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Henderson throws an off balance right hand

and Hart counters by moving into the clinch.
Hart misses with a hook from the clinch.

Hart lands a takedown into guard.
Hart is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Hart throwing strikes but missing.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hart sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Henderson wants to get back to his feet but Hart is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hart stays in close to Henderson's body and controls the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Gabriel Hart wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Henderson throws a lazy right hand but Hart sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hart tries to score a power double leg takedown but Henderson sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Hart somewhat.
Hart looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Hart has a takedown stuffed.
Henderson misses with a looping left.
Hart takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Hart slips a jab and a cross from Henderson.
Nice defenses there by Hart.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hart instigates a clinch.
Hart tries to work over Henderson's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Hart tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Henderson's elbow.
Hart tries a body shot but Henderson blocks it.
Henderson stops a takedown attempt from Hart.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Hart. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hart has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Henderson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hart tries for a takedown. No joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee is keeping an eye on Hart - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Hart dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Hart moves in looking to clinch but Henderson pushes him off.

Hart rushes Henderson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Henderson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hart doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hart can't get the takedown.
Hart stalling against the cage.
Henderson is trying to force a seperation but Hart has the dominant position.
Hart drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Hart. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson is looking to break free of the clinch but Hart has double underhooks.
Hart tries to score a body lock takedown but Henderson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Hart is looking for a takedown.
Henderson looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Henderson is trying to push Hart away but Hart has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Hart is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Henderson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Henderson is trying to break the clinch but Hart is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson tries to break free but Hart pushes him back against the cage.
Hart goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hart doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Hart has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Henderson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Hart displaying some good clinch control by pressing Henderson up against the cage.
Hart lands with a short shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Hart.
Henderson misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hart goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hart is trying to drag Henderson to the mat but Henderson just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Henderson working hard to break the clinch.
Hart is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Hart is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hart goes for a takedown attempt but Henderson pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Henderson throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Henderson throws a big shot that misses.
A left lands for Henderson.
The fight stays on the outside here - Hart looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Henderson lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Henderson dodges the punch combination from Hart.
Henderson throws an overhand right that lands on Hart's shoulder, as Hart tries to avoid the shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hart fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Henderson manages to avoid it.
Hart uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Henderson.
Henderson misses with a straight left.
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.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Henderson lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hart circles away quickly and effectively.
Henderson throws a shot from downtown. Hart moves away and avoids it.
Henderson with a jab.
Henderson throws a right hand that Hart ducks under and follows up with a left that Hart also avoids with ease.
Henderson throws a left and a right that both miss

and Hart counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hart.
Hart tries to score a body lock takedown but Henderson shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Henderson is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hart effectively controlling the action here.
Henderson wants to break free but Hart has control.
Hart blocks a body shot from Henderson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hart tries for a takedown but Henderson manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Hart. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Henderson goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hart stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Hart will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Henderson up against the cage.
Henderson is trying to break the clinch but Hart is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hart prevents Henderson from breaking the clinch.
Henderson has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Henderson is looking to break free of the clinch but Hart has double underhooks.
Hart is leaning against Henderson and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Henderson.
Hart fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hart misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hart wants a takedown.
Hart is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Hart drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Henderson gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Hart is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hart has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Henderson is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Hart is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Henderson gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Henderson prevents a takedown attempt there.
Hart fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Come on Hart - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hart.

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 Gabriel Hart.
I think Hart 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alan Glass scores the fight 29:28
Judge Gwen Towbar scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gabriel Hart!