PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Devin Houle (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Danny Hendo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Houle
vs
Hendo

186 cm
31
190 lbs
22 - 10 - 0

180 cm
27
190 lbs
16 - 13 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Soul Supremacy Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Devin Houle!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Danny Hendo!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body punch from Hendo.
Hendo throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Houle.
Hendo slaps away a takedown attempt from Houle, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Houle shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Hendo as he avoids it easily.
Hendo throws a series of punches but Houle avoids them all with ease.
Houle shoots in and drives through. Hendo sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Devin Houle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Houle looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hendo has worked on his takedown defense in the runup to this fight and it is paying off so far.
Hendo jabs Houle to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Houle dodges the punch combination from Hendo.
Houle shoots in but no luck this time.
Houle slips a jab and a cross from Hendo.

Hendo closes the distance and clinches.
Hendo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Houle lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hendo lands a knee to the head.
Houle is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hendo to keep the fight standing.

Houle manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hendo wants to get up but he can't break Houle's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendo won't allow Houle to sweep him here.
Hendo sitting in guard here, content to control.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Danny Hendo.
Hendo bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Some wild striking there from Hendo.
Houle has his takedown stuffed
and Hendo counters with a three punch combo that has Houle backing up. Houle nods at Hendo to acknowledge the strikes.
Devin Houle seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Hendo takes the fight into the clinch.
Hendo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hendo lands an elbow just above Houle 's eye.
Hendo throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Houles head.
Hendo with a knee to the head.
Hendo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Houle lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Houle fails to pull guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knees to the body from Hendo.
Houle has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Hendo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Houle tries to pull guard but Hendo won't allow it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hendo.

Houle jumps into guard, dragging Hendo to the mat.
Hendo looking to pass the guard.
Hendo tries to stand but Houle is controlling from the bottom.
Hendo trying to control but Houle is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Danny Hendo hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Houle fails to land the takedown.
Houle tries to score a power double leg takedown but Hendo sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Houle somewhat.
Houle shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hendo sprawls well. Hendo wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Houle gets slowly back to his feet.
Hendo swinging wildly here.
Hendo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Houle's hands.
Houle shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Hendo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Houle takes a knee right on the jaw!
Houle tries to pull guard but Hendo won't allow it.
Houle is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Hendo to keep the fight standing.
Houle tries to pull guard but Hendo holds him up against the cage and eventually Houle drops back down to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hendo pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Houle doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Houle fails with the takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Houle avoids a punch combination nicely.
Houle gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hendo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hendo.

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Hendo manages to break the clinch.
Houle looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Hendo is fending him off so far but Houle persists. Nope, Hendo circles away and we're back to standing.

Hendo rushes Houle and presses him up against the cage.

Hendo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Hendo clinches up with Houle and pushes him back against the cage.
Hendo crunches a lovely knee into Houle's ribcage.
Hendo content to slow the pace in the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hendo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Houle is breathing heavily.
Houle takes an elbow to the temple.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hendo.
Houle tries to pull guard but Hendo won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Hendo dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Houle shoots in looking for a takedown but Hendo manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Houle's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Houle doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hendo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hendo.
Hendo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Houle's face.
Hendo landing knees to the head.
Hendo misses with a knee strike.
Houle fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Devin Houle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Houle takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hendo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Houle tries to pull guard but Hendo won't allow it.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hendo.
Hendo cracks Houle with a nice body shot.
Danny Hendo seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Houle takes an elbow to the forehead.
Knees to the body from Hendo.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Hendo lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Hendo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

It looks like Devin Houle has been cut.
Hendo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Houle takes an elbow to the forehead.
Hendo lands a nice knee to the body.
Hendo working Houle over with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendo lands a good knee to the midsection. Houle won't want to take too many of those.
Houle jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hendo walks away with a smile on his face. Houle gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Hendo throws a combination. Houle tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Hendo slaps away a takedown attempt from Houle, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Hendo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hendo obliges.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Houle fails to pull guard.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hendo.
Houle takes a shot to the head.
Hendo connects with a knee to the head.
Hendo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Houle lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hendo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Hendo lands an elbow inside that Houle shrugs off.

Hendo manages to break the clinch.

Hendo has taken the fight to the clinch.
Houle takes a knee to the side of the body.
Hendo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Houle fails to pull guard.
Hendo lands an elbow inside that Houle shrugs off.
Hendo lands a knee to the body.
Hendo lands an elbow inside that Houle shrugs off.
Houle takes an elbow to the forehead.
Hendo scores with a knee to the head.
Hendo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Houle takes a knee right on the jaw!
Hendo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hendo connects with a knee to the head.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Hendo.
Houle jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hendo walks away with a smile on his face. Houle gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Hendo moves into the clinch.
Hendo lands a knee to the head.
Knees in the clinch landing for Hendo.
Hendo lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Hendo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hendo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Houle tries to pull guard but Hendo won't allow it.
Hendo holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Hendo lands a hook that snaps the head of Houle backwards.

Hendo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Hendo gets a clinch.
Knees to the body from Hendo.
Hendo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Hendo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nice elbow from Hendo.
Houle takes a shot to the head.
Hendo working Houle over with knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hendo landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Hendo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Hendo with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Hendo lands an elbow that stopped Houle in his tracks for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houle is trying to pull guard but Hendo turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Hendo.
Hendo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Houle takes a knee right on the jaw!
Houle takes an elbow to the temple.
Hendo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Hendo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Hendo.
Hendo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hendo landing knees to the body.
Hendo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hendo comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hendo gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Hendo working Houle over with knees to the body.
Hendo lands a good knee to the midsection. Houle won't want to take too many of those.
Houle tries to pull guard but Hendo holds him up against the cage and eventually Houle drops back down to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Danny Hendo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Devin Houle's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Hendo throws a shot to the body.

Hendo has closed the distance and engaged Houle in a clinch.
Hendo unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Hendo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Houle's face.
Hendo lands a nice shot to the body.
Houle tries to pull guard but Hendo won't allow it.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hendo obliges.
Houle tries to pull guard but Hendo won't allow it.
Houle jumps guard but Hendo stands there with Houle around his waist. Houle gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Devin Houle. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Hendo working Houle over with knees to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hendo putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Houle in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hendo unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Hendo breaks the clinch.
Hendo tries to clinch up but Houle circles away and keeps his distance.
Houle fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Houle avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hendo misses with a double jab.
Hendo lands with a nice body punch.
Houle shoots in for a takedown but Hendo shows good takedown defense.
Hendo wants to clinch up but Houle keeps it at a distance.
Houle shoots in for a takedown but Hendo shows good takedown defense.
Hendo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Houle circles away quickly and effectively.
Danny Hendo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Hendo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

Hendo has managed to clinch.
Hendo connects with a knee to the head.
Hendo landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Houle tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Hendo just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hendo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Houle lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hendo lands a body punch in the clinch.
Houle tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hendo smiles and moves away.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Hendo has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hendo lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Hendo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Houle's face.
Hendo utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Hendo landing knees to the head.
Hendo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hendo obliges.
Hendo using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hendo scores a nice knee to the body.
A short right from Hendo on the inside.
Hendo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Houle lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hendo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Hendo connects with a knee to the head.
Well,Houle is on his way to losing a decision here. Can he use his experience to pull something off in the closing minutes?
Hendo tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Houle jumps guard but Hendo stands there with Houle around his waist. Houle gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice elbow from Hendo.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Hendo obliges.
Houle is trying to pull guard but Hendo turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Houle jumps guard but Hendo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Hendo connects with a nasty looking knee right to Houle's face.
Hendo unloads a knee to the mid-section. Houle lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Hendo with a knee to the head.
Hendo is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Hendo putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Houle in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
A knee to the head by Hendo.
Houle tries to pull guard but Hendo won't allow it.
Hendo connects with a knee to the head.
Danny Hendo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hendo connects with a knee to the head.
Houle fails to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Houle tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Houle jumps guard but Hendo turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Houle tries to pull guard but Hendo forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Houle jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Hendo walks away with a smile on his face. Houle gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Houle closes this distance looking for a takedown but Hendo circles away.
Sloppy strikes from Hendo. Those never looked like landing.
Hendo misses with a wild combination.
Hendo throws a nice looking combination but Houle bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Houle misses with a takedown attempt
and Hendo counters with a straight right hand.
Danny Hendo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Hendo is looking to clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Houle looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Hendo tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Devin Houle has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Houle shoots and misses

and Hendo counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hendo.

And that's the end of the fight!
Danny Hendo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Hendo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight for Danny Hendo!
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight for Danny Hendo!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Danny Hendo!

Danny Hendo wins by unanimous decision!
Danny Hendo seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.