PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Denis Henry (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frankie Costello (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Frankie Costello has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Denis Henry's chin.

Henry
vs
Costello

209 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 6 - 0

182 cm
20
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Denis Henry!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Frankie Costello !
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Tiny Johnson and Robert Twigg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Costello missing with a left hand there. Henry was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Costello throws a series of punches but Henry avoids them all with ease.

Costello looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Costello being controlled here momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Costello pushing down on Henry's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Costello sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Costello thows a huge punch but Henry dodges it nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costello is thwarting Henry's attempts to control the position.
Henry punching from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Costello passes into side control, despite Henry's attempt to control the position.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Costello is looking to take a break and control but Henry is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Henry is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Costello 's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Henry is controlling Costello 's trapped leg to prevent Costello from advancing to side control.
Henry trying to control here.
Henry regains full guard. Nicely done.

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.
Henry trying to keep a closed guard but Costello is proving a slippery customer.
Costello trying to control the position from guard on top but Henry is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henry has a closed guard, preventing Costello from standing up.
Henry is looking to sweep but instead, Costello has passed into half guard.
Henry trying to control here.

Costello postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Henry to stand up.

Costello 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Costello got a little sloppy there for a moment and Henry has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Costello has managed to get both his arms back between Henry's legs - danger averted.
Henry looking for a sweep. Not yet Henry, not yet.
Henry tries to strike from the bottom.
Costello missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Henry is trying to control the position from the bottom.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Costello accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Costello stands up from Henry's guard - Costello perhaps looking for a knockout.

Henry moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Costello doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Costello taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Henry looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Henry is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Costello gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Costello wants to take a breather but Henry is having none of it.
Costello trying to mount his opponent but Henry defends it.
Henry trying to control but Costello postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Henry tries to get to full guard but Costello has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Costello dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Costello doesn't manage to clinch there - Henry circles away.
Henry misses with a wild combination.
Costello misses with a leg kick

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

Costello breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Costello throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Henry is looking to counter the offense by Costello and move into the clinch.
Costello wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costello misses with a double jab.
Henry seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Costello misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Henry.
Costello misses with the combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry throws a body punch but Costello moves out of range.
Costello swats away the attempt to clinch by Henry.
Henry throws a series of punches but Costello moves out of range.

Henry gets caught flat footed, as Costello shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Costello preventing the sweep.
Costello looking to pass the guard.
Costello passes Henry's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Henry looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henry keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Henry manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Henry escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Costello gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Costello decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Henry, up you get!

Costello rushes Henry and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Costello has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Henry clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Costello 's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Costello is breathing heavily.
Henry is really stuck here.
Costello misses with punches from the back.
Henry wants to control his opponent's hands but Costello gets his hands free.

Costello is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Henry knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Henry for a finish.
Frankie Costello has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Costello 's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Henry trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Henry really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Henry trying to get back to his feet but Costello is in full control for now.
Costello not allowing Henry to control his hands.
Costello throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Costello has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Henry trying to control but not successfully.

Costello is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Henry knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Henry for a finish.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frankie Costello 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!

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

Henry had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Costello defends it easily.
Costello slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Henry manages to work his way to half guard, despite Costello 's best efforts.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Costello is looking to take a break and control but Henry is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Costello is trying to work for a kimura but Henry is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henry works his way to full guard. Good work.
Henry keeping moving, preventing Costello from controlling successfully.
Henry is pulling down on Costello 's head to control his posture.

Henry working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Costello has passed into half guard!
It looks like Costello is going to stand back up.

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.
Henry manages to get to full guard.

Henry throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Henry trying to control the position.

Costello postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Henry is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Costello , into his guard.

Costello takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henry's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Henry postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Costello trying to keep a closed guard but Henry is proving a slippery customer.
Henry will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Henry looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Costello working a defensive guard but Henry passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Henry 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.
Costello trying to control but Henry postures up.

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 Denis Henry.
I think Costello 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 Wesley Smith scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tiny Johnson scores the fight 27:30
Judge Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frankie Costello !
Frankie Costello spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.